CONCERNS over climate change were highlighted at a film screening of Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth in High Wycombe as residents backed calls for a Climate Change Bill.

The Wycombe branch of Friends of the Earth (FoE) decided to give residents in the area the opportunity to watch the film and called for a tougher Climate Change Bill to tackle some of the problems raised in the former US Vice President's documentary.

The event, held on Friday, July 6, coincided with Live Earth concerts that took place across the world featuring artists such as Madonna, The Foo Fighters and The Black Eyed Peas.

During the question and answer portion of the evening, held at John Hampden School in Marlow Hill, FoE campaigners asked for Wycombe MP Paul Goodman to support amendments to the Climate Change Bill.

Two thirds of MPs called for a bill last year and they want to see a three per cent per year reduction in the amount of carbon dioxide the UK produces.

But FoE would like to see tougher measures incorporated into the bill including the reduction of emissions every year so the UK reaches a target of at least 80 per cent cuts by 2050 as well as cuts in emissions from international aviation and shipping.

In response Mr Goodman, who sat on the panel, said: "My party has been calling for a Climate Change Bill and the publication of the draft bill is a welcome step.

"It is right that the Government has chosen to consult on such an important issue and look at the wider impacts before legislating.

"It is paramount that we get the framework right and have a constructive debate."

More than 90 people turned up to see the film, which also highlighted concerns over the future stability of the environment.

Hannah Mowat, project manager for the documentary at FoE, said: "That's a fantastic number, given that at the Stratford East screen-ing in a Picturehouse cinema after copious amounts of press work only 37 came."

Issues such as severe hot and cold weather, glaciers melting, flooding and pollution were all focused on during the film.

It also highlighted some of the potential tragedies that may occur in the next ten years if humans continue to create pollution and don't save energy.

Mr Goodman said: "The film shows that it is important to have a balance, but we are going to have to make tough choices and there will be tough measures and one way is by taxing fuel consumption."

One point which particularly hit home was that if the glaciers in Greenland continue to melt, sea levels all over the world would rise, creating major flooding in places like India and America and wiping out millions of people.

After the film other questions posed to the panel focused on what the people of High Wycombe could do as a community and as individuals to try and save energy.

The rest of the panel was made up of Nick Rau, climate campaigner for FoE, Andrew Leech, editor of 4ecotips.com, Lesley Stoner, environmental coordinator for Wycombe District Council (WDC) and Colin White, planning officer for the Chilterns Conservation Board.

The majority of people in attendance said their main concern was how they could find practical ways in which to help.

Mrs Stoner said: "I think it is clear that people want to learn more about energy efficiency and recycle more and there is a plethora of information from the council if you want to find out more. We already run many schemes."

Other suggestions made by the panel included switching lights and televisions off and recycling plastic, paper and other household goods.