Marks & Spencer launches climate change campaign

The campaign, hosted on the Marks & Spencer Plan A web site, aims to raise awareness of climate change. It will invite customers, investors, employees and suppliers to create an individual patchwork which includes a personal image and a message to those taking part in the Copenhagen negotiations.

The first person to 'patch' was Marks & Spencer executive chairman Sir Stuart Rose. In his message, he said: "Copenhagen is a unique opportunity to do the right thing. Doing nothing is not an option."

Other high profile "patchers" that have already shown their support are Zac Goldsmith, Twiggy, Myleene Klass, Laura Bailey, Noemie Lenoir, Philip Glenister, and Erin O'Connor.    

Secretary of State for Energy and the Environment Ed Miliband said: "I am happy to see M&S supporting its customers in taking action. That is important because we will need all the popular pressure we can get to strike a deal that is ambitious, effective and fair.

"The world cannot tackle climate change if we leave it to politicians alone. We also need people, companies, charities and every other group in society to act together."

The final quilt and a physical representation will be presented to the Government in advance of the summit, which starts on December 7.

M&S director of Plan A Richard Gillies said: "We chose a patchwork quilt as the concept for our campaign because it gives people the chance to be individual. Everyone has different concerns about the effects of climate change, from a fair deal for the poor overseas to preserving the rainforests, but the quilt enables us to bring these under one banner."