Climate and environment emergency - Thangam Debbonaire

Efficient housing can drive a green economic recovery

Last month Labour launched a report on a green economic recovery for the UK (for housing proposals see p.14-16), showing how we intend to recover from the current economic crisis by investing in green jobs and technologies. Replacing windows, lagging lofts and insulating walls are all labour intensive, semi-skilled tasks.…

Zero carbon homes are more important than ever

Today Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick claimed that his is committed to climate-friendly, zero carbon homes, even though his own target falls far short of this important standard. Their new ‘Future Homes Standard’ aims to cut current emissions by 75-80% by 2025 – hardly the ambition or urgency needed to respond…

The climate emergency demands global leadership from the UK

Many of you have contacted me about the climate and ecological emergency, and the proposed Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill. The campaigning urgency and creativity as well as the focus and energy of the people of Bristol West to halt climate change and repair our planet’s diversity always inspire me…

We cannot forget the climate crisis

While we find our way through one crisis, we cannot forget another, potentially catastrophic crisis we are living through. I am glad that people in Bristol are still keeping the pressure up. Climate change is extremely urgent and cannot wait until we have fixed the current public health emergency. Many…

We need a dedicated Department of Climate Change

I’ve recently met many school students, including those at St Bonaventure’s Primary School and at the School Strike for Climate demonstration in the centre of Bristol, who have demanded that the government makes climate change a top priority. One way of doing this, and suggested by students, is for the…

My speech at the School Strike 4 Climate

I was so inspired to join Kerry McCarthy to speak to a huge crowd on College Green today at the School Strike 4 Climate rally – all sharing a passion to stop climate change and protect our planet for the future. If the government took the suggestions of the young people gathered today –…

The Prime Minister must set the record straight on climate change

It is vital that government ministers speak accurately about our political and legal processes, and that if they make mistakes, they make every effort to correct the record. It matters even more when that member of the government is the Prime Minister. Yet repeatedly, Theresa May has failed to issue…

To halt climate change, the new Prime Minister must back up words with actions

I kicked off Prime Minister’s Questions this week by asking Theresa May whether she agreed that the new Prime Minister – whoever he is – should introduce an Environment and Climate Change bill as their first action in government. The Prime Minister agreed with me that halting climate change and…

Climate change is a clear and present danger – it demands action now

Climate change is a clear and present danger worldwide, threatening our beautiful planet and everyone on it. That’s why it was one of the first things I spoke about in Parliament – it featured in my maiden speech (the first speech I ever made in Parliament). It has remained a…

Our carbon reduction ambitions must reflect the reality of our consumption

Following the latest EU Council, I asked the Prime Minister about how we can embed the ‘consumer principle’ in European policy about climate change. The government have finally heeded Labour’s call that we are living under the threat of a climate change emergency. Yet the ambition to cut UK greenhouse…

Climate emergency: We need more bike lanes and vehicle charging points

Parliament has voted to acknowledge that climate change and environmental degradation are an emergency. This is important. I have been demanding the government take this step for some time. But the big question is whether the government will now turn this commitment into action. I recently asked Transport Secretary Chris…

Climate emergency: Parliament must get its own house in order

While Parliament has voted to declare a climate emergency, Parliament’s pension fund is still propping up fossil energy through investments in coal and gas. This must change. Yesterday I spoke in a debate calling for the fund to divest from these polluting energy sources. Pensions are designed to look after…

Extinction Rebellion are right: This is an emergency

The state of our planet is back in the spotlight at last and about time too. But until the government acknowledge that it is an emergency, we will not move fast enough to solve this problem. The environment is being degraded at a startling rate. We have lost 60% of…

Sounding the alarm for the climate

I will keep asking the same question until the government takes this seriously. This is the second time this week I have asked Climate Change Minister Claire Perry to recognise that we are living through a climate emergency and to take real action to address it. The scale of the…

Why on earth won’t the government declare a climate change emergency?

Today I expressed my bewilderment at the government’s continued refusal to declare a climate change emergency. I am absolutely clear that we are in the midst of a climate change emergency, and I understand the frustration of those who have protested in Bristol and across the country about political inaction…

We must do everything to halt the climate emergency – and that means leaving fossil fuels in the ground

Bristol and other cities are sounding the alarm on a climate emergency. Yesterday I asked the government to follow Bristol’s lead and take action on the climate, including banning fracking. Climate change is increasingly urgent. Global CO2 levels continue to rise. And just yesterday, a new World Meterological Organisation report…

I call for the government to follow Bristol’s lead – and declare a ‘climate emergency’

Climate change is the biggest and most complex global problem we face. But there has been little discussion of climate change in Parliament recently, as most MPs’ time, including my own, is taken up with European Union-related legislation and debates. Last night I led a debate on climate change, speaking…

Government support for fossil fuels is blocking climate action

According to a recent European Commission study, the UK has the highest subsidies for fossil fuels in the EU. In 2016, subsidies for fossil fuels in the UK were almost €12 billion – a quarter more than renewable technologies, whereas many other European countries are already tilting the balance towards…

We must take action to clean up Bristol’s air

I was disappointed to see the government threatening to take Bristol City Council to court over its plan to improve the city’s air quality. This plan was a condition of the £500,000 grant I helped to secure from the government in 2016. As a result, I met Environment Minister Thérèse…