Climate and environment emergency - Thangam Debbonaire

Bristol’s kids are not alright with pollution

As the Member of Parliament for Bristol West, I get many letters and emails from constituents on a regular basis. Some people want a little help in improving their living conditions, others want me to vote a particular way on a Bill, and some are just plain weird! The ones…

My highlights from 2021

I know it’s been a tough year for everyone – and I’m always going to do my best to help, campaign, and be a voice in parliament for all of you, in good times and bad. To update you on what I’m doing as your MP, here is my round-up…

Community owned energy supply is vital for net zero ambitions

Many of you have written to me about the importance of a comprehensive community energy strategy by the government. Local and community-owned renewable energy supply can play a major role in meeting our climate change targets. However today, there are many challenges to producing energy at the local level. I…

Small businesses in Bristol have big plans for protecting the environment

Last week I met with businesses in Bristol tackling the climate emergency through innovation. It was extremely useful for me to be able to listen to the problems facing these businesses and what the government needs to be doing to support them. Many of you have written to make the…

Crisis? What crisis? Tory budget ignores desperate situation for many in the UK

Many of you wrote to me about what you wanted from the Budget Statement. Almost all emails on the topic asked for one of four things: Tackle the health and social care crisis Invest in firm climate action Help those affected by rising cost of living Bridge education needs by…

Protecting Bristol’s rivers from sewage pollution

Hundreds of constituents have written to me about the disgusting sewage pollution in our rivers, lakes and seas. Labour voted to add the strong controls on water companies to the Environment Bill. Like you, I was outraged to see Tory MPs voting against this vital measure. But thanks to pressure…

Seizing the opportunity of COP26: My weekly speech on Parliamentary business

As so many of you know, the UK is host of the COP26 climate summit. This means the government has a once-only opportunity to get an international agreement on halting climate change and the biodiversity and nature crisis. Will this government rise to the occasion and make history? Or will…

COP26: What my constituents want from this vital climate summit

Bristolians have long been committed to caring for the environment and averting dangerous climate change. Over the summer, I discussed the climate emergency with hundreds of people in my constituency to understand their concerns and listen to their ideas to resolve this crisis at a local level. This showed that…

This week in Parliament

It has been a difficult week in politics. We are desperately saddened by the loss of James Brokenshire. We are still shocked at the murder of Sir David Amess. Both were excellent Parliamentarians and will certainly be missed by all sides of the House. Closing the loophole on sexual harassment…

The Environment Bill falls short – but Labour wins an important protection

Yesterday, the government’s much delayed Environment Bill returned to the Commons after weeks of debate in the House of Lords. This legislation aims to replace EU environmental law. I believe we should be strengthening environmental regulation right now, but this Bill doesn’t go far enough. The Bill covers a wide…

Labour sets out a great future. How would it change Bristol?

In his passionate and eloquent speech at Labour Conference today, Labour leader Keir Starmer showed the country who he is and set out what Labour will do when in government. This bold set of commitments will deal with the rolling crises caused by the last 11 years of Tory rule.…

Parliament’s chance to deal with the climate emergency

I am proud to represent a constituency where people passionately care about the crisis affecting the climate and the natural world. I was pleased to see climate become the main focus of the UN General Assembly this week. This is progress. But our government is still stuck in an outdated…

ONLINE EVENT: Political solutions to the climate and ecological emergency

A lot of people in Bristol West contact me about the climate and ecological emergency. I believe these linked crises are the most urgent problems we face. As the UK has a unique leadership opportunity at COP26 this year, it is even more important that we raise our voices now. …

New climate report should shake this sleepy government into action

The new report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is both terrifying and heartbreaking. There is no doubt we are causing climate breakdown. Some damage to our planet is now irreversible, at least within our lifetimes, according to the work of thousands of researchers. We can avoid the worst,…

Are you worried about the climate crisis? Talk to me this summer

Even if you don’t see yourself as an environmentalist, I am very interested to hear your views and concerns about climate change. I am organising a series of events to speak to as many Bristol West residents as possible about the climate crisis. It will also be an opportunity for…

What the PM and ministers could learn from England’s football team

The Prime Minister and the government could learn a lot from the Gareth Southgate School of Leadership. The England players and manager exemplify the best of British values. They stand up to racism and inequality. They succeed through hard work and discipline. And they are able to learn from their…

Tackling the climate and ecological emergency

Tackling the climate emergency and biodiversity crisis are top priorities for people in Bristol West and the highest priorities for me as your MP. Tackling the emergency is vital for our long-term future but also helps with building the sustainable economy with good jobs for people in Bristol and beyond.…

Bristol: What do you want from COP26?

Tackling the climate emergency and biodiversity crisis is one of my top priorities as Bristol West MP and as Shadow Housing Secretary. Housing contributes 14% of our carbon emissions, so we need low/zero carbon housing if we are to reach net-zero That’s why I challenge the government to cut carbon…

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…