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 about community environmental groups such as Transition Towns, which are already taking real action to move beyond fossil fuels. In my speech I also spoke about Bristol City Council, which has also taken a lead as one of the first councils in the country to declare a ‘climate emergency.’
In the debate I asked the government to follow Transition Towns’ leadership and do more to cut emissions. This means switching government support to renewable energy sources of the future, and crucially, away from polluting technologies such as fracking.
This debate was brought by me individually and not granted in government time, so there was no possibility of binding decisions to force government action. I hope that the Minister realised that there is huge public demand for this to happen and makes sure we have time as soon as possible to debate and make decisions on stopping climate change.
I will continue to do everything I can bring this debate back to the forefront of politics where it belongs.
There is a clip of my speech below, or you can watch the whole debate. The Hansard transcript is here.