The climate and environment emergency
The climate and nature crises are the most pressing issue we face. That’s why I’ve prioritised tackling climate change and environmental degradation as your Member of Parliament. I want to assure you that I’m a strong voice on these issues in Parliament.
On nature specifically, I’ve written directly to the government about the loss of biodiversity. I’ve also voted to strengthen regulations around use of pesticides, sewage leakage and protection of water bodies. I’m backing Labour’s plan to ensure that if water companies fail to improve, the cost will be paid for by eroding dividends, not adding to customer bills or hitting vital investment in the system.
The Tories are failing badly on climate and environmental issues. The Climate Change Committee has said it isn’t acting with the urgency necessary. Since then, there has been little to no policy change other than to double down on fossil fuels, with new exploration in the North Sea, taking us in exactly the wrong direction.
Labour has announced bold deliverable plans to lead the world with clean and cheap power by 2030. We’ll ramp up to £28bn a year in capital investment in the green economy during the first term of a Labour Government. We’ll establish GB Energy, a new home-grown, publicly-owned champion in clean energy generation. Labour will set up the National Wealth Fund, which will create good, well-paying jobs by investing alongside the private sector in gigafactories, clean steel plants, renewable-ready ports, green hydrogen and energy storage. We’ll also cut people’s energy bills for good by insulating 19 million homes.
From my conversations with people working in these sectors in Bristol and beyond, I’m aware that these are hugely ambitious goals, but we have no other option than to act fast. That’s what Labour will do.
Our planet can’t risk another 5 years of inaction on the climate crisis. That’s why I’ll be working flat out to secure a Labour majority that is essential to implementing our bold plan to tackle climate change.