Action demand as report raises climate alarm

Bath MP Wera Hobhouse has called for immediate action on climate change after a major report issued a dire warning.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has released part of its Sixth Assessment Report, which warns that we will not be able to limit global warming to even 2 degrees Celsius unless there are immediate, rapid and large-scale reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

Ms Hobhouse (inset), Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for the Climate Emergency, said: “From flash floods in London to recordbreaking heatwaves in other European countries, we are seeing the harsh reality of the climate crisis. We must build a future without carbon emissions now.

“While the Prime Minister still hasn’t woken up to the climate threat, the Liberal Democrats have. Our green recovery plan would create jobs and cut emissions to net zero, taking on Britain’s global responsibility as one of the richest countries in the world and one of its historic carbon emitters.

“Bath & North East Somerset Council declared a Climate Emergency in 2019, and in its Climate Emergency Update Report identified three clear areas for change: housing, energy generation and transport.

“UK homes are some of the worst quality in Europe in terms of energy usage; 2.5 million live in fuel poverty due to poor insulation and heat loss. But the Conservatives scrapped zero-carbon home standards in 2016, then ditched their own Green Homes Grant after chronic mismanagement.

“We need an emergency 10-year programme to upgrade insulation in every home and to ensure that new homes are built to zero-carbon standards. A green home building programme will create thousands of new green jobs, helping our recovery from the pandemic.”