Investment is needed to develop our green economy
Climate change is one of the most important issues of our time. Up and down the country young people, in particular, have been calling for change. Chichester District Council have listened. Its cabinet recently announced a climate emergency and is looking into employing a climate emergency officer to spearhead its carbon reduction work. The council is also implementing a Climate Change Emergency Action Plan which will aim to deliver measurable carbon reduction and demonstrate how local action can achieve a net-zero carbon economy.
In Parliament, we recently amended legislation to ensure the UK’S carbon emissions are net-zero by 2050, making usthefirstg7nationtomakesucha commitment in law. I emphasised why we need this change in a recent climate change debate; ecosystems are being destroyed through deforestation and coral bleaching which is leading to a huge loss of species. Along with our relentless production of carbon dioxide.
To change our current trajectory more needs to be done to develop the green economy, by investing in technological development, incentive schemes, and green infrastructure. Since 2010, we have deployed 99 per cent of the UK’S
solar panels and we now have the world’s largest offshore wind capacity. In total, we have quadrupled our renewable output. It is not surprising that last year we produced over 37 per cent of our energy from renewables, all while growing our economy.
The new targets are ambitious and we will all have to make significant changes to our lifestyles. We must ensure efficient insulation, greater use of renewables, cleaner running cars, cycling and walking more, as well as, cutting-out non-reusable goods.
Last month I visited Southbourne Junior School where I joined the children for a Q&A all about climate change covering everything from polar bears to carbon dioxide emissions and plastic waste. The school is very active in trying to improve its own environmental impact, and is now running on solar energy. Southbourne run an Ecowarrior programme where the children can take part in single-use, plasticfree days and they regularly do litter picks to keep the school tidy. They even suggested re-using wrapping paper from their birthday parties. It won’t be easy to reverse the damage done to our planet but just ask the younger generation – it is necessary. Just a reminder, I am holding my next open meeting on July 26 at the Selsey Centre from 7pm to 9pm,