Stakes are high

With the recent reports (scientifically researched) that the Greenland ice cap is melting seven times faster than in the 1990s – threatening to affect 40 million people in coastal communities with flooding – it must surely be an indication that our political and economic system is in need of a massive transformation.

It would seem common sense that caring for the environment should be the number one issue, simply because everything in our lives is totally dependent on it.

When Boris Johnson states that the stakes have never been so high, it is a tragedy that he is not talking in the context of the environment; particularly after he was absent from the Channel 4 leaders’ debate on climate change.

Although the current Environment Bill is a step in the right direction, Greener UK (an alliance representing the National Trust, RSPB, the Wildlife Trusts and many other environmental organisations) has said that as it stands, environmental protections are set to be weaker after Brexit.

Of particular concern is that the independence of the proposed Office for Environmental Protection (OEP) is seriously compromised,

Itisa tragedy Boris Johnson is not talking in the context of the environment STEWART LUCK

with its chair and board members to be appointed by the secretary of state, who will also determine the budget of the OEP.

Environmental groups have argued that the Office for Environmental Protection needs to be independently financed to be successful in holding governments to account on environmental law and enforcement.

Equally concerning is that currently there is no legal commitment to non-regression of existing environmental laws; of which roughly 80 per cent originate from the EU.

In 50 years Brexit will most likely be consigned to a paragraph in the history books, my generation will be gone and the younger generations will be dealing with the environmental legacy of our current politics and economics.

Yes the stakes have never been so high because we are at a turning point globally and we are clearly running out of time.

The empire is long gone and it is not healthy to look towards the past for greatness.

The reality of now and the future are far more important. We need a massive evolutionary transformation; we need to relearn, since the road we have been travelling for generations is no longer sustainable.

The question remains, when will we start putting our votes behind environmental issues with clout; demanding far more from our leaders? Stewart Luck

Hurst Green Close Cowplain