In a meeting with a dozen constituents from ‘The Time is Now’ lobby, city MP Richard Graham said the UK has become the first G20 country in the world to legislate for net zero carbon emissions by 2050 and agreed that ‘it’s all about clear action plans to make this happen now – nationally and locally.
Richard heard constituents representing the WI, Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust and Christian Aid - all emphasising their belief in the seriousness of climate change and their desire to see visible change on the ground.
Richard highlighted environmental challenges in Gloucester including all residents engaging in recycling, creating more electric charging points, more residents cycling, resolving pinch points like by St Ann’s Bridge/ Llanthony Secunda to reduce air pollution, and finding credible renewable energy projects in or near our city.
Richard Graham said ‘It’s clear that climate change is an issue held dear by many people in Gloucester, so it was great to meet many of my constituents at the biggest ever mass lobby for climate, nature and people. I heard their views and I fully agreed with them, in there are still too many people in Gloucester who hardly engage i.e. the basics of recycling. This is a real challenge and my belief is that it can best be tackled at an individual, neighbour, street, community, as well as at a city council enforcement level.’
Notes to editors
- Richard has continually shown his commitment to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050. He recently presented a petition encouraging the UN’s COP26 climate summit to be held in the UK, initiated a Refill Scheme in Gloucester in 2018 and is currently looking at new green energy projects in the city.
- In the largest-ever environmental lobby of parliament, there was an estimated 12,000 people lobbying their MPs for urgent action on the natural environment and climate change. At least 300 MPs attended the event to meet their constituents.
- ‘The Time is Now’ lobby was organised by The Climate Coalition and Greener UK, two coalitions combining more than 130 organisations and representing over 15 million people – ranging from aid agencies CAFOD, Christian Aid to the WWF.
- The photo attached is of Richard with Gloucester residents discussing environmental challenges locally and nationally