There was a strong turnout on Saturday 12th October at St Mary’s School N8, as Hornsey & Friern Barnet constituents gathered to quiz Catherine West MP.
They brought questions on a broad range of issues pertaining to climate change, with the added bonus of Alan Whitehead, ex-Shadow Minister for Energy and the Green New Deal, joining by livestream and bringing his technical knowledge to the discussions.
The meeting was part of a national initiative by Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth and other groups, enabling citizens to give their MP suggestions about tackling climate breakdown.
The audience pulled no punches, covering the full gamut, including air quality for children, cycling in Haringey, tree planting plans, CCUS, PFIs, frequent flying levies, insulating homes, upskilling installers and builders, climate migration, culture wars, the Climate & Nature Bill, illegalising ecocide, GB Energy, a plastics treaty and Rosebank.
Of the key take-homes, Whitehouse dismissed sustainable aviation fuel as “not the answer”, with demand far outstripping potential supply. And he argued that there will be unavoidable carbon emissions from the likes of the steel and concrete industries, justifying the £22bn invested in CCUS. Investment which, Dermot Barnes of en10ergy pointed out, could be better spent on reducing demand.
West agreed that alternatives to concrete should be found for new builds and hinted at a potential new tax on fossil fuels in the upcoming budget, later suggesting that a raising of gas versus electricity levies is something that the government will consider in the next year. She also underlined adaptation measures as a parallel priority, with opportunities to learn from the likes of Global South and innovations there around insurance.
On the subject of domestic emissions, fuel poverty and security, she reported a doubling of funds for Labour’s Warm Home Plan – focusing on low-income households – and fully acknowledged the urgent need for upskilling and incentivising trades working in residential decarbonisation, potentially involving a reframing of apprenticeship opportunities. While Whitehead confirmed prioritising of mobilising and supporting community energy in the GB Energy Bill, declaring a similar ‘need for getting skates on now.’
On environmental matters, West promised to try and attend the second reading of the Climate & Nature Bill on 16th October, agreeing that its findings should be fed into Labour’s legislation, and pledged her support for tree planting initiatives, which are set to include three new forests and community woodland planting, we were told.
So, some positives to be derived, not least in the very fact that the meeting happened! And that climate change is finally occupying its own stage.
One Response
Excellent write up Lisa. A pity I could not be there.