A DELEGATION from the pressure group Redditch CAN (Climate Action Network) met with local MP Rachel Maclean today, Friday, July 5.
Redditch CAN, a loose association of climate activists and organisations, is calling on the government for real action rather than warm words on climate change.
“The government has declared a climate emergency and has committed to being carbon neutral by 2050, which we applaud,” said Jim Quinn of Cafod, the Catholic Agency For Overseas Development.
“However it’s not really enough. Using technical information from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change we need to achieve net zero carbon emissions by at least 2045.”
He said Cafod’s work was concentrated on dealing with poverty overseas but the effects of climate change was undoing much of the work it, other agencies and even government overseas aid had done.
“It’s not just about dealing with the symptoms but about preventing the issues of poverty,” he added.
“We have helped develop a number of agrarian projects in North and Central Africa; with a small investment they can make a sustainable living but with climate change it’s beyond our control and undoing the good that’s been done.
“Having declared a climate emergency, what concrete action is the government going to take to confront the issue?”
Jackie Marsh from Christian Aid added: “We’re trying to see climate from a global perspective – it’s a justice issue for the poor people who suffer the worst of climate change when it’s not their fault because it is us who are the profligates of the planet.”
Alistair Waugh of the Green Party said: “We’re meeting with our MP today because we’re not convinced the Government is taking the climate crisis seriously enough.
“It’s time to act now for future generations, rather than bowing to the interests of big business. We’ll be reminding our MP of the urgency, and the need for Government to put climate at the heart of all it’s decisions.”
