Pressing the UK Government to commit to a green recovery which benefits all
This morning, in the House of Commons, I asked the Secretary of State for Transport to commit his Government to enshrining its annual emissions targets in law to ensure they will actually be met by 2050.
It is vitally important that all Governments link their economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic to meeting emissions targets, therefore helping to tackle the other big challenge we all face – climate change.
Yesterday I held a Zoom meeting with over 20 members of the newly formed Argyll & Bute Climate Change Group as part of The Time is Now mass lobby.
The campaign aims to raise awareness of the need for the UK Government to commit to a green economic recovery from the pandemic which will help combat climate change and build a more resilient and sustainable future.
It calls for much greater investment from the Treasury to support greener methods of transport and energy production, cut emissions and to help create and support healthier, fairer societies where those who are poorer and most vulnerable benefit most.
I told the Transport Secretary my constituents shared their dismay that once again, the Committee on Climate Change has had to report that the UK Government has missed almost all of its emissions targets.
I said: “There are growing calls to link economic recovery to meeting emissions targets. Does the Minister agree the only by enshrining annual targets in legislation, will this government be able to hope to meet its legally binding net zero emissions by 2050.”
It is so important we all do what we can and work together to do so. The Scottish Government has taken a leading role in reducing carbon emissions and most set the most ambitious statutory climate change targets of any country in the world for 2020, 2030 and 2040 with the aim of being completely carbon neutral by 2050 and it’s time the UK Government made the same firm commitment.
To read the CCC report click here https://www.theccc.org.uk/publication/reducing-uk-emissions-2020-progress-report-to-parliament/