ClientEarth reposted this
Congratulations to Keir Starmer and all in the Labour Party (UK) for winning the UK General election. The new Labour Government has a clear mandate for change – and bolder action on climate formed a key part of Labour’s promise to voters. The climate crisis is already upon us, and is escalating at pace. Spring 2024 was the warmest in the UK on record and the wettest in nearly 40 years, according to the Met office. Meanwhile, progress on meeting the UK's emissions reduction targets are seriously off track. In June, we wrote to party leaders to remind them that, following our court win in May, the next Government must publish a revised plan that puts the UK on track to meet its legally-binding carbon budgets by May 2025. Luckily, there are many concrete actions that can be taken, in line with long-standing recommendations from the Climate Change Committee. These include large-scale investment in public transport, rolling out mass home-insulation, and making land use in the UK more climate and nature friendly. While tackling the climate crisis, these policies will also improve quality of life and lower the cost of living for people across the UK. This new Government now has a golden opportunity to demonstrate leadership at home and internationally. That starts with a strong statement of intent about how it will respond to the High Court ruling and deliver a climate plan that is fit for purpose by May next year. Given the urgency of the challenge, we hope to see this statement of intent in the Government’s first 100 days. Change must start now.
Any newly elected government should have climate change as a priority.
I hope they publish a sensible policy on airport expansions and air travel. We live next to Bristol airport, the expansion of which was overwhelmingly rejected, yet overturned on appeal. We’re seeing first hand the increase in traffic on our tiny lanes, the noise, the smell of airplane fuel. It’s completely unsustainable.
Thank goodness for you Laura Clarke OBE 👐 Thank you
Well done. #planetfirst
👏👏👏🍀Laura Clarke OBE
Agreed Laura Clarke OBE!
Co-Founder at SHE Changes Climate
1wIf is also good to see that the Green Party came second in 39 constituencies, showing an overall stronger appetite for climate action amongst the electorate.