Letter sent to urge Cornish MP to back Climate and Ecological Emergency Bill
An alliance has written a letter to St Ives MP Derek Thomas calling for his support
A letter urging to the St Ives MP to back the Climate and Ecological Emergency (CEE) bill and help tackle climate and environmental crises across Cornwall.
The CEE Alliance in Cornwall is presenting the letter to Derek Thomas MP on Earth Day (22nd April), led by Transition Penwith and Mayor of Penzance Jonathan How.
Lesley Bradley, from Transition Penwith, said: "We're a local community group looking at what we can do about the many challenges that the people on the planet are facing today.
"We know that he cares about these issues a lot and we're hoping the letter will show him how much support there is in Cornwall for this bill to go ahead.
The CEE bill has already seen support from 151 MPs and peers from all major parties across the country and the letter is being presented at around midday at his constituency office in hopes he'll will back it too.
It's also gained signatures from 80 local organisations - including schools, town councils of Penzance and it's surrounding areas, community groups and three large political parties in West Cornwall.
Lesley continued: "In West Cornwall, we've got first hand experience of floods, of coastal damage to the networks and the railways being at the end of the line, we are vulnerable to food shortages and the Climate Ecological Emergency Bill if were made law would solve a lot of that.
"The Alliance have written a letter and it's got cross party support and that's representing hundreds of people that are urging Derek Thomas to support this Bill".
The groups involved believe support for the Bill can help safeguard future generations in West Cornwall and the world and
Lesley continued: “The countryside is a part of who we are in West Cornwall.
"This bill is the only legislation that seeks to reverse biodiversity loss, tackle climate change and support communities in their transition to a resilient and healthy future. The CEE Bill gives us hope.
"It's the only bit of legislation that addresses both the climate and our natural systems together and if it's made law it'll create targets that the UK government, whichever party is in, will have to stick to. Rather than pledges that can easily be broken".
The CEE bill itself would reduce emissions to keep global heating to 1.5 degrees, lock targets in to law so commitments are kept, restore and conserve ecosystems and put responsibility on the government on emissions caused by UK imports.
It also would allow the public to be involved via a advisory climate and nature assembly consisting of people across the UK.
Penzance Mayor Jonathan How, who is supporting the action, said: "Meaningful response to the climate emergency can only really happen at the local level.
"We need central government to create frameworks within which we can operate. So far the Climate & Ecological Emergency Bill is the best option that I’ve seen and I think it will really help Penzance Council deliver its Climate Action Plan.”