I spoke at an event in Newcastle organised by the climate change campaigning charity ‘Hope for the Future’. I spoke about how I believe that the Government should be prioritising its time so that they can deliver positive environmental policy and answered questions from the audience. I am concerned that recent warnings mean we are running out of time to tackle this issue. Scientists have now warned that we only have 12 years until 2030 to limit the rise in temperature to 1.5°C or significantly worsen the risks of drought, floods, and extreme heat while pushing hundreds of millions of people into poverty. The event focused on ensuring a just and fair transition when our energy system moves from running on fossil fuels to a renewable energy network. This can be achieved through creating high quality jobs, increasing democratic ownership, and tackling fuel poverty in the UK and poverty overseas. The effects of climate
change often impact the most upon those who have the least. All communities must benefit from the green transition.