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The Prosser Perspective.... a weekly column from Dover and Deal MP Gwyn Prosser.

9 July 2009

Over recent months I have been lobbied regularly by local branches of Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth about global warming and climate change. This month the environment group, ‘Deal with it’ met with me to discuss the Government’s policy on these issues and I’ve also had lobby meetings with Dover’s Christian Aid group on various environmental matters.

But climate change is something we all need to be concerned with and people from all parts of Dover and Deal have got in touch with me about it, worried about what kind of planet we are going to leave for the next generation and they are right to be concerned. Scientists recently gave their clearest warning yet of what could happen.

They warned of drought – in some parts of Britain, summer rainwater could drop by a quarter. They warned of floods – winter rains could increase by almost a third and flooding from heavier rainstorms would take its toll on businesses and homes. And they warned of heat waves – in 2003, an increase in average temperature of just two degrees led to 35,000 extra deaths across Europe.

But if we do act, instead of these changes and what they mean for our homes and countryside, we could have a more stable climate and new job opportunities in Britain. Acting on climate change means jobs in construction as we embark on the refurbishment of our homes, to cut down on wasted energy. It means jobs in manufacturing as we lead new low-carbon industries, like electric cars. It means a new future for places like the North Sea, which could start to store the CO2 from our power stations and heavy industry.

The challenge for Britain is to show the way to a low-carbon future, but we must get all countries signed up to act as well. We can help tip the balance by our own actions and by persuading other countries to join a global deal at the UN meeting in Copenhagen, this December.

We’ll be arguing for a deal that every country can sign up to – there can be no carbon buck-passing and we’ll be arguing that the world’s release of heat-trapping gasses needs to stop growing in the next decade and start shrinking – with support for the poorest countries to make sure they can do their bit. This meeting is make-or-break for all of us, and every British citizen can play their part.

Getting a deal in Copenhagen is going to be a big ask – but we can do it .

If readers, people across the country and around the world call on their governments to act, if we carry on saving carbon at home, we can stop dangerous climate change. We can make a difference, and know that we’ll be able to look our children and grandchildren in the eye because we stood up for their tomorrows. But you can do your bit today by pledging your support at http://www.labour.org.uk/copenhagen_pledge