Britain must show leadership in tackling climate crisis, Sheffield MP says
Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough MP Gill Furniss raises her concerns about the climate crisis...
In my role as a Member of Parliament, I receive hundreds of emails every day, on a truly eclectic range of topics.
Housing concerns, immigration issues and benefit problems dominate; but when it comes to policy queries, one topic is consistently raised by constituents more often than any other – the environment.
As I returned to Westminster earlier this week, having secured the chance to question the Foreign Secretary on a matter of my choosing, I thought about what constituents would want me to raise, and I could not help but dwell on events that had occurred over the summer.
Fires ravaging Europe. Devastating floods in Nepal. Conflict across Africa and the Middle East. At first glance seemingly disparate. But I despair, as each successive crisis bares deep links to the climate crisis.
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I despair because we’ve just suffered through the hottest summer in the UK since records began. I despair because we’re on track to record the highest ever number of heat-related deaths in a year. And I despair because the Conservatives, who enshrined much of our net-zero legislation, now purge prospective candidates who dare to believe that we should achieve net-zero by 2050.
Meanwhile, Reform maintains that recent extreme weather is merely an opportunity to enjoy the sun and grow better a better vintage of wine.
When it was my turn to speak in the chamber, I pressed the Foreign Secretary on his work to combat climate change.
In his response he rightly recognised that “we are impacted here at home by what happens overseas”; but our actions at home also have an impact abroad. We must continue to show leadership on combating the climate crisis; in order to protect our children and future generations from its worst impacts.
Next month, the Chancellor will set out a budget that will focus on easing the cost-of-living crisis, which remains the immediate, pressing burden for families across Sheffield.
Still, I know from speaking with my constituents that they recognise that protecting our households today and leading the global climate fight are not mutually exclusive.
I was proud to stand on a manifesto that committed to restoring international aid funding to previous levels, and I would warmly welcome measures in the budget that bring us closer to that goal.
Only by supporting efforts to tackle the climate crisis globally can we secure a safer, more stable future for all.