'Tell your grandparents to vote for your future,' say South Yorkshire environment experts

A roundtable of South Yorkshire environment experts and activists discuss the impact and importance of the environment on the upcoming election.
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With the general election looming the question of the environment is coming to the forefront of people’s minds.

We spoke to experts in the field about how they think the environment may affect this upcoming election; and why they feel it is important to consider the climate crisis when casting their vote.

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Bing Jones, Extinction Rebellion spokesperson, said: “I would urge young people, especially those under the age of 18 who can’t vote to talk to their grandparents and say this really, really means something to me.

Environment round table held at The Star offices: Ian Cracknell, Advocacy Officer for Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust.  Sam Walby, Editor in Chief of Now Then Magazine and Director at Opus Independent.  John Grant, Senior lecturer at Sheffield Hallam.  Jenny Patient, Campaigner with Sheffield Climate Alliance and PHD student at Sheffield Uni.Bing Jones, XR spokesman.Environment round table held at The Star offices: Ian Cracknell, Advocacy Officer for Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust.  Sam Walby, Editor in Chief of Now Then Magazine and Director at Opus Independent.  John Grant, Senior lecturer at Sheffield Hallam.  Jenny Patient, Campaigner with Sheffield Climate Alliance and PHD student at Sheffield Uni.Bing Jones, XR spokesman.
Environment round table held at The Star offices: Ian Cracknell, Advocacy Officer for Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust. Sam Walby, Editor in Chief of Now Then Magazine and Director at Opus Independent. John Grant, Senior lecturer at Sheffield Hallam. Jenny Patient, Campaigner with Sheffield Climate Alliance and PHD student at Sheffield Uni.Bing Jones, XR spokesman.

“I’m going to be alive in 50 years' time and please could you vote for me.”

He added: “It’s a really big responsibility that people have in this election - vote for parties who will actually have already committed to meaningful and real change.”

Sam Walby, Editor in Chief of Now Then Magazine and Director at Opus Independent,is passionate about the urgency of the Climate Crisis and its portrayal in the media.

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He said: “This is going to be a general election where people vote for change.

“If we don’t have the right people in power making decisions were in a lot of trouble.

“I’m not saying Brexit isn't important because I think there are lots of people who do feel that way but the climate crisis is much more important.”

This was an opinion all of the environment experts agreed upon, especially John Grant, a Senior Lecturer at Sheffield Hallam.

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“The future has to be voted, for now, it has to be climate change, adaptation, resilience and the reduction of the effects of climatic and ecological collapse,” John said.

The environment is not the only consideration in this election, other topics of discussion were austerity and Brexit.

Jenny Patient, Campaigner with Sheffield Climate Alliance and PHD student at Sheffield Uni, said: “We’re the fifth richest country in the world and people aren’t experiencing that because it feels like there's no money around.”

Ian Cracknell, Advocacy Officer for Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust, said: “People need to vote for nature and the environment in this election.”