Calder Valley MP responds to Extinction Rebellion protesters

Members of Extinction Rebellion marched through the town to give MP Craig Whittaker a letter urging him to speak out on what the group says is “the Government’s failure to act on the climate and ecological emergency”.

In response to the group’s letter, Mr Whittaker said: “I am sorry to hear of your concerns regarding global climate change and the affects you feel it is having locally, especially with regard to flooding in Mytholmroyd and Hebden Bridge, not forgetting Elland and Brighouse too, who also suffer from flooding.

“It is on this front that I am incredibly proud of my achievements by getting the Government to allocate not only an unprecedented level of funding specifically to the Calder Valley for flood defences as well as wider catchment work but also the large sum of money the Government have set aside for natural resource management, which we as an area can access for larger schemes.

“I am proud of the UK’s world-leading role in tackling climate change and the transition to Clean Growth, with the UK being the first country to legislate to eliminate our contribution to climate change by 2050, and the fastest in the G20 to cut emissions. When we achieve net zero, the UK will have eliminated its contribution to climate change, which as of December 2019 accounted for 1.2 per cent of global emissions.

“Getting to net zero by 2050 is tough and expensive, but feasible and consistent with avoiding most damaging climate change. Aiming for zero emissions by 2030 is almost certainly impossible, hugely disruptive and risks undermining consensus. Climate change is an emotive issue, but a cross-community consensus will be required to ensure the UK achieves a transition that works for all.

“May I call on you as politically active members of the community to assist the Government in achieving its net-zero carbon emission target sooner by lobbying your local authority to take climate change seriously. Our actions locally can have an impact globally.”