WE invited a number of political representatives to discuss the impact of climate change.

Our first response was from Bush Fair councillor, Kay Morrison (Lab)

Cllr Morrison said: “Last year I took part in a pre-COP26 event in Harlow Town Centre. I reminded those present that the seas were already rising, that the ice was already melting, that the planet was already burning.

At COP26 our government made grand, ambitious promises, signing up to a net-zero emissions strategy. It was a promising start.

That was then. Now we see that some of those jostling to become Prime Minister have signalled that such a strategy might mean taxing rich southerners ….. many of whom will vote in the leadership campaign. 

You see how tricky it is? To make it worse, the High Court has declared the government’s ‘strategy’ inadequate, giving ministers till March to show in detail exactly how zero emissions will be achieved.

At the moment, policy-makers seem intent on avoiding action, instead protecting the fossil fuel industry, animal farming, construction firms, car manufacturers and airline companies. 

This is the time for action. Right now. We need a whole shift in opinion, public and political. Tiny changes will not be enough now. We have to wake up to the damage we’ve already done and to our responsibility to our children and our children’s children who will not forgive us if we fail them. 

Recent temperatures in the UK alone are unprecedented. This is a climate emergency. Our beautiful planet really is on fire.