from Jonathan Davies MP for Mid Derbyshire https://ift.tt/Moi5yeu
My recent meeting with the Derbyshire Climate Coalition was a stark reminder of just how much work we must do to live sustainably.
Despite great progress between 2005 to 2020, things have slowed and we are currently only reducing emissions by 0.5% a year, far below our targets.
As well as being necessary to protect our planet, stewardship of the environment is fundamental to our long-term security and prosperity. If we fail to act, we face evolving issues – from communities disrupted by regular flooding to worldwide conflict because of shifting access to resources.
We can take action in our local areas to move towards our net-zero targets, make us energy independent and generate good jobs. Using the power of hydro, the river Derwent at Belper Mills and other locations is already generating renewable energy.
GB Energy, the government’s flagship initiative, is set to drastically reduce the UK’s reliance on a volatile international market for fossil fuels, with significant investment into tripling our solar capacity, increasing our offshore wind capacity, and doubling onshore wind capacity by 2030.
But so much more needs to be done. I hope to work with the Derbyshire Climate Coalition and other campaigners and leaders to ensure that Mid Derbyshire is equipped to make the net-zero transition, resulting in greater energy independence and better standards of living.