Extinction Rebellion protests came to Nottingham yesterday, as activists from the group against the climate crisis targeted the office of Gedling MP Tom Randall.
They are demanding the MP speaks out now about what they say is the Government’s failings to reach its own climate targets.
Accompanied by a loud ensemble of drums and carrying flags they marched to the city centre offices of the Nottingham Conservatives in a bid to address Mr Randall.
They stuck a message about their concerns to the office doors.
The group said the socially distanced protest was organised because the government’s own Committee on Climate Change (CCC) reported yesterday to say that the government’s actions fall way short of meeting its own legally-binding target to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 – a target most scientists consider to be woefully inadequate.
Margaret Vince, 62, translator from Arnold said “Tom Randall says that he is ‘proud’ of the Conservative Party’s legislation ‘to eliminate our contribution to climate change’, but today the CCC says there are 21 indicators of progress towards net zero and the UK is only on track for four of these. 4 out of 21 is terrible! I’m frustrated!
“The Conservatives need to listen to the science and act.”
Jo Bucklow, 60, from Gedling said “I went to one of Tom Randall’s surgeries, and he really listened and he even did more research about the subject I took to him. I’m desperate that he takes the Climate and Ecological Emergency just as seriously. I’m really looking forward to talking to him about this on his “Virtual Lobby on a fair and green recovery” this coming Tuesday.”
Mr Randall is holding a virtual lobby on Tuesday, June 30 between 10.30am-11am and he is inviting Gedling constituents and community groups to join him and discuss climate change and nature.
You can join the debate by emailing: tom.randall.mp@parliament.uk
CCC Chairman, Lord Deben, said: “the global crisis of climate change is accelerating…choices that lock in emissions or climate risks are unacceptable.”
Chair of the CCC’s Adaptation Committee, Baroness Brown of Cambridge, said: “We have warned repeatedly that the UK is poorly prepared for the very serious impacts of climate change, including flooding, overheating and water shortages.”
We’ve contacted Mr Randall’s office for a reaction to the story.
Really good to see people starting to wake up to the climate change threat.
This is so much greater than the covid crisis and thank you so much Gedling Eye for drawing attention to it.
What about a regular ‘Today Climate Fact’ slot, that highlights interesting & memorable facts and solutions for your readers? Everybody is increasingly worried about this and the only way to tackle this concerns is by understanding the issues and solutions.
I hope Mr Randall and all MPs start taking this as seriously as it needs to be. The planet showed us over lockdown that recovery is possible so we need to start finding sustainable solutions to everything. The technology is out there but we need to political will and cooperation. We need to face the truth in this report and act now!
EA are little short of terrorists. I hope they are met with the full force of the law next time they engage in their usual activities of threats and nuisance.