15 December 2015

North Lincs Green Party Welcomes Paris Agreement

 

North Lincolnshire Green Party has welcomed the climate agreement that has been made by World Leaders after two weeks of intensive talks in Paris.

For the first time in history, nearly 200 nations have come together in a bid to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect our planet from the effects of climate change. The pact that has been made is a very important step towards a sustainable future and climate justice for all. The decision to limit temperature rise to 1.5°C is welcomed but we need to ensure that Governments develop robust policies and put their words into actions. Now the agreement is in place, empty rhetoric simply won’t be tolerated.  After years of demanding climate action, we can’t allow our Government to go back on their promises.

Ahead of the Paris Climate Talks over 50,000 people, including members from North Lincolnshire Green Party, took to the streets of London during the Climate, Justice and Jobs march to demand that the World Leaders signed a strong agreement to act on climate change. Laura Atkin, Coordinator for North Lincs Green Party, was one of the members in attendance. She said ‘The amount of people that turned out on to the streets of London just highlights how important the issue of climate change is to so many. It was fantastic to see people from all walks of life coming together to demand climate action. Now that the Paris Climate Talks are over, it is vital that we maintain pressure on our Government to put in place a clear plan. A plan which includes the divestment from fossil fuels to 100% renewable energy, including the suspension of all fracking applications. The agreement that has been made isn’t perfect but it certainly puts the world on the right path. Whilst the agreement calls on all countries to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, it doesn’t set out a timescale, nor is the agreement legally binding, meaning that countries that decide not to act cannot be sanctioned. However, there simply isn’t room for the agreement to fail, there is no second planet.’

The agreement may not be as bold as some would have liked but it is a giant leap in the right direction to a more sustainable and greener future. After years of our Government not taking climate change seriously and failing to act, never has a greater opportunity been presented to them to truly follow their mantra of being ‘the greenest government ever’.

 

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ABOVE: Green Party Leaders, MEP’s, London Mayoral Candidate and Spokespeople at the Climate, Justice and Jobs march in London on 29^th November 2015. BELOW: The ‘Green Bloc’ marching

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