A Stall In Witney

We set up a whiteboard asking just two questions – “Are you worried about climate change?” and “Is the government doing enough?”

90% said they were worried about climate change

97% felt that the government wasn’t doing enough about it.

The first of these figures tallies quite closely with national polls which show that at least 80% of us are worried. This is a number which is rising. Anxiety about the climate, and our future, is a real and growing thing. We think an MP would be wise to take note of this, and we have shared our findings with our MP, Robert Courts.

Most of us feel climate change is very important and want it addressed better, but a lot of people we spoke to were puzzled and disappointed. They said things like: “How can politicians say they ‘get it’ about climate change but then do all the wrong things?” How can politicians vote, today, to license over a hundred new oil and gas fields?

It made no sense to many of the folk we spoke with.

Economic, scientific and political experts tell us that grappling effectively with climate change is still possible. They tell us that it could be done quite quickly. They tell us that it would be economically wonderful. Boris Johnson declared that “going green is easy, lucrative and right”. Mark Carney, ex-governor of the Bank of England said it could be “the greatest commercial opportunity of our time”.

A lot of us know what must be done but that politicians aren’t doing it. Maybe it’s up to us, in such a case. Maybe we need to bombard Robert with our opinions. If we did, and if he then decided to work for better climate action, he’d have something to go on – he’d have plenty of evidence that his constituents want it very much and very urgently. So let’s all write to Robert, right now!

Fossil fuels are the problem. It really is that simple. We have to stop drilling for them now, and only use what we already have to tide us over while we pivot to a net zero future – a future where renewables do the heavy lifting. We have to leave the oil, the gas and the coal in the ground and do things differently. We don’t seem to be a wise species, but we’re a very clever one. We know we can work it out. We know we can afford to do it (and we know we can’t afford not to). And we know we have to do it.

What can we (you and me) do here and now, in Witney? One important thing we can do is to tell Robert what we think. Tell him urgently and tell him now.

Fossil fuels are the problem. It really is that simple!