Dear Sir,
COP27 commenced on 6th November and runs until the 18th. COP27 (conference of the parties) is where leaders from countries around the globe will meet to assess what has been achieved since COP26. It is where 140 countries come together and set meaningful targets for reducing global carbon emissions. They must work towards other key mitigation and adaption solutions to the climate crisis. However, none of what is discussed is legally binding. In real terms, what has been achieved by all the COPs leading up to this one, has unfortunately been extremely limited. The only notable progress was made in 2015 with the Paris climate agreement coming into place. This is a binding agreement that brings all nations into a common cause to undertake ambitious efforts to combat climate change and adapt to its effects. COP27 is even sponsored by Coca-Cola this year, unbelievable given it is one of the world’s worst plastic polluters.
Faced with a growing energy crisis, record greenhouse gas concentrations (CO2 levels believed to be 419ppm) , and increasing extreme weather events, COP27 seeks to renew solidarity between countries and to deliver on the landmark Paris Agreement.
Since only last year in Glasgow COP26, the UK government has gone in completely the opposite direction to all the agreements made. They have introduced new gas and oil licences, continued to roll out airport and road expansions and will not rule out the opening of a new coal mine in Cumbria. The UK government also pledged in October 2021, to pay climate finance support of £260 million to the developing countries that are already feeling the worst effects of climate change, but this has not been delivered. Rich countries are responsible for 92% of excess historical emissions, Oxfam has reported.
The IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) report 2022 warned that the world is set to reach the 1.5ºC level of global heating within the next two decades and said that only the most drastic cuts in carbon emissions from now would help prevent an environmental disaster.
Rishi Sunak made a screeching U-turn last week, after initially saying he would not attend. He has since made the journey to Egypt after enormous pressure to do so. It would appear he did not realise the huge significance of this major climate meeting, which is going to be so important in terms of galvanising efforts to address the climate emergency. The UK used to be seen on the world stage as a climate leader, yet we have seemingly had to shame our PM into attending. To say this doesn’t bode well would be a stunning understatement. Our government has so far within only a year shed policy after target after manifesto pledge, all while the climate emergency continues apace.
While COP27 takes place, it makes us wonder how can we possibly make a difference when climate change is so overwhelming and confronting for the individual?
We are lucky that CTC (Congleton Town Council) Trees for Congleton has undertaken the enormous and very admirable task of planting 30,000 trees by 2025. The group has directly or facilitated the planting of almost 15,000 trees, shrubs and hedging plants over the past 3 years. As we know, the only way to draw down the rising CO2 is to restore nature, so well done to all the local volunteers. The next opportunity to volunteer will be Saturday 12th November at Isis Close 10-12am. In 2018, I planted fruit trees on the grass verge by my house. The Council very kindly, allowed me to ‘adopt’ the verge for planting. This year they provided a crop of apples and pears, and they’ve been delicious. If you are in a similar situation where you wish to plant trees on a grass verge near to your house, you can contact Streetscape at CTC for permission.
I have also set up ‘Congleton Plant Swap and gardening for wildlife’ Facebook group. The aims of the group are to boost local biodiversity by swapping plants/trees/shrubs/tools/ experience in Congleton gardens. Gardening doesn’t need to be expensive to make a difference to biodiversity. Using simple techniques in the garden can make a huge difference to pollinators , birds and UK native mammals. The group meets once a season face to face, then communicates frequently via Facebook. Feel free to join if you are on Facebook, everyone is welcome to share.
Daven Primary School is raising money to restore their woodland area so that it can be used for outdoor learning and activities by the community. This will be amazing for the children in the school and also open up lots of positive opportunities for the local community too. If you are able to support them then please do so. Please Google ‘space hive, Daven woodland restoration’ to donate.
Mossley Primary school was awarded money from the William Dean Trust in order to boost biodiversity within the school. We have been able to rebuild the school’s wildlife pond, insert raised beds to grow vegetables and have a wildflower area. The children have been able to learn how to grow their own as well as learning the benefits nature can bring. The children have also planted fruit trees that were very kindly donated from the Kindling Trust based in Stockport.
There is lots we can do on an individual and local basis to fight climate change. We all must continue the fight for Congleton Recycling centre, increase our efforts for restoration of nature and fight to protect our green spaces. We can only hope that our leaders can also rise to the challenge that confronts us all.
The Green Party has committed to 7 actions for the UK government to demand from COP27:
1. keep 1.5 degrees alive - the UK government must honour previous pledges
2. End offsetting- offsetting must be outlawed as a measure of achieving net zero
3. Compensate loss and damage to countries at the front of the climate crisis
4. Phase out fossil fuels- there should be an immediate end to fossil fuel subsidies and an urgent decline in use. No new fossil fuel projects should be given the go ahead.
5. Tax dirty profits that benefit from tax loopholes and from companies that continue astronomical emissions
6. Set annual national targets- all countries should set targets each year to show their progress in reaching reduced emissions
7. Deliver climate finance promises
Many thanks
Lisa Miller
Congleton Green Party
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