Yesterday, Dr Ellie Chowns, the new Green Party MEP for the West Midlands, met Warwickshire County Council Leader Cllr Izzi Seccombe and Chief Executive Monica Fogarty. Ellie is spending the month of August travelling around the region meeting residents and local organisations, and has requested meetings with all the main local authorities to discuss the key issue of how to tackle the climate crisis.

Ellie said, “People from all parties are waking up to the urgency of the climate crisis. The science is clear – we need to shift to zero carbon as soon as possible, and that requires urgent cross-party action at all levels of government – local, national and international.”

“We have a real opportunity to transform our quality of life by investing in clean energy and new technologies, creating great public transport systems, and ensuring every home is warm and well-insulated, with more affordable energy bills. A ‘Green New Deal’ would create tens of thousands of well-paid, secure and sustainable jobs, upgrade our crumbling infrastructure, and make our economy more resilient in the face of increasingly frequent, damaging climate events, protecting people’s homes and livelihoods.”

“While I’m pleased that Warwickshire County Council has joined over 200 other local authorities in recognising the climate emergency, I’m disappointed that the Council has not yet set any targets for emission reduction. Warm words need to be translated into concrete action. Today, I asked Cllr Seccombe to prioritise making plans for achieving zero carbon, otherwise Warwickshire risks being left behind.”

“I do find it odd for Conservatives to claim that they cannot commit to urgently-needed action on climate change without a fully-costed appraisal, when they are busy driving the UK over the costly Brexit cliff with no deal, no plan and no regard for the consequences. Transitioning to zero carbon is cheaper than Brexit, and makes much more sense!”

The Leader of the Green Group on Warwickshire County Council, Jonathan Chilvers, said, “I’m concerned that Conservative-led Warwickshire County Council isn’t showing the kind of urgency that Warwick District Council is in addressing the Climate Crisis. The Conservative administration have the opportunity to kick-start the changes we need in transport and waste, through clear, responsible leadership. It must step up and deliver for our residents.”

Photo: Left – Monica Fogarty, Chief Executive of Warwickshire County Council, centre – Dr Ellie Chowns MEP, right – Warwickshire County Council Leader Cllr Izzi Seccombe.