WHY WE THINK THE PM SHOULD ATTEND COP 27   

A STATEMENT BY NY CLIMATE COALITION

(November 2022)

As climate and environmental groups from across North Yorkshire, including our local MP’s (and now PM’s) constituency of Richmond, we were heartened by Rishi Sunak’s decision to reimpose the moratorium on fracking. So far, so good. However, we are very concerned to hear that he has decided not to attend the COP27 climate talks in Egypt. Many other world leaders will be there, all no doubt with their own pressing domestic issues. A series of key UN reports published over the last few days tell us that current policies, including our own here in the UK, are nowhere near achieving the greenhouse gas reductions needed to keep us below the relatively ‘safe’ 1.5 degree global warming threshold. Indeed, we are on track for a much more dangerous 2.5 degrees of warming, with the likelihood, in the words of the UK Government’s Net Zero Strategy, of ‘severe and irreversible changes to the planet, the environment and human society’. This cannot be the legacy we leave our children. Whatever other priorities we have, leaving the planet in a fit state for them must surely be at the top of the list. So Rishi, Prime Minister, please reconsider. We need you to be there, with the full weight of the UK government (and, for what it’s worth, the full backing of North Yorkshire climate groups up here in your own patch), pushing for maximum ambition and speed. We think the markets will understand if you take a couple of days out to attend such a crucial gathering. International bond traders have children, too!

 

NORTH YORKSHIRE CLIMATE COALITION

Action on Climate Emergency (ACE) Settle and Area, Clapham Sustainability Group, Climate Action Northallerton, Climate Action Stokesley and Villages, Helmsley Green Team, Kirby Misperton Environmental Group, Malton and Norton Environmental Group, Nidderdale Climate + Environment Group, Northallerton Has Heart, North Yorkshire West Federation Women's Institutes Climate Change Action, Pickering Environmental Group, Project Purple Hovingham, Richmondshire Climate Action Partnership, Ryedale Environmental Group, Selby Friends of the Earth, Thirsk Friends of the Earth, Zero Carbon Harrogate

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