I agree with you on the importance of this vital issue. As the Committee on Climate Change’s (CCC’s) recent report on reducing our greenhouse gas emissions makes clear, we need to act with far greater urgency. The gap between the target of net zero emissions and the action needed to achieve it remains far too great. I know, for example, that green campaigners have expressed disappointment at the lack of effective green measures – such as a national programme of home insulation – in the Prime Minister’s speech setting out plans for the economic recovery from coronavirus.

As the CCC also highlights, there are several areas where we can take action in the coming months. These include low-carbon retrofits, making buildings fit for the future, tree-planting, peatland restoration and building our cycling, walking and remote-working infrastructure. The CCC also notes the opportunities
available for reskilling and retraining programmes and promoting positive behaviour change.

I therefore agree that as we recover from the impact of COVID-19, we must not return to business as usual. We continue to live through a climate and environment emergency, with under ten years left to avoid the worst impacts of catastrophic climate change. Given this, I believe we must bring forward the most ambitious green recovery plan in the world.

This will mean providing jobs for those displaced by the crisis by creating a “zero carbon army” to take on vital work such as home insulation, making zero-emission vehicles, producing renewable energy, planting trees, cultivating our green spaces and redesigning and improving our towns and cities, including
by adapting them for walking and cycling. It will mean reducing our carbon footprint while also improving the quality of life enjoyed by people across our country. It must also mean that conditions on financial support to save companies oblige them to adhere to environmental requirements, safeguard the interests of workers and the public and ensure that we build back better.

Protecting our climate and nature is not only the right thing to do to ensure our collective future, it goes hand-in-hand with fostering our economy and ensuring decent living standards and quality of life. I can therefore
assure you that I will continue to press the Government on this issue at every opportunity.

Thank you once again for contacting me.

Yours sincerely,

Peter Dowd MP