As the General Election approaches, we've put together a survey to ask Leicester's candidates three questions about key environmental issues. If you're still undecided about who to vote for and if you care about the environment, their answers might help! Here are our questions and the answers we've received so far:
1. The High Court has ruled the government's existing climate plans are unlawful and ordered the government to write a new one. How will you ensure the new climate plan delivers action that shares the costs and benefits fairly?
Rahoul Naik, One Leicester (Leicester West)
"I think the ruling from the High Court earlier this year shows how inadequate the Government's proposals and thinking around advancing to net-zero and reducing carbon emissions are and continue to be. It has been disappointing to see the Labour Party's position change too often with investment reduction in the billions. If elected, I will work with parties across the government to fight for a climate plan that is realistic, progressive and focussed on delivering for the country. We must ensure that any climate plan puts people first. That means, focussing on reducing energy bills, increasing infrastructure for electric vehicles, continued incentives for transition to air source heat pumps and solar panels. There is a lot we can do and learn from our European neighbours, there just has not been the political will to do so. This has to be led for the people, brokering relationships with businesses but ultimately for the sake of the planet."
Mags Lewis, Green Party (Leicester East)
"By working with legislators, climate experts and groups, to ensure rhetoric and ambitions regarding climate degradation are underpinned by law and enforced."
Aasiya Bora, Green Party (Leicester West)
"Our Climate plan will:
- Introduce a new Rights of Nature Act, giving Nature rights itself.
- End the scandal of sewage pouring into our rivers, including our beloved River Soar; water companies will be back in public ownership.
- Extend people’s access to green space and waterways close to where they live with a new English Right to Roam Act.
- Set aside 30% of our land and seas by 2030 in which nature will receive the highest priority and protection.
Our wealth tax on those with assets of £10 million or more will help to pay for it. We want grant funding for businesses to decarbonise annually. These would be targeted at small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs), which account for around half of the UK’s private sector emissions.
A Green government would additionally set up regional mutual banks to help drive investment in initiatives which create local jobs in the green economy."
2. Leicester has very high levels of poverty. This has worsened due to rising energy prices. Home insulation reduces the energy needed to heat a home, and therefore a household’s energy costs. It also reduces the carbon emissions causing climate change. If you are elected as an MP, will you support a government funded, nationwide, street by street, home insulation programme? What will you do to work for this and ensure that your constituents benefit from such an insulation programme? (This question comes from our partners, Climate Action Leicester and Leicestershire.)
Rahoul Naik, One Leicester (Leicester West)
"I think it is a great travesty that so many people are living in poverty in Leicester and particularly in Leicester West. Many of these people work, but are in such low paid jobs that they are unable to make ends meet. There is a strong case for the link between carbon emission reduction and ending poverty in the UK. Home insulation is part of that solution and I would definitely back a funded nationwide plan that would bring the benefits of lower carbon emissions, warmer homes and lower bills to all in the UK. I would be a leading voice in the fight for this in Parliament and ensure that Leicester West is used as a beacon of hope for this programme and get the ball rolling further right here in Leicester."
Mags Lewis, Green Party (Leicester East)
"Yes, this is party policy. We will also end the two child benefit cap, lifting thousands of Leicester children out of poverty."
Aasiya Bora, Green Party (Leicester West)
"Elected Greens will push for a local-authority-led, street-by-street retrofit programme to insulate our homes, provide clean heat and start to adapt our buildings to more extreme climate conditions. This would mean investment to: - insulate homes to an EPC B standard or above as part of a ten-year programme. - insulate other buildings to a high standard - provide low-carbon heating systems (e.g. heat pumps) for homes and other buildings."
3. France has banned the use of pesticides in public spaces, to protect people and biodiversity. Would you support a ban on urban pesticide use in the UK, to make our parks and green spaces safe for people and more wildlife-friendly?
Rahoul Naik, One Leicester (Leicester West)
"Yes, I would support a ban on urban pesticide use and I'm sure, like in France, it would be a success and this could be extended further than just public spaces. We have a biodiversity crisis in the UK with many regions working on Nature Recovery Strategies as we have seen a serious decline in UK species and a upward trend of nature loss. I think we have to look strategically at how we can improve and increase biodiversity again in the UK and it starts with game-changing policies like the ban on pesticide use in public spaces."
Mags Lewis, Green Party (Leicester East)
"Yes, as it causes health issues for humans animals and wildlife flora and fauna- our bees are precious!"
Aasiya Bora, Green Party (Leicester West)
"The Green Party wants an immediate end to the emergency authorisation of bee-killing pesticides. Leicester West has many many gardens and school grounds which have been paved over which aren't even being used for car parking. A pilot guided education programme on the importance of bee friendly bushes and cultivating green spaces in our urban areas will help with creating more habitats for our bees."
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