A number of local green groups have been invited to help the Government prepare for COP26 —the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference.
The local green groups include Transition Buxton, Hope Valley Climate Action, Sustainable Hayfield, Acclimatise Whaley and Transition New Mills.
They have been invited to take part in a meeting with Government officials, after High Peak MP Robert Largan paid tribute to their local work in Parliament.
The groups were praised when the local MP asked questions to the recently appointed President of the COP26 global summit—the Rt Hon Alok Sharma MP in the House of Commons on Wednesday (24 February).
As co-host of COP26 and president of this year’s G7, the UK is going to make sure the environment stays at the top of the global agenda.
High Peak MP Robert Largan urged the Minister to increase engagement between government and local environmental groups, supporting grassroots efforts to tackle climate change.
The COP26 President responded:
“This is the first COP ever for which we have set up an international civil society and youth advisory council—indeed, the next meeting of the group is later today. It is co-chaired by two young climate activists, one from the global north and one from the global south. I have committed to meet civil society groups and youth groups in every country that I visit, because I really want their voices to be front and centre and at the heart of COP26.”
Robert Largan MP responded by praising local groups and asking for a meeting:
“I welcome the appointment of my right hon. Friend to his role, which underlines how seriously the Government are taking their efforts to find international agreement on tackling climate change. The scale of the challenge ahead requires us to be innovative and to think outside the box. I pay tribute to the work done by local groups such as Hope Valley Climate Action, Transition Buxton, Sustainable Hayfield, Acclimatise Whaley and Transition New Mills. Is the President prepared to meet me and those groups to hear their ideas on how we can work together to tackle climate change?”
The COP26 President concluded:
“My hon. Friend raises an important point, because local groups are vital to the delivery of many initiatives, not just in the UK but around the world. I pay tribute to him for his work in promoting climate action in his constituency and more widely. I will of course ensure that either I or members from the COP unit for civil society and the youth team will meet the organisations in his constituency to which he referred, particularly to hear their views.”
Robert Largan MP commented:
“Climate change is the biggest threat facing us as a species. It is essential that we join together and take bold action to tackle it. I hope that this meeting between local green groups and officials will help Government think outside the box as we approach this crucial global summit.
“It’s my ambition to make the High Peak the capital for tackling climate change!”
