CAMPAIGNERS have called for the Government to take urgent action to tackle the climate emergency facing the planet following a day of action in the heart of the city.
Members of Worcester Greenpeace group held conversations with city residents to find out whether they had noticed any impacts of climate change locally, what they believed to be the biggest cause of climate change and what they wanted to be done about it.
The overwhelming majority of Worcester residents interviewed by volunteers during a day of high street conversations said they wanted urgent action from government directed at tackling the climate emergency.
The recent IPCC report warned human beings had just over a decade left to cut carbon emissions in order to keep global warming below 1.5 degrees.
In late July, Britain experienced its hottest day on record, with the mercury hitting 32.7c in Worcester, while a Met Office study revealed the top 10 warmest years on record in the UK have all occurred since 2002.
John Allen, a volunteer with Greenpeace Worcester group who lives on Barbourne Road said: “We need to take urgent action on the climate emergency and it’s fantastic Worcester City Council has led the way by declaring one.
“The overwhelming majority of residents we spoke to in Worcester are noticing local impacts of climate change, such as extreme weather, more flooding and higher temperatures.’’
According to the campaigners, city residents would also support Government taking action to tackle climate change, even if it had a negative impact on their own lifestyle.
Those questioned also revealed they driving less, eating less meat and installing solar panels in a bid to help tackle climate changed but wanted Government to lead the way.
“Following the hottest recorded day in our history, I’m really worried that if we don’t take urgent action on climate now, the next generation will inherit an uninhabitable planet,” Mr Allen said.
“It’s the fossil fuel companies which are profiting from this crisis and they need to take responsibility and stop fuelling the climate fire.”
