MP says COP28 pledge is welcome but we must protect our local environment too

We all know that limiting the effects of climate change and protecting our natural environment requires work at the local, national and international level. Recently the eyes of the world have been on the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as they hosted COP28.

There were a number of significant announcements as nations came together to keep the path to 1.5 degrees alive.

The most important agreement came at the end of COP28 with nations securing a deal to ‘transition away from’ fossil fuels for the very first time and an acknowledgement that clean energy is required to replace fossil fuels if net zero is to be reached.

Given that it was being hosted by the oil producing UAE, this is a significant win for the international community and marks a shift in our journey away from the use of fossil fuels.

I, like many, would have liked to see stronger wording but we must recognise that not all nations will travel at the same pace and that one of the strongest things the UK can do is to transition to net zero in a sustainable way that is economically beneficial for communities like North Devon.

The UK has consistently been a leader in these negotiations, being the first industrialised nation to set a net zero target in law, and since we took over the COP Presidency to now, net zero targets have gone from covering 30 per cent of global GDP to 90 per cent.

I welcome the UK being one of 123 nations to have pledged to triple renewable energy by 2030 and am keen that we support the development of these technologies, such as floating offshore wind, in the UK, so we can then export them overseas and develop new industries and career opportunities here at home.

Whilst limiting our carbon emissions is important, so is protecting our natural environment both at home and abroad.

I have been supporting calls to ensure our commitments on deforestation are met and it was fantastic to see that the Government is introducing measures so that you be can sure that the products on your supermarket shelves are not contributing to deforestation.

This will help to ensure the protection of some of our world’s most endangered species such as including tigers, leopards and orang-utans.

As a coastal MP I also welcome the increased commitments to protecting 30 per cent of our seas by 2030. The Government has announced increased support for our marine environment, whilst ensuring that sustainable fishing can still take place.

There will be £72.5 million of new funding for the Blue Planet Fund to support the ‘blue economy’ and sustainable ocean usage.

Importantly for the development of the Celtic Sea the government will also ensure the development of infrastructure does not come at the cost of the marine environment and any development ensures its area is left in a better state than it was found in.

For many of us protecting the environment starts at home and no one is closer to our local landscape than our farmers. I was proud to host the National Farming Union’s (NFU) manifesto launch in parliament last week.

Farmers have faced challenges over the last few years, but have continued to produce high quality British produce through the pandemic and the effects of Putin’s illegal war in Ukraine.

Which is why I will continue to support the NFU and schemes such as that led by Conservative MP, Dr Luke Evans, for a ‘Buy British Button’ on supermarkets’ websites.

It is great to see that Morrisons have already adopted it and I’m sure other supermarkets will soon follow suit.