Shadow Treasury Minister, Clive Lewis, has demanded more be done on climate change within parliament. Speaking exclusively to City News he said some in Westminster still don’t appreciate the enormity of the issue.
The key arguments
- The Labour MP said we are entering into “a climate emergency”
- Some members of the house are “climate deniers”
- There is a trend on the right which sees environmental responsibility as economically “unsustainable”
Aviation
- The Shadow Minister described a significant “split” on the left over Heathrow expansion
- He said prioritising jobs over environmental protections created a “defining” but unnecessary divide
- Mr Lewis spoke in favour of the Stansted 15, and applauded the success of “peaceful means” in protecting human rights
Extinction Rebellion
- The former Shadow Defence Secretary reiterated his belief that Civil Disobedience and non-violent unlawfulness should be supported
- However, parliament should supersede this process by passing meaningful legislation
- He commended the “honourable” motives of the new environmental movement
- The “mobilisation” of the public is essential, and the fight against Climate Change is “war”
“Total Government Approach”
- Invoking the War Cabinet, the representative for Norwich South said every department within government must contribute to environmental policy
- Cross-party cooperation is “critical”
- This will challenge the problem of ministers resigning or governments departing as there will be a clear “national” mission
Clive Lewis is a member of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Climate Change (APPCCG). He is currently the Shadow Treasury Minister for Sustainable Economics. He has been the Labour Member of Parliament for Norwich South since 2015.
