A number of constituents have written to me with an
email entitled “ Please fight for our nature.”
Whilst parliament and the media have a strong
focus on Brexit, the work for me as a backbench MP, continue across a whole
raft of activities and agendas. This campaign in support of nature is a welcome
and worthy proposition.
The Agriculture Bill, Fisheries Bill and Environment
Bill all under the guidance of Michael Gove is an ideal opportunity to set
parameters. Michael has excellent green credentials and has proved
himself both a listener and a doer. My experience in talks with him on various
matters concerning the environment and beyond has always been positive; his
help, advice and support on plastic waste reduction which poses such a threat
to wildlife was invaluable. Whilst I commend his stance to date there is more
that can be done.
One development here in the Duchy which could prove
a vital breakthrough in the progress towards green transport (transport
accounts for around one third of Co2 emissions in the UK) is the prospect of
commercial extraction of lithium - a key material used in batteries. With the
prospect of the electric car becoming the norm very soon, lithium will be in
high demand. Further, Boeing has made further announcements about its all
electric aircraft – again the greening of our transport is under way and in my
role on the Transport Committee I continue to promote green transport as part
of the strategy towards a better environment for us all.
We are set to leave the EU on 29 March and will
then be free to set our own laws and regulations to ensure that nature and our
environment is protected and supported for the benefit of everyone.
