On Tuesday 30 June, residents from across Ceredigion took part in the UK’s first-ever, and world’s largest, virtual lobby of Parliament
The Time Is Now Virtual Lobby saw MPs from every party meet with constituents on the same day the Prime Minister gave a speech about economic recovery. MPs from every corner of the UK engaged in over 280 digital meetings on video conferencing platform Zoom after more than 13,000 people - covering 99% of constituencies across the UK - signed up to take part.
Attendees were calling for a fair and green recovery post COVID-19, demanding immediate action to protect climate and nature, while providing support for the most vulnerable people at home and abroad before it’s too late.
Polling commissioned by The Climate Coalition, found that two thirds (67%) of the British public think we are at a turning point in our history and want their local MP to support strong and ambitious plans on climate change.
Meanwhile, the same polling also reveals the public’s top priorities for the government regarding a green recovery:
- Support for clean renewable energy sources (55%)
- Commitment to clean air and reducing pollution (52%)
- Protecting and restoring nature (52%)
- Investment in green jobs (46%)
- Incentives to help the public to reduce their carbon emissions (46%)
Ben Lake MP said:
“Building back better from coronavirus means reconfiguring the economy in such a way that places climate and sustainable initiatives at its core, with the objective of ensuring a fairer, more prosperous, and more resilient world for us all.
"It was good to hear from constituents in Ceredigion about their views in this regard as part of The Time Is Now Virtual Lobby, and I look forward to lobbying Government for urgent action on these issues. It is vitally important that the views of the residents and communities of Ceredigion contribute to the actions taken on both a Welsh and UK level, and that they both reflect the specific challenges that we face, but also understand how we in turn can support such efforts locally.”