‘We need, more than ever, to move away from a carbon-based economy’ 

• JULY has marked the hottest month on Earth since records began, with the majority of days across this month breaching dangerous 17°C surface air temperatures. Such spikes have not been seen for around 125,000 years.

Against this backdrop, across the month we’ve also seen extreme forms of weather across the world. Southern Europe and Canada are on fire. Italy is flowing with rivers of ice. And the Arctic continues to melt at pace.

If the last few weeks of the climate crisis have taught us anything it’s that we need, more than ever, to move away from a carbon-based economy.

Why, then, I question does the Labour Party want to row back on its environmental commitments? Strong leadership on the environment is needed more than ever before.

First I was disappointed when Labour watered down its proposed £28billion-a-year green prosperity plan last month, and then again when it was alleged that leader Sir Keir Starmer declared that he “hate[s] tree huggers”.

Even more recently, though, in the last week I’ve been disheartened that the expansion of London’s ULEZ is at risk thanks to a kneejerk political reaction from the Labour leadership and senior members of Camden Labour to the Uxbridge by-election.

ULEZ is not just an environmental issue but also a public health one that can save lives. The Mayor of London’s own figures show that air pollution in our capital is creating an estimated 4,000 premature deaths each year; toxic air is truly a matter of life or death.

It is therefore imperative that Labour continues with the ULEZ expansion across London as is currently planned. As Camden Labour’s own cabinet member for a sustainable Camden has said, the extension of ULEZ is “vital to achieving acceptable standards of air quality in London”.

I hope therefore that Camden Labour’s commitment to ensuring our residents can breathe clean air across our capital is unwavering. Residents can be rest assured that Camden Green Party’s commitment to clean air is resolute.

LORNA JANE RUSSELL
Former Camden Councillor, Green Party