After a good campaigning session in Wickham yesterday, I spent nearly an hour with the ‘Wickham and Knowle Climate Action Group’ talking about the environment.

We spoke about the importance of any new government tackling the climate crises more urgently, and agreed that action up until now had not been enough.

We need a new green industrial revolution to stop catastrophic climate change, and this relies on everyone doing their part. I have always believed that if everyone does what they can, then the task of decarbonising our society will be substantially easier.

We have the technology available, and all have the potential to do more in our everyday lives.

This is also why it is so important that the UK remains a key player on the world stage, regardless of the outcome of Brexit. We all breath the same air, and so need to work together to change the world with other countries. Our emissions are only a few percent of the world’s, so we must work with others to help ourselves.

It was a really interesting discussion, and I was genuine when I said that I felt it was quite possibly the most important issue of our generation, as we must stop the hugely destructive effects of climate change that are heading our way if we do nothing.

I believe though that large scale change is possible. This is through a strong economy, good international relations, good use of green tech, good support for people to change their ways of travelling and living, and through encouraging a real desire to see change.

I am very excited about Labour’s Green New Deal, and believe that it is taking decisive action to overcome this huge challenge that we face.

Matt Bunday

Labour Party Parliamentary Candidate for Meon Valley.