Former Government Minister Norman Baker will be among the key speakers taking part in a free online webinar about transport pollution in the South Downs National Park.
Ahead of the international COP 26 conference in Glasgow at the beginning of November, the South Downs Network is holding a series of online webinars for local people, organisations and businesses to get involved.
The first evening webinar, on Wednesday 27 October, is on Emissions and Pollution from Transport. It features three local campaigners who are making a difference in combatting climate change. The free webinar, which runs from 6pm to 7.30pm, provides an opportunity for local people to find out what is being done and what more needs to be done.
Full details about how you can take part can be found on the South Downs Network website. Or go to the link on the Eventbrite website .
“The transport sector is the largest cause of global warming gases, producing 27% of the UK’s total emissions,” said Vic Ient, South Downs Network Organiser. "It is essential that this area of emissions is tackled in order to reach net zero by 2050.”
“October 27 is also the day when Chancellor Rishi Sunak will be announcing in the Autumn Budget what support there will be for greening transport. Putting up rail and bus fares won't help get people out of their cars and onto a less-polluting forms of transport.”
Speaking at the webinar will be former Transport Minister The Rt Hon Norman Baker, who now advises the Campaign for Better Transport; Sally Pavey, chair of CAGNE which opposes the expansion of Gatwick Airport, and Dr Alister Scott, chair of Cuckmere Solar Community, pioneering local pollution-free power generation.
“Environmental concerns are at the forefront of residents’ worries and fears for future generations,” said Sally Pavey. “We must strongly oppose Gatwick Airport’s plans to rebuild the emergency runway as a second runway. Constraint must be the answer as long as this industry does not have any commercially viable way to stop using fossil fuel for flying.”
Cuckmere’s community-owned solar farm near Berwick is working with Riding Sunbeams and Network Railto pioneer the use solar energy to power the railway network.
“The Cuckmere Solar Community is the first of a kind and as such we hope it will create a model for many other communities to be able to follow,” said Dr Alister Scott. “It is a great example for policy-makers in how to unlock ‘our power’ – the goodwill of ordinary people who want to make a difference in addressing the climate and nature emergency.”
Norman Baker was Member of Parliament for Lewes for 18 years. He served as Transport Minister from 2010 – 2013 as well as Shadow Environment and Rural Affairs Secretary and Leader of Lewes District Council.
Emissions and Pollution from Transport, on 27 October, is the first of three webinars organised by the South Downs Network during the COP 26 Climate Summit. The other free events are:
· Climate Change, Global Warming & Pollution and their effects on Nature & Wildlife on Tuesday 2 November; 6pm–7.45pm.
· Sustainable Development and Living on Wednesday 3 November; 6pm-7.45pm.
The South Downs Network is a voluntary organisation campaigning on environmental issues across the South Downs National Park in East Sussex, West Sussex and Hampshire with the aim of a sustainable future and meeting the carbon challenge.
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