BEFORE the Climate and Nature (CAN) Bill was presented to Parliament, CASA wrote to MP Noah Law urging him to support it. The letter was too long to publish in full in this column so CASA divided it into two parts. Here is Part 2.

Dear Noah, I applaud your efforts to keep Cornwall at the forefront of the green revolution. I hope that is seen in your backing of the White River Project which could transform the whole catchment area and, amongst much other, stop an average of seven hours a day of raw sewage heading down from St Austell to Pentewan beach.

I agree that Cornwall is in pole position to be an exemplar for the green energy transition. Don’t forget the need for interdependence – that electricity generated locally, even on private homes, needs to be distributed locally, then further afield. The shorter the distance electricity travels the less the wastage.

You state that the biggest threat to biodiversity and nature loss is climate change. Up to a point that is true but we desperately need to keep and nurture nature in the most varied and diverse way because we are not going to avoid the ravages of having messed with the climate. It is going to take centuries for the climate to stabilise and in the times of such change one needs the greatest biodiversity to allow stable ecosystems to re-establish.

We have missed the opportunity to avoid catastrophic changes. We can adapt and prepare for an uncertain future whilst, as you say, doing the utmost to put the brakes on hurtling further down the slope of the climate crisis.

I would encourage you, yet again, wherever possible to promote the CAN Bill and join in the debate. I fear there are forces running against it which are not looking decades ahead, as you are, but for short-term gains. Please don’t be hoodwinked or blindsided.

I am always happy to update on current climate science.

*Unfortunately, the debate on the Climate and Nature Bill never happened in the House of Commons.

Article from Climate Action St Austell (CASA)