, newly appointed Shadow
Minister for Climate Justice and Green Jobs, demands the
government ban fracking, allow onshore wind and create free bus
travel for under 25s.
Under the new role Danielle Rowley will liaise with popular
movements on climate change, including the climate school
strikers, to hear their concerns and discuss Labour policies.
Danielle will spend her first day in her new role (Friday) at the
University of Edinburgh’s Roslin Institute in Midlothian
discussing solar energy, and with the climate school strikers at
Holyrood.
She will also focus on ensuring that the decarbonisation of our
energy system and investment in green infrastructure leads
to the creation of high-skilled, unionised and UK-based
green jobs.
As a first priority, she will demand the government step up its
action to lower carbon emissions commensurate with its newly
adopted 2050 net zero target.
According to the Committee on Climate Change (CCC), the UK is
still off track to meet its near term targets in the 2020s and
2030s, despite parliament declaring a climate emergency in May.
Conservatives have continued to back new fracking sites despite
evidence that fracking will lock the UK into an energy
infrastructure based on fossil fuels long after 2030 when the CCC
says gas in the UK must sharply decline.
Since 2015, the Conservatives have introduced huge barriers in
the planning system to onshore wind development in England, and
blocked onshore wind from competing for subsidies, effectively
banning a renewable energy source from replacing existing
reliance on fossil fuels.
Providing free bus travel will reduce carbon emissions and
generate lifelong use of public transport for young people.
, Shadow Minister for
Climate Justice and Green Jobs, said:
“As a campaigner I’m really excited that I’ll be working more
closely with the climate movement, including the inspiring youth
climate strikers, to urgently move the issue forward.
“Since Parliament declared a climate emergency and adopted the
2050 net zero target the government has not introduced a single
practical measure that will help the UK to lower its emissions.
“As a priority, I will be using my position to push them to
immediately ban fracking, stop blocking onshore wind and extend
free bus travel to under 25s.
“We need to kickstart a Green Industrial Revolution in the UK
informed by diverse voices both within and outside of the climate
movement.”
