Barnsley MP supports mermaids’ call for...

A group of campaigning mermaids achieved a breakthrough, when Barnsley MP Mick Clapham agreed to support their call for a strong law on climate change. The mermaids and deep-sea divers from environmental group Friends of the Earth descended on the town centre to highlight the links between climate change and flooding. They met with Mick Clapham MP, and presented him with postcards and messages from local residents, to remind him that if climate change continues, devastating floods like those that hit South Yorkshire this summer could become much more frequent and severe. The MP responded by agreeing to back the campaign, and support a strong law to cut UK emissions.

Mermaid Sarah Hards said, "It's great that Mick Clapham has agreed to support all three of our aims for the new Climate Change law - that it should contain annual milestones, that it should include aviation and shipping, and that it should bring about cuts in UK emissions of 80% by 2050. This shows his genuine commitment to tackling climate change - and I hope many more MPs will follow his example."

This summer, thousands of homes were affected by the region’s “worst natural disaster in living memory”. Hilary Benn, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, reported four tragic deaths and over 37,000 affected properties and businesses, as a direct result of the flooding. According to the Environment Agency, “Climate change will increase flood risks”.

Last year over 130,000 people joined Friends of the Earth’s “Big Ask” campaign and asked their MP to support a new law to make annual cuts in carbon emissions. As a direct result a draft Climate Change Law has been published by the Government, but Friends of the Earth and three influential committees of MPs have all stated it contains some serious flaws. The environmental charity is calling for the Law to be made much tougher and commit the UK to cutting emissions by 3 percent a year, crucially including emissions from aviation and shipping. A strong Climate Change law would make it easier and cheaper for us all - individuals and business - to be climate friendly.

Michelle Hawthorne, Friends of the Earth volunteer and local mermaid, said, “We need to start reducing emissions now, unless we want to see Barnsley become an under-water world. The challenge is to make sure the Climate Change Law really does the job. We need to cut emissions by 80% by 2050, to avoid dangerous climate change and we need annual targets, so we can keep track of how we’re doing.”

Sarah Hards added, “It’s crazy that carbon emission from aviation and shipping isn’t included in the Law. Trying to cut emissions without including aviation and shipping is a bit like trying to cut calories, and not counting chocolate!”

Mick Clapham MP stressed the importance of the climate change issue, and told the campaigners that he believed the UK could reduce its carbon emissions through more sustainable energy production, including clean coal technology.

Neil Kingsnorth, who represents Friends of the Earth in Yorkshire, said, “People in Barnsley have seen how destructive flooding can be. If we want to prevent worse floods in the future, we need decisive action to tackle climate change. So I’d like to congratulate Mick Clapham for showing his real commitment to addressing the problem.”

The other Barnsley MPs, Jeff Ennis and Eric Illsley, have also recognised the need for action, by supporting the introduction of a Climate Change Bill last year. Now, campaigners hope that they will follow Mick Clapham’s example, and make sure the law is strong enough to do the job.