Comment: Taking climate change seriously

Over the half term, many of us will have been enjoying the sunshine and some much-needed time outdoors. But it was not long ago that we were dealing with the effects of heavy rainfall, with rising groundwater levels causing infiltration into water pipes and putting pressure on local infrastructure. 

These kinds of extremes feel like they are becoming more common. What once felt unusual is increasingly becoming the norm, and it underlines why we need to be taking climate change seriously, both in how we talk about it and, crucially, in how we act to change the worrying trajectory we currently appear to be on. 

Climate change poses a huge challenge to our local environment.

That is why I have recently supported a proposal for a national climate emergency public broadcast. I have signed a pledge backing calls for a televised emergency briefing, alongside colleagues in Westminster from across many parties, because I believe we all deserve clear, accessible and evidence-based information about the challenges our country faces. 

Flooding in recent winters has shown that climate change and biodiversity loss are not abstract issues, but present real and growing risks to our communities, our local economy, and our natural environment. At a time when social media can spread misinformation easily, it is more important than ever that the public has access to trusted information about what is happening, and what we can do about it. 

We are already seeing the effects of these challenges locally. In Chichester Harbour, for example, algal blooms have become an increasingly visible sign of the pressures on our environment. 

I was pleased to attend a recent Chichester Harbour summit, bringing together a wide range of organisations including the Harbour Conservancy, Portsmouth Water, Southern Water, the Environment Agency, DEFRA and the NFU. The summit provides a valuable opportunity to bring together and work with all those working on these issues day-to-day. 

While there is a clear recognition that progress is being made, there are also long-standing challenges. Nitrate pollution remains an issue. Despite tremendous efforts from local farmers and landowners in recent decades to reduce nitrate pollution, the way the land stores nitrates means that we are only seeing the impact of historic practices now.  

That said, it was encouraging to hear about practical solutions already making a difference. The reedbeds at Lavant Wastewater Treatment Works, which I visited last summer, are now having a tangible impact in reducing nitrate levels, one of the key drivers of algal blooms. 

I have submitted a series of written parliamentary questions to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on the key policy asks discussed. I look forward to sharing those responses at the next summit, and to continuing to work with local partners and in Parliament to restore the health of our harbour and protect the natural environment we all value so highly.