Local MP backs emergency climate broadcast

In a summer of heat, drought and fires, the success of two recent public events shows that many people living around Charlbury care deeply about climate change and have ideas on how to tackle it locally.

Meanwhile, in a hugely positive development, our local MP, Sean Woodcock, said he supports plans for an emergency national climate broadcast after meeting voters in Charlbury.

Film screening

The first of these public events was the well-attended screening at The Memorial Hall in Charlbury of People’s Emergency Briefing, a film presented by Chris Packham. More than 230 local people watched it on two evenings in June.

The film spells out the dire consequences of weather breakdown and calls on the government to hold a wartime-style emergency broadcast to the nation on the climate crisis.

Most people stayed on for discussions about the film and what this community should be doing about climate change around Charlbury.

Meeting with local MP

Following on from the film screening, contact was made with our local MP, Sean Woodcock, Labour Member of Parliament for Banbury, to see if he was willing to back the plan for an emergency climate broadcast.

Sean agreed to a public question and answer session, which took place on 14^th August at the Memorial Hall. More than 80 people turned up to take part in a lively exchange of views on climate change and related topics on a swelteringly hot afternoon.

The event had a very successful outcome. Our MP has been persuaded to support the call for a climate broadcast. After the meeting, Sean wrote in a Facebook post:

“As a result of communication from constituents, I have signed the Parliamentary Call for the National Emergency Briefing, calling on the Government to stage a prime-time televised emergency briefing across all the main channels, delivered by independent experts and supported by the UK’s Chief Scientific Adviser. Thank you to everyone who has been in touch with me about this.”

145 MPs have now signalled support for the measure, and counting.

Ideas for climate action here

Many people are clearly worried about the threat of climate change, but what do they see as the priorities for tackling the crisis around Charlbury?

An analysis by some of the organisers of what was said during the audience discussions that followed the film screenings may provide some answers.

While many participants were daunted by the scale of the climate challenges, according to this account, they felt that Charlbury already has a strong base of local organisations and motivated residents that could help turn concern into action.

Concerns raised included: the need for more detailed, practical and financially realistic solutions to the climate crisis; the importance of political engagement and systemic change; and how to educate and support younger generations.

Suggestions on how to take things forward included: engaging local councils and MPs; exploring ways to deal with extreme heat and home cooling at a local level; creating safe cycling routes, car share schemes and improving public transport; and engaging with young people. Challenging misinformation and climate scepticism was seen as important.

Introducing SusCha-CAN

The film screenings and the meeting with our local MP were organised by an informal network of volunteers. This autumn the group is to be constituted on a more formal basis with a name change.

CAN (Climate Action Neighbourhood) becomes SusCha-CAN. SusCha will provide financial and administrative support. A key aim will be to develop and implement local projects that address climate impacts in a practical way.

A public meeting to launch SusCha-CAN takes place in Charlbury on 11th September. The meeting will discuss project plans. It will also be a chance to hear more about what people around Charlbury said should be the local priorities for tackling climate change in the debates that followed the film screenings. The meeting is open to all.