Earlier this month the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Chance published its report on the future of our planet.  It didn’t make for comfortable reading. The leading scientists who wrote it agreed that climate change is certainly happening and they predicted a three degree temperature rise by 2100.  This will cause storms, floods, heat waves and droughts which may lead to the deaths and displacement of hundreds of thousands of people.

At the same time, the recent Stern report on climate change means that we know that the cost of letting this happen will be much higher than doing something to prevent it now. I firmly believe that if action is taken then there will be an opportunity for us to prevent this calamity from happening.

In North Staffordshire we must play our part. I am doing what I can to get people and organisations from all walks of life on board to promote this new agenda.  This means changing the way we do business and getting people informed and excited about what these changes mean.

For example, on the day of the IPCC report, I joined local students to kick off work on a new eco centre here in the constituency at Westport Lake.  It is not only going to increase local students understanding of environmental  issues, but it is going to be a vital piece of the jigsaw in making North Staffordshire a much greener place. It will be a fantastic resource and a prestigious landmark for those who use the canal and the towpath - be they tourists from outside the city or locals who are using the facilities for leisure.

The project is being spearheaded by British Waterways who are leading the way in the sustainable development of some of the ecosystems and communities in North Staffordshire. I am trying to get other local organisations to do the same and am currently inviting them to sign up to a North Staffordshire declaration and show their support for sustainable development in the region.

I hope that the initiative will bring local partners closer together to work in an integrated approach.

I have also put together some leaflets and information for anyone wanting to play their part individually.  I would be very happy to send copies of these to individuals, groups or schools in the constituency.  If you are from Stoke-on-Trent North, then I would be happy to hear from you.