Humans have already caused irreversible climate change, the impacts of which are being felt in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough and around the world. Global temperatures have increased by 1 degree Celsius from pre-industrial levels.

Without more significant and sustained action, the world is set to exceed the 1.5°C limit between 2030 and 2040. Therefore the current UK target of net zero by 2050 is not satisfactory. It is too little too late.

The increase in harm caused by a rise of 2°C rather than 1.5°C is significant. This is described by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C published in October 2018. According to the IPCC, limiting heating to 1.5°C may still be possible with ambitious action from national and sub-national authorities, civil society, the private sector and local communities. The costs of failing to address this crisis will far outstrip the investments required to prevent it. Investing now will bring many benefits in the form of good jobs, breathable cities and thriving communities.

More recently, the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Independent Commission on Climate released their initial report on the climate in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. The region has 25% higher emissions then the UK average - if we continue on this trajectory, our region will be the first victim.

We need large systematic changes across local societies and economies, locally, nationally and globally, and concrete actions from governments and businesses.

The CPICC have recommended 30 actions that can be taken by the Combined Authority but also Cambridgeshire County Council. If no action is taken within the next 6 years, the region will see:

• High risk of flooding
• Higher temperatures
• Water shortages
• Food shortages

With real action from the Combined Authority and County Council we could see:

• Thousands of Green Jobs
• Green affordable housing
• Green Transport
• Clean Air
• Our Nature Restored
• Tackling Fuel Poverty

And so much more.

We can change our path and see a GreenFuture for generations to come, but urgent action is needed now!