Wirra's environment push helping say Oxfam

Aug 26 2009 by Jade Wright, Birkenhead News

WIRRAL’S push to help the environment has done a lot to raise the profile of green issues and the future health of our planet. All of the progress made so far, however, hangs in the balance, say Oxfam’s campaigners

This Saturday marks 100 days until the Copenhagen Climate Change talks begin, which Merseyside representatives will attend, alongside global leaders.

Here a deal will be made that will replace the Kyoto protocol, and seal the fate of the world in coping with climate change.

It seems that the government are taking the talks seriously. The energy and climate change secretary Ed Miliband says: “People are still not sufficiently aware of the scale of the problem this could create for them and future generations in Britain.

“People believe climate change is happening in the UK, most people don’t think it’s a plot or something made up, but most people don’t seem to think it will happen in their area.”

Laura Holden, manager of the Wallasey Oxfam branch, adds: “More than just melting ice caps, the human impact of climate change must be considered first and foremost.

“Rising sea levels will not just swallow up much needed land, but will displace millions of people. “In Bangladesh, the coastline may retreat by up to 10 km, displacing huge numbers of people.

“If the equivalent happened to Wirral it being abandoned and much of Merseyside being destroyed.”

And, she says, people in poor countries are suffering for a problem mainly caused by rich countries.

“The Copenhagen talks are the chance for our representatives to show their words are more than just empty promises.

“We want proof that our representatives take the future of the planet as seriously as we do.”