Stockton North MP Alex Cunningham has added his voice to a call for a commitment to a green and fair economy, after attending an event about the importance of tropical forests in Westminster.
Alex attended the Tropical Forests Need You event to highlight the importance of climate action in the UK ahead of the Rio+20 Earth Summit in Brazil later this month (20-22 June).
The RSPB invited MPs and Peers along to the event including Alex, to show the importance of tropical forests and talk about the work the organisation is doing to help save these important places, whilst being encouraged to sample the RSPBs very own Tropical Forest friendly, palm oil free chocolate.
At the event, Alex pledged support for the Stop Climate Chaos Coalition’s ‘Rio-UK Declaration’, which states the UK should be at the forefront of the transition to a global green economy: delivering on our Climate Act whilst pushing for a stronger EU emissions target, and helping the world’s poorest communities adapt to the effects of climate change, invest in getting clean energy to all people, and protecting rainforests.
The event was part of the ‘Rio Connection’, a coordinated campaign to mark twenty years since the original Rio Earth Summit in 1992. The Rio Connection has seen hundreds of people across the country organising Rio-themed events.
Alex said:
“Making the connection to local people concerned about climate change/ sustainability is important to me. I’m pleased to support their calls for greater action because it is good for the economy and the environment.
“The Tory-led Government’s own domestic record on sustainability is lamentable- abolishing the Sustainable Development Commission; the forest sell-off in England; dropping plans to legislate for 0.7% of GNI to be spent on aid (as set out in the Coalition Agreement); and cuts to support for renewable energy.
“Labour has a proud history of being leaders in both international development and environmental protection and this Government needs to live up to the standard that we set. Rio+20 is a chance to live up to this promise.”
