Meg Hillier MP to push for 'the greenest government ever'

Meg Hillier, MP for Hackney South and Shoreditch, told Hackney residents that she will hold the government to its claim to be the "greenest government ever". Meg Hillier, who is Shadow Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, vowed to push for a stronger Energy Bill - which will soon reach the House of Commons - at a public meeting in Hackney.

"We want to support something that will reduce energy emissions from homes", Meg said. "But this is a bit of a dog's breakfast frankly. We're disappointed that our amendments in committee haven't been taken up and we're going to push hard in the House of Commons to see if we can't get some changes."

The meeting was hosted by Hackney and Tower Hamlets Friends of the Earth and the Stop the Climate Chaos Coalition. Local residents came along to ask Meg Hillier what she will do locally and nationally to halt climate change, to which she responded: "The climate is the most important thing that needs to run through all government policy, or we won't have a planet here to govern."

Meg spoke of her concern for the vague measures proposed to tackle energy efficiency and fuel poverty, with reference to her constituents, many of who use an electricity key. She said, "I'm very angry that the Government has decided to phase out Warm Front. The Green Deal is supposed to replace it but it will not do the job." The Warm Front scheme currently provides support to vulnerable groups at risk of fuel poverty, as well as directly supporting 8,000 jobs.

Also speaking at the meeting was Dr Keith Allott, Head of Climate Change at WWF-UK, who said local authorities will be key in helping to deliver a clean energy future. Friends of the Earth are calling for local carbon budgets which would set a fair cap on carbon emissions in every area, which would create more money and less red tape to help councils work with residents, businesses and institutions like schools to cut CO₂ locally. Thousands of people and many councils around the country have already joined the 'Get Serious About CO₂ campaign', but Hackney Council is yet to commit to supporting the initiative.

The final speaker, Tracy Carty, Climate Change Policy Advisor at Oxfam, spoke of the global solution needed for the global problem of climate change. She called on Meg Hillier to not only support but "champion" the proposed Robin Hood Tax: an innovative tax on financial transactions that would help ensure developing countries can adapt to climate change and develop cleanly.

Friends of the Earth campaigner Jenny Claydon said "We are pleased that Meg Hillier plans to call for a stronger Energy Bill that will heat the homes of vulnerable people and tackle climate change. It's vital that she is vocal about her and her constituents concerns for local and national action as the bill goes through parliament".

Notes to editors

1. David Cameron announced his aim to lead 'the greenest government ever' at a Department of Energy and Climate Change press conference in May 2010.

2. Around 80 per cent of the UK's carbon emissions come from local activity - things like how we heat our homes and travel to work and school - so every area has a crucial role to play in the fight against climate change.

3. Friends of the Earth's Get Serious About CO2 campaign is calling for every council to cut carbon emissions by at least 40 per cent by 2020 - councils covering more than 10 per cent of England's population, including Manchester, have already pledged to do this. The green group is also campaigning for a nationwide system of fair local carbon budgets for all councils that is ambitious enough to help the UK meet its legal obligations. www.getseriousaboutco2.com

4. The public meeting was held on Wednesday 23 March at Central Foundation Boys' School, Cowper Street, London, EC2A 4SH.