Basingstoke Transition Network poses these questions to candidates for the election on 12th December 2019.
Important: if you want more information about voting (registering, applying for postal vote) go to https://www.basingstoke.gov.uk/general-election-2019 )
1. Air Pollution
The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) and the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) set out the dangerous impact of air pollution on health in the UK, suggesting that around 40,000 premature deaths a year are linked to air pollution.
1(a) What is your view on the causes of air pollution in the Borough and the UK as a whole?
1(b) What steps would you take as an MP to reduce pollution?
2. Energy
Basingstoke and Deane Borough meets only 1.8% of its energy needs from local renewables; Hampshire as a whole meets only 1.5%. The national target is 15% by 2020: this is also the target in the borough Local Plan.
2(a) How do you think the target should be reached, locally and nationally?
2(b) How will you engage with the public, business and government to reduce pollution and increase renewable energy production?
3. Climate change
Keeping average global warming to 1.5 degrees C will safeguard our planet from the worst effects of a 2-degree warming, but needs a 45% cut in global carbon emissions by 2030 and net zero emissions by 2050. The government needs to revise the current long-term policy accordingly.
3(a) How will you personally set an example of reducing your carbon footprint?
3(b) How will you raise public enthusiasm for the big lifestyle changes needed across the Borough to achieve the likely national target?
3(c) How will you prepare for the effects of climate change so that they do not hit
poor and disadvantaged people both in the UK and worldwide disproportionately?