“There’s a war in Ukraine at the moment. I would imagine if your house has just got shelled then that’s an emergency, not what kind of facilities there are for electric cars in your area.”
Oyster Court resident Neil was responding to Green Party candidate Clare Wood’s comment that the climate emergency is the worst crisis of the past 300 years, which she made during the environment and transport section of our Southwark Soap Box series, which aims to boost turnout in May’s local elections.
Ms Wood, alongside Liberal Democrat James Gurling and Labour’s Natasha Ennin, took part in a debate on the environment before standing in Newington ward on May 5. We showed this debate – as well as discussions on housing, and crime and education – to four diverse households in the ward to get their reactions.
Ms Wood said that she didn’t think Labour was doing enough to tackle the climate crisis. “I joined the Green Party because I think we are in the middle of possibly the greatest crisis of the last 300 years – possibly.”
Laughing, Neil said: “I mean there’s been a lot of history in the last 300 years, I mean there’s been two world wars for a start. It’s not to diminish the whole issue or belittle it, or mock it… I’m not totally convinced by the green thing.”
The Green Party is not alone in criticising the Labour council’s response to the climate crisis. The Southwark branch of Extinction Rebellion said earlier this year that it does not understand how the council plans to reach its goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2030.
Southwark Soapbox: could Southwark Council be doing more on climate and the environment?
Defending the council’s efforts, Labour’s Ms Ennin said at the debate: “We’ve reduced half of our carbon emissions, which we said we were going to do. We have a clear plan in place, we’re involving a citizens jury.”
Newington Estate resident Kym said that ““things have got worse, not better.”
Southwark Soapbox: are low traffic neighbourhoods really worth the hassle?
One of the key issues Ms Wood brought up was home insulation, which would mean people need to use less energy – helping the environment and saving money for hard-up families.
“The really major, immediate thing that residents are going to be facing is an enormous hike in energy bills,” she said.
Kym said: “That is really bad – the gas and the electric has gone sky high.” Brandon Estate resident Paula puffed out her cheeks at the mention of energy bills, adding: “Electricity.. I can see that [has gone up]”.
Ms Wood added that the council could be bulk-buying solar panels on behalf of residents. But Brandon Estate resident Ola did not agree. “ Don’t bulk buy anything on my behalf, thank you! I prefer the company bill me direct and then we can go to the watchdog and sort it out, as opposed to the council doing anything for me – I don’t trust the council.”
Lib Dem James Gurling said that the climate crisis needs politicians from different parties to work togthether.
“My colleagues have put down motions that have been voted against locally about declaring a climate emergency, getting urgent action, getting things done more quickly,” he said.
Les, Kym’s partner, nodded in agreement. “If it’s a good idea, it’s going to work, then do it. Why should another party say ‘no, no, we don’t want you to do that’. It’s wrong.”