Metro Mayor Candidates’ Climate Commitment Put Under Spotlight

Campaign and community groups from across the Liverpool City Region are joining forces to scrutinise candidates' positions on climate and nature in the forthcoming Metro-Mayoral elections. Voters will have a chance to put their questions and hear candidates' responses at an online hustings on Thursday 1 April.

The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority has declared a climate emergency and set a 2040 zero-carbon target. Scientists have warned that Liverpool City Region’s carbon budget[2] will be completely used up in just 7 years if emissions levels are not cut. The next mayor must commit to using the important resources and influence they have to make sure their region is as climate and nature friendly as possible.

Don Naylor from Liverpool Friends of the Earth said: 

“It is vitally important the next mayor commits to putting action on the climate and nature emergencies at the very top of their agenda. We have just 46 million tonnes of CO2 emissions left in the city region’s carbon budget and this will be used up in no time if we fail to act.

“We want to offer voters the opportunity to hear for themselves what practical actions candidates are willing to take. Voters are more climate-savvy than ever. Greenwashing and wishful thinking, including by global corporates, simply won’t cut it.”

Laura Levy from Liverpool Youth Climate Strike said:

“Young people will be the most impacted by the climate crisis and our futures will be shaped by the action taken by leaders today.

“Clear and decisive action must be taken by politicians to protect our environment from ecological breakdown, save our green spaces, and aid businesses and places of education to reduce their carbon footprint. Investment in green jobs would create opportunities for young people moving into the world of work whilst also aiding the transition into a zero carbon society.

“I hope that political leaders today will choose to fight for better conditions for future generations.“

Representatives from Friends of the Earth, Climate Action Groups, and community groups from across the city region, working together under the banner of Liverpool City Region Climate Action Network have met three of the four metro mayoral candidates or their representative during February and March.

"All the candidates say they recognise the importance of the climate emergency but we need someone who will really be honest with the public about the scale of the challenge, and possible solutions.  

Commenting on meetings with candidates, Nicky Crosby from Extinction Rebellion Liverpool said: 

“All the candidates say they recognise the importance of the climate emergency but we need someone who will really be honest with the public about the scale of the challenge, and possible solutions.  

“For example there’s a lot of talk about hydrogen as if it was a ‘green’ solution, but only 4% of UK hydrogen is currently made from green sources (via electrolysis), with the rest made from fossil fuels, and these are what we really need to be phasing out right now.”

The Groups have published a Climate Action Plan for the Liverpool City Region and are asking the Mayoral candidates to commit to 10 priorities in their own manifestos. These include:

• Delivering over 15,000 new jobs in the region by 2030 in renewable energy and home insulation
• At least doubling public transport use, cycling, and walking within the next 10 years
• Greening the city region by increasing tree cover, protecting nature, and eliminating green-space deprivation.