This summer, the UK experienced an extraordinary heatwave that saw train tracks buckle, schools forced to close, hospital appointments cancelled, and further havoc at airports due to melting runways. Fire brigades in London, Leicestershire and South Yorkshire all declared major incidents on Tuesday, as fires destroyed business, houses, schools, and churches. In London, the fire service experienced its busiest day since the second world war as they worked tooth and nail to keep us all safe. Sadly, we lost lives too – several young people drowned in rivers and lakes in an attempt to cool down during record temperatures. Climate change is real and it’s happening here in the UK.

Despite all the overwhelming evidence, this Tory Government continues to ignore the red flags. Things are so bad that last week, Tory Leadership contenders were discussing scrapping parts of the 2050 Net Zero pledge. What will it take for the government to get serious about tackling the climate crisis?

The Government’s recently announced Jet Zero strategy is meant to tackle the ever-rising emissions of the UK’s aviation industry. However, it will allow airport expansions and airlines will be able to increase passenger numbers. Instead of putting its foot down and creating solutions, the Government is relying on “new technologies” to clean up the greenhouse gases that come from planes. But this technology doesn’t exist, so why are they talking about imaginary solutions?

If we want to encourage people to fly less, we need to provide affordable, reliable, and accessible public transport. Currently, it is often cheaper to fly (or drive) to other UK cities rather than catch a train. This is very frustrating, and this is why I understand the reasons that some people, especially on lower incomes, choose to fly rather than purchase expensive train ticket. There are a number of growing aviation challenges, and a strategy is needed not only on-air passenger duty but also on noise, promoting biofuels and of course delivering on international climate change commitments.

Publishing this strategy and questioning our legally-binding Net Zero targets really shows us just how dangerous and irresponsible the Tories are – they are walking away from one fire and into another.

Throughout my Parliamentary career, I have continuously called on the government to tackle the climate crisis and worked closely with Haringey council to implement local changes. I believe we should aim to achieve the substantial majority of our emissions reductions by 2030, make climate justice a priority and take action to accelerate the benefits of nature restoration and recovery. We, the Labour Party, are serious about this crisis and have pledged to spend additional £28 billion of capital investment in our country’s green transition for every year of this decade.