Oxfordshire MPs answer six questions on climate change

Each of the county’s six parliamentarians was asked a series of questions on the issue, which has becoming increasingly prominent in public debate in recent weeks, with 'school strikes' and increasing activism.

Below are their answers, with the first question listing the representatives in the order in which they responded.

1. On a scale of 1 (catastrophic) to 10 (minor issue), how big an issue do you see climate change as?

Neither Wantage MP Ed Vaizey nor Witney's Robert Courts managed to provide a numerical answer, but both see the environmental crisis as one of the 'biggest threats' to the country and planet.

Oxford East MP Anneliese Dodds replied: “One, potentially, unless we act now."

Henley's John Howell and Oxford West and Abingdon's Layla Moran concurred with the score, with Ms Moran labelling it 'unquestionably the biggest issue facing our planet'.

Victoria Prentis, who represents Banbury, scored it 'one or two.'

2. Yes or no: do you believe we are facing a ‘climate emergency’?

Conservatives Mr Vaizey, Mr Courts and Mrs Prentis failed to give a yes or no answer, but all suggested that they see the environment as a major issue in need of serious attention.

Labour’s Ms Dodds said simply: “Yes”, which was echoed by Lib Dem Ms Moran, who expanded: “Leading climate scientists have warned that unless we take action, we have just 12 years before global warming rises above 1.5°C, after which the risk of drought, floods and extreme heat increases significantly – this is clearly an emergency situation.”

Conservative Mr Howell also answered in the affirmative, and like Mr Vaizey, sighted former prime minister Margaret Thatcher's discussion of the problem shows that the environment has long been seen by Conservatives as a major worry.

3. When it comes to climate change, what should your constituents be A) most concerned about and B) most positive about?

Mr Courts said: "Constituents should be positive about the fact that the UK is a world-leader in tackling climate change. Since 2010 we have reduced our greenhouse gas emissions by 25 per cent, which represents the best performance of any G7 nation."

He added that it was encouraging that climate change was widely accepted here, unlike in the USA, but raised concerns about India and China's increasing emissions.

Mr Vaizey and Mrs Prentis echoed both answers, with Mr Howell also raising concerns about Chinese and Indian emissions and adding that electricity generation without coal and control of our emissions made the UK a 'world leader in policy'.

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Ms Dodds is concerned that "some of the poorest people in the world in are already suffering, as are elderly and young people with respiratory problems because of dirty air". She said she felt proud about Oxford's place as an 'amazing hub of innovation against the climate crisis' and various local initiatives attempting to keep it under control.

Ms Moran said she was most concerned that 'politicians are not taking the issue seriously enough' and that the 'government simply isn’t doing enough to drive down emissions'. However, she is enthused by young people's vocal activism.

4. Do you think the public need to change their lifestyles to help lessen the impact of climate change?

Only Ms Moran answered with an outright 'yes' to this question, though the others all suggested lifestyle changes. She urged the public to consider reducing their meat and dairy intake and to walk, cycle or use public transport when possible.

Mr Courts echoed the transport recommendations, while promoting recycling and other 'small steps that will make a massive difference'.

Like her Witney counterpart, Ms Dodds suggested a move away from driving, notably through the Cowley branch line.

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Mr Vaizey and Mr Howell both warned against 'forcing' change upon people, with the former suggesting that people now recycle more and use public transport more, adding that "we can make major changes without asking people to make sacrifices." Mr Howell conceded that 'we need to ensure that we recycle more, use public transport, have electric vehicles and encourage fusion energy '.

Mrs Prentis added: "Recycling more and thinking about our plastic waste are important steps that we can all take to lessen the impact of climate change."

5. Have you changed anything about your lifestyle to help lessen the impact of climate change?

Mr Vaizey answered: "I no longer drive a diesel and always use public transport."

Mr Courts came at the question from a similar tangent, adding: "I am a keen cyclist so always use my bike for journeys whenever possible. I’m also never without my refillable water bottle and reusable coffee cup to ensure I use as few single-use plastics as possible."

Ms Dodds said: "I try to cycle or take public transport wherever possible (indeed I do most of my constituency business by bike) and have reduced my car use."

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She said she was trying not to buy single use plastics and added: "But there’s much more I need to do. I recently heard that just stopping using baby wipes, for example, really helps the environment because they are disposable. Having stopped using them with my kids I now realise that I didn’t really need them after all."

Mr Howell said: "I go by train to Strasbourg where I am a member of the Council of Europe and I have helped make sure that the screens along the M40 also generate electricity."

Ms Moran replied: "I always try to travel to Westminster by bus, rather than car. I am also a fair-weather cyclist."

"I gave up meat for January, and always make sure to carry my keep-cup with me. If everyone chips in then we can all make a difference together."

Mrs Prentis added: "I am VERY conscious about plastic waste and try not to buy single use plastics."

6. If you could implement three policies to fight climate change, what would they be?

Messrs Vaizey and Howell had a simple hit list, naming two identical targets of more energy efficient homes and building the infrastructure for electric vehicles. They differed on prioritising more cycle routes for commuters (Mr Vaizey) and better use of good electricity generation (Mr Howell).

Ms Dodds was similarly succinct, backing the much discussed 'green new deal'; ensuring that every major road includes a cycle route and reintroducing measures brought in before the Conservatives came to power to help people pay for insulation.

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Mrs Prentis wants "infrastructure for electric vehicles, including more charging points in North Oxfordshire, energy efficient housing and eradication of single-use plastics".

Meanwhile, Ms Moran backs a 'zero carbon tax', reintroducing the Zero Carbon Homes standards 'recklessly scrapped by the Tories', and introducing a Green Transport Act. Perhaps her most interesting suggestion is a move towards 'radical financial changes', involving a move to a 'circular economy', a carbon tax and rewards for green companies.

Mr Courts was less brief and liberal with his 'three' policy suggestions, naming two priorities as 'a statutory target to go net carbon zero by 2050' and 'greater promotion of active, sustainable travel'. His third priority is backing further investment in technology to reduce carbon emissions promote offshore wind, solar panels and ground source heat pumps.