High Peak group vow to 'make polluter's pay'

'Act Like Your House is On Fire' is the message members of High Peak Green New Deal would like to convey to Keir Starmer and other world leaders as the COP30 Climate Summit takes place in Brazil. 

It was Greta Thunberg who first demanded this at a UN meeting and the group say that six years later the message seems even more appropriate. 

On Saturday members of the group gave out leaflets and chatted to shoppers on the High Street about the need for urgent action. 

Tomorrow (Saturday 15th Nov) is the middle weekend of COP30, and there will be actions across the world calling for 'Climate Justice' - local campaigners will be joining a march and rally in Manchester. 

Climate Justice means that the countries which have done the most to create climate change - including the UK with its historical carbon emissions - need to provide funds to the countries most affected by climate chaos, who have done the least to cause it. 

High Peak Green New Deal co-ordinator Linda Walker said: 

"Keir Starmer has pledged at the COP30 summit to 'double down on the climate fight’. But his actions fall far short of these stirring words. 

“The Tropical Forests Forever Fund is an important new initiative which aims to make the forests more valuable standing, than when they are cut down and exploited. The UK was involved in developing the plan, but our Prime Minister has refused to invest a penny in the new fund. 

At the same time his Government is considering allowing the enormous Rosebank Oilfield to go ahead and refusing to tax the billionaires and the giant corporations who are doing so much to exacerbate both the climate crisis, and the cost of living crisis” 

The family friendly demonstration on Saturday will assemble at All Saints on Oxford Road at 1pm, before marching to Greengate Square, opposite Manchester Cathedral, for a rally at 3pm.