By Dan Thompson
People from Deal, Margate, Minster and Ramsgate joined environmental charity Greenpeace as they launched their Project Climate Vote campaign in Ramsgate.
The national campaign, which started in 2023, has the goal of getting people across the UK to sign up to vote with the climate in mind at the general election. It does that by training local people to go door-to-door, and to run local events.
The Ramsgate event, held at Radford House, was planned to be an introduction to the Project Climate Vote ahead of an autumn election campaign, but after this week’s surprise announcement of a General Election instead saw local people establish groups to start street campaigns.
According to polling by Ipsos, 84% of UK voters are already concerned about the impacts of climate change, and 72% of people think the UK is already feeling the effects of climate change.
Local environmental issues include sewage in the seas closing popular local beaches, caused by a combination of heavier rainfall and failing infrastructure. Developers building on farmland, and the impact of new power infrastructure on Minster Marshes, are also hot topics.
But rising fuel prices, and poor home insulation are also climate change issues that have impacted local people. The UK has the worst insulated homes in Europe, and home heating is responsible for a fifth of the UK’s emissions that are causing climate change.
Meanwhile, climate change is behind a move to new industries, with a ‘Green Jobs’ campus planned to regenerate Ramsgate Harbour. The port already has a substantial green economy, with companies linked to offshore windfarms based there.
The Project Climate Vote campaign is not linked to any political party, instead asking voters of all persuasions to say ‘I’m a Climate Voter’ by displaying a window poster, and asking candidates questions about climate change.
To find out more or sign up, visit www.greenpeace.org.uk/take-action/project-climate-vote/
