EAST Hampshire MP Damian Hinds has commended grassroots climate campaigners but said “there is much more that needs to be done”.

Representatives from Energy Alton and Alton Climate Action & Network (ACAN) met recently with Mr Hinds to discuss the issue.

ACAN chair Jenny Griffiths said: “We appreciated Damian’s obvious concern for the seriousness of the climate crisis, his close engagement with the issues we raised and interest in the action we are taking locally. We hope he will continue to push for the policies we desperately need.

“The UK will host the UN climate summit in late 2020 in Glasgow, an opportunity which gives the UK a pivotal role in determining humanity’s future on our single, shared planet.”

The UK government amended the Climate Change Act in June with a “world-leading” target to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

The groups said they “applaud this” but pointed out the importance of making “rapid progress” by 2030 “if we are to avoid catastrophic climate breakdown caused by global warming above two degrees”.

They added that Mr Hinds agreed “the climate situation is deteriorating, with accelerating melting and warming”.

“East Hampshire civic groups have long showed leadership in matters of the environment and tackling climate change,” Mr Hinds added.

“I commend Energy Alton and Alton Climate Action Network and other local groups on their very important work. The UK hosting the international ‘Conference of Parties’ meeting next year is a great opportunity to push forward globally-coordinated work to tackle this huge challenge for the world.

“Britain has had a leadership position on key aspects from the deployment of offshore wind power, to setting a date for net-zero emissions. But there is much more that needs to be done, by us and by others. Key to this will be continuing to make the case for the urgency of action.

“Groups like Energy Alton and Alton Climate Action Network have been at the forefront of that, and showing what everyone can do, at a local as well as national and international level.”

ACAN is “leading by example with practical actions” including its ‘Climate Aware Household’ insert in Round & About magazine and the launching of the town’s Repair Café. An Eco-Fair event will be held next summer.

It is also holding an event on Saving Energy in Your Home on Saturday, October 19 in the Alton Assembly Rooms.