cheltonian politics


Alex Chalk MP forCheltenham Thismonthwith...


Current Affairs


Climate change is not some theoretical future possibility – it is a present reality. The fivewarmest years in


recorded history have been since 2010. EasterMondaywas the hottest on record. This JanuaryAustralia experienced itswarmestmonth ever,with power stations forced to shut down. Last yearwildfires broke out in the ArcticCircle. We can choose to dismiss these


events as a coincidence.We can ignore the fact that they have taken place alongside soaring levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide.Or we can listen to the overwhelming majority of climate science which concludes that the evidence of humankind’s influence on the climate is nowunanswerable. That'swhatwemust do, and Iwant


Cheltenhamto play its part in framing our national response. So, I have decided to introduce aBill to Parliamentwhichwould limit theUK’s carbon emissions to net zero by 2050. If passed,wewould become the first nation in theG20to enshrine this target in law, showing radical leadership to the rest of theworld. Our countrymay only be responsible for around one per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, butwe have a responsibility to act. We have a tradition of global


leadership too. TheClimateChange 44 JULY /AUGUST 2019 THECHELTONIAN


Act 2008was pioneering legislation whichmandated the reduction of emissions by 80%on 1990levels.As a result carbon emissions have dropped by 42%- the best performance, according to PWC, of anymajor economy. Nowthe evidence showswemust


nowbe evenmore bold.And I know fromlistening to young people in Cheltenhamlike those Imet recently atBournside School, that this is their priority too.And this lawwould help to avoid tipping point events such as themelting of the permafrost, releasing vast amounts ofmethane, and the collapse of polar sea ice. The time for action is now.We


must protect PlanetA because there is no PlanetB.


We’ve just had some fantastic news forCheltenham GeneralHospital – the award of £10million toGloucestershire


Thismonth CheltenhamMP AlexChalk discusses two very pressing issues thatwill affect the future ofCheltenham


HospitalsNHS Trust for equipment replacement and infrastructure improvements. The cashwindfall comes on top of the £40mboost thatwewon for our local hospitals last year. I’ve been actively lobbying theHealth Secretary to get this cash. I knowthat local Trustmanagers have put in great deal ofwork too, and I amvery grateful for their efforts. So,whatwill the cash go on?Over


£1millionwill be spent refurbishing Cheltenham’sApollo theatre,with another £1.5million allocated for the replacement of ageingmedical equipment. £1.5millionwill go on a newinformationmanagement and technology platformand £2.5million on rolling out amodern electronic patient record. There’s also £150,000forward improvementwork and £265,000for a ventilation scheme forCheltenham’s


theatres. I amparticularly delighted


that £250,000will be spent on


OPMAS - the replacement chemotherapy prescribing system.


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