Anger was voiced at the failure of successive governments to implement longer-term green policies to tackle climate change.

Nottingham residents gathered in Trinity Square to protest a lack of action on climate change amid COP27 in Egypt.

On Saturday, November 12 hundreds of protesters rallied to voice their anger at the government’s green policy and the cost-of-living crisis.

A range of campaigners gave speeches from Extinction Rebellion climate activists to Nottingham residents and local politicians.

Labour MP for Nottingham East, Nadia Whittome, said: “The energy companies that are raking in billions from hiking our bills are also the same companies destroying the planet.

“The answer to soaring energy bills is not to be giving more money and more power to these corporations [and] is not to be funding more oil and gas fields.” – she added.

Ms Whittome said the answer is to invest in renewable energy under “democratic public ownership”.

“there’s no point keeping children healthy if they don’t have a future”

DR HELENA CLEMENTS, EXTINCTION REBELLION PROTESTER

Protesters hailed the climate activism group Just Stop Oil for continuing to disrupt motorways in protest of the government’s green policy.

One of the group’s activists from Nottingham, Tom Gardener, 29, has been charged with causing a public nuisance after climbing onto a gantry on the M25.

Another speaker at the rally expressed “an absolute admiration” for the campaign’s disruption.

Extinction Rebellion activist and consultant paediatrician, Dr Helena Clements, joined the city centre protest.

She said: “I have been looking after the health of children for the last 30 years [and] I have come to realise that there’s no point keeping children healthy if they don’t have a future, so that’s why I’ve joined Doctors For XR and Extinction Rebellion to really fight for their futures.

“So I am here to protest, to raise awareness about COP27 [and] I’m also working within the NHS to try and raise awareness and work towards a zero carbon [emissions] NHS.”

Dr Clements has looked after the health of children for 30 years.

With Extinction Rebellion campaigners taking to the forefront of the protest, representatives of Nottingham Youth Climate Assembly, the Green Party and the Socialist Worker newspaper were also present.

Amid the COP27 summit, activists praised Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s decision to attend the conference despite indicating previously he would prioritise his government’s Autumn Budget.

  • In a bid reduce people’s bills and cut carbon emissions, Nottingham City Council runs an initiative that allows low-income homeowners to have insulation and solar panels fitted free of charge.
  • The Council is also aiming to make the city carbon neutral by 2028, which would make it the first of its kind in England.
  • In October West Burton in Nottinghamshire was chosen by the government to be the host of the UK’s first fusion energy plant. The technology involved is hoped to deliver sustainable, low carbon energy.