Students at the University of Birmingham and Birmingham residents are being invited to put questions to Steve McCabe MP and a panel of speakers.
These include Rosemary Coyne a Research Fellow at the University of Birmingham, Lorraine Gumbs from Warm Zones and Guy Shrubsole from Friends of the Earth, who will all be outlining their vision for energy policy locally and nationally.
The event on the 19th February is on the theme of ‘Energy We Can All Afford’, and is being jointly organised by Birmingham Friends of the Earth and University of Birmingham People & Planet. It comes as MPs debate the Energy Bill in Parliament to determine how the UK sources its electricity for the next generation – and as households feel the pinch of winter energy bills.
The panel discussion is also part of a series of events being organised for People & Planet’s Go Green Week at the University of Birmingham.
Jacob Williams, Birmingham Friends of the Earth’s lead campaigner on Energy & Climate Change, said: “Increasingly costly fossil fuels and poorly insulated homes in are driving climate change and making it harder for people to afford fuel bills – but there is an alternative.
“The Government should switch the UK to clean British energy from our wind, sun and waves, and use money raised from carbon taxes to better insulate our homes.
“The pioneering Birmingham Energy Savers shows what can be achieved. We now need to look at how we insulate every property in Birmingham and ensure similar schemes are rolled out across the country.
“We need Steve McCabe and all Birmingham’s MPs to back an amendment to the Energy Bill so that it includes a target to clean up our electricity by 2030 – giving renewable energy firms the confidence to invest.”
Alice Swift, Ethical & Environmental Officer at the Guild of Students, said: “It is ridiculous that students, who care deeply about climate change, are particularly affected by fuel poverty, often living in cold and poorly insulated accommodation.”
The panel discussion takes place in the council chambers at the University of Birmingham Guild of Students, will be chaired by Graeme Brown Regional Business Editor at BPM Media, starting at 7pm and finishing at 9pm.
The event is free but organisers are asking people to register in advance so that they have an idea of numbers.
People can register here Anyone who’d like to know more can contact Julien Pritchard on 0121 632 6909.
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