Birmingham’s Climate Debate will offer an opportunity for candidates from all political parties to answer questions from ordinary people and activists about their manifestoes for the climate emergency. Research in Nature has shown the world is on track for 3–4 centigrade, with tipping points leading to unstoppable global heating. In the West Midlands and Birmingham key environment and climate emergency issues include: the viability of HS2, current and future flooding in the region and the effectiveness of Birmingham City Council’s environmental policy.

Alannah Travers, from Extinction Rebellion says: “This is the first climate election – and our future depends on it. Last Thursday many of us gathered together to watch the first ever leader’s debate dedicated to the climate crisis, following the harrowing news that we may have already crossed a series of climate tipping points. Hunger strikers here in the UK are on their 14th day without food and this week EU Parliament declared a climate and environmental emergency. The crisis is at the forefront of the public’s mind and it’s time political leaders rise to this enormous challenge.”

Extinction Rebellion UK is running a series of actions as The 12 Days of Crisis. Activists around the country will be ramping up the pressure to ensure their candidates sign up to the Three Demands Bill – a draft Private Member’s Bill to be introduced to Parliament.

As our current democratic and first past the post voting system is neither truly representative nor participatory, this election is a vitally important step in the journey to mitigate the Climate and Ecological Emergency.

Last week, the Election Rebellion launched a new micro-site highlighting just how vulnerable all of us are to this crisis.