6-year-old Aleesha from West Bridgford continues her work to help save rainforests and fight climate change. At the end of August, she met with Rushcliffe MP Ruth Edwards to ask her some important questions.
In the August issue of West Bridgford Local News, we shared the story of Aleesha who had been using her time in lockdown and after, to tackle issues of deforestation, raise awareness and ask large companies what they’re doing to help the issue.
At the end of August, Aleesha sat down with Rushcliffe MP Ruth Edwards, to show her the project book she created and ask her some questions.
Aleesha: What do you do at home to help the environment?
Ruth: “I drive an electric car, we grown our own vegetables and we compost our food.
Aleesha: What are your thoughts about climate change?
Ruth: “Climate change poses a huge danger to people, animals, rainforests and the seas. We need to stop the greenhouse gases and it is an important priority for me. Before I was an MP I also fundraised and raised awareness about climate change. It is a huge issue that needs resolving.
Aleesha: What are you doing to help CO2 emissions in Nottingham?
Ruth: “We need better cycling and walking routes. I am currently working with a number of groups so people can use cycle and walking lanes. We need to make good routes around the area. We need more electric charging points around Nottingham.”
Aleesha: What are you doing to help the local wildlife in Nottingham?
Ruth: “I have many projects in Nottingham at the moment. We have the Wilford Nature Reserve, where we are hoping to build a nature reserve with the help of Nottingham University.
“Opposite the Attenborough Nature Reserve we are opposing a gravel pit. I am writing to Sir David Attenborough to try and gain his support to stop this from happening.”
Aleesha: How do you feel about planting more trees in Rushcliffe and could we do this together?
Ruth: “I think this is a great idea about planting trees. Rushclifffe Council are currently giving away 2 trees to every home in the Borough. I will get in touch with them so that we can plant some trees in the County somewhere together.”
Aleesha: How can you help future children tackle climate change?
Ruth: “I think we all need to listen to children’s ideas and take these into account when we make decisions as MPs. We need to make sure we leave the world a better, greener place. We need to use greener energy for example solar, Wind, hydrogen powered cars and electric cars.
Aleesha: Please can you give Boris Johnson a message? I hope that he uses his time as Prime Minister to tackle Climate Change. Climate Change is happening right now. He needs to do something before it is too late.
Questions from Cool Earth
Aleesha: Does the Government need help in leading the massive changes needed to save the planet?
Ruth: “Saving the planet is everyone’s responsibility. We need help from individuals, people, businesses, other governments all over the world. The UK only produces 1% of the world’s greenhouse gases, so we need help from larger countries to reduce the gases and help save the planet.
Aleesha: Why are governments not taking action to protect vital carbon sinks like tropical rainforests?
Ruth: “I think we are doing a lot of work to help the rainforests. The government have spent £800m on programmes to protect the rainforests and we also have a new law in the Environment bill. We also have £11bn set aside for climate finance.”
Aleesha: Could you please tell the government and specifically the business secretary to stop Cambo Oil Field?
Ruth: “We have committed to reducing our allowance on oil by 2050. We are currently in discussion about this matter. I will talk to other ministers about the issue and find out more and let you know in due course.”
Aleesha would like to thank Ruth for meeting with her. She said, “It was lovely to meet with her and she was very welcoming and answered all of my questions thoroughly. We will be meeting again in the near future to plant some trees in Rushcliffe Borough Council.”
Since this interview, Aleesha has now received a responding letter from the Prince of Wales after she contacted him to inform him of her work. One line of the letter read, ‘The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall were heartened to learn of your fundraising challenge for Cool Earth and would like to send good wishes as you complete it.’