Environmental campaigner Rachel Winter gathering signatures for petition to ask Douglas Ross MP to support Climate and Ecological Bill

A SELF-employed bookkeeper from Forres is campaigning for Moray’s MP to support the Climate and Ecological Emergency (CEE) Bill.

Rachel Winter started her action on October 13, in memory of her grandmother who would have been 107 that day, and has cycled from Kinloss to Douglas Ross’s office every weekday on her lunch break, to petition outside for an hour, collecting signatures to show him that this is something that his constituents want.

She said: “My granny taught me that it was irresponsible to live beyond one’s means, which is what humans are doing now. She talked about running a household during post-war rationing and would have been horrified to see how we live now – our levels of consumption mean that we are effectively stealing finite resources from poorer people in the global south and from future generations.

“In the last 50 years, our actions have led to the loss of 68 per cent of the world’s wildlife populations so I’m also taking this action on behalf of my niece and nephew, because I want them to grow up in a world where nature is conserved and valued, where they can watch documentaries about polar bears and coral reefs, and know that these things still exist.”

Scientists and experts including Sir David Attenborough have warned for decades that the Earth is facing a climate and ecological emergency. A total of 197 countries, including the UK, pledged in the Paris Agreement of 2016 to limit global warming to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels to reduce the risks and impacts of climate change. Despite their promises annual temperatures are likely to breach that in the next five years and we are currently on track for four degrees of warming by the end of this century.

“The CEE Bill – a private members bill with cross-party support – aims to address this. Drawn up with lawyers and climate scientists, it offers a strategy to help the UK government contribute its fair share to limiting global warming to 1.5C and to restoring biodiversity and ecosystems.”

Rachel’s action is being supported by her friend John Lardner. They stay outside Mr Ross’s office for an hour each, trying to stagger the shifts to increase the overall time that one is there.

“We are very conscious that this is a difficult time for many,” said Rachel.

“We respect the Covid-19 regulations that are currently in place. We stand back from the street and have hand sanitiser for people to use after they sign our petition. When John and I are there at the same time we also stand two metres apart and do our best to encourage anyone stopping to refrain from blocking the pavement.”

Neither Rachel or John have been able to talk to Mr Ross face to face because he is not currently working from the office.

She said: “The response from passers-by has generally been positive. Some worry about me standing in the cold and I’ve been offered a few coffees. I was really touched when a postman brought me over a packet of chocolate biscuits! Some people disagree with my point of view, but they are mostly polite and it is great to be able to hear from other ordinary people about their feelings on this important issue. Many thank me for giving them the opportunity to have their voice heard – especially people who do not have access to computers.”

Rachel’s High Street campaign has gathered more than 200 signatures and she has launched online petition www.change.org/SupportTheCEEBill to help gather more.

She said: “As Mr Ross is also leader of the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, I have opened it to people from across Scotland, as I believe that many Scots want the leaders of all parties to support the CEE Bill.”

She finished: “I plan to continue standing in the street until either Mr Ross pledges to support the bill or until its next reading, which is currently scheduled for March 12. I feel very vulnerable standing on the street, but we all have to do what we can manage for the greater good. I also hope to collect all the signatures together from both the paper and online petitions and present them to him in person.”

Mr Ross told the Gazette he has arranged to talk to Rachel via Zoom.

He said: “I fully support the UK government’s ambition to help tackle climate change by reaching a target of net zero emissions by 2050. We have already reduced emissions by 42 per cent and the Prime Minister and chancellor have been clear that we must have a green recovery from the pandemic.”