A GROUP of people from Monmouthshire travelled to London last Wednesday (17th June) as part of a mass lobby of MPs on climate change.

Around 9,000 people descended on Westminster to petition Members of Parliament, calling for action on the subject.

The group has links with Chepstow Methodist Church and its Triangle Project: a partnership with a community in Kenya. The project has given the group a personal connection with the climate problems affecting large parts of Africa.

Elizabeth Neal who went to Westminster took bunting down to the event which was made by the Methodist's Messy Church, and around 30 church-goers especially for the lobby.

Elizabeth said: "It was incredible and inspiring to be one of about 9,000 people lobbying over 330 MPs on Wednesday asking for urgent action to tackle climate change.

"It was a joyous occasion celebrating what we love about our world and the passion and commitment of so many gives me hope we will succeed in reducing the impacts of climate change.

"At Chepstow Methodist Church we have a link to people in Kenya who have told us how climate change is impacting them today.

"This season they have lost their crops twice, once to rains that started then stopped and once to abnormally heavy rains.

"The rains used to be predictable. We heard similar stories from witnesses from other parts of Africa too as part of the church services before the lobby.

"We were glad to have the chance to have a long discussion with David Davies about climate change. It is very disappointing that he maintains a position contrary to the overwhelming scientific consensus on the causes of climate change and refuses to act to reduce the use of fossil fuels.

"He was generally supportive of action to increase the energy efficiency of homes and buildings and we will be following up with him to ensure that action is taken to do this. It's a start, but it's not enough."

"I was very glad to have been part of the lobby and to have met some fantastic people. Seeing all the bunting expressing all we love about our world and the commitments being made was so encouraging.

"What will stay with me though, is how important it is that we all keep speaking up for our world to ensure action is taken to mitigate climate change."

Mr Davies said: "It was great to see the guests from Christian Aid and Chepstow Methodist Church.

"We had a really useful discussion for about an hour and a half, but I must admit to holding a different view.

"There are 2.4 billion people in the world who don't have access to electricity and I think it is more important to help connect them to a grid than to create expensive renewable energy sources for them.

"It was a great chat though and there is no doubt that it will carry on – perhaps with a debate in Chepstow in the future."

Pictured from left to right are Francis Buxton, Elizabeth David, David Davies MP and Jane Buxton.