“Climate change is the biggest security threat that modern humans have ever faced” – this quote from David Attenborough was used to open the climate hustings held at Liphook Millennium Hall.

Despite this globally acknowledged threat, only Labour’s Alex Just, Green’s Claire Matthes, and Liberal Democrat’s Khalil Yousuf were in attendance. The Conservative, Reform UK, and Hampshire Independent candidates were conspicuous by their absence.

The hustings was hosted by an alliance of local environmental groups, including the Liphook Climate Action Network and Extinction Rebellion, who are all concerned by the lack of climate policies in the candidates’ manifestos.

Claire Matthes spoke about the necessity of building a greener and fairer future, with her party proposing to fund this future by taxing “the wealthy and super-wealthy” and renationalising utilities such as water companies “who are pumping vast quantities of untreated waste into our waterways while our bills skyrocket.”

Lib Dem Khalil Yousuf emphasised that Net Zero is at the heart of all his party’s decisions, with plans to achieve this target by 2045. He criticised the Conservatives, noting that the High Court had ordered them to rewrite their policies as they are not on track to meet their 2050 Net Zero commitment.

Alex Just stated that his party aims to make Britain a “clean energy superpower” through renewable and nuclear power.

All the candidates agreed on the need to improve public transport, criticised the expansion of Farnborough Airport, and addressed the sewage scandal facing the UK’s waterways.

More than 100 people attended the event in-person and online. To watch the meeting head to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVtQSq3OyDo