Climate and nature hustings to give voters chance to quiz mayoral candidates on enviromental issues

‘GLOBALLY IMPORTANT’: Spurn Point. Picture by Harry Appleyard

By Simon Bristow, Co-Editor

Voters across Hull and East Yorkshire are being invited to attend an online hustings on nature, the environment and green jobs ahead of the region’s first mayoral election on May 1.

The Climate and Nature Mayoral Hustings will be held on Earth Day – Tuesday, April 22 – from 7pm to 8.30pm.

Supported by the RSPB and Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, Hull & East Riding Friends of the Earth (HERFOE) are hosting the hustings for people across the region to put their questions to the candidates and make sure environmental concerns are firmly on the new mayor’s agenda.

Hull and East Yorkshire’s stunning coast, wetlands and Wolds help make the area distinctive and attractive to visitors, organisers said.

The region is home to globally important sites such as RSPB Bempton Cliffs, Spurn Point and the Humber estuary, plus nationally and strategically important industries including Green Port Hull, Dogger Bank and the Zero Carbon Humber Initiative.

This combination of natural heritage and innovation in green technology makes Hull and East Yorkshire a critical region for environmental sustainability and economic transformation, HERFOE said.

Claire Gribben, HERFOE co-coordinator, said: “We can lead the UK’s transition to a low-carbon future. But we need our mayor to drive our region to the forefront of the UK’s green economy. Come along on 22 April and tell the candidates what you want them to do for you, for us and for the planet. They won’t know unless you tell them.”

The online hustings will give candidates the opportunity to explain how they will nurture nature and green spaces across the region, and set out their wider vision, including new green jobs, skills, infrastructure and industries.

HERFOE said areas in which the new mayor can make a difference include:

• Nature and wildlife recovery

• Green jobs and skills

• Public and sustainable transport

• Housing energy efficiency, insulation and resilience

• Food poverty and security

Natalie Le Brun, Senior Conservation Officer at the RSPB, said: “The future of our natural landscapes, wildlife, and green spaces is inextricably linked to the leadership we choose today. Shockingly, the UK’s biodiversity is among the worst in the world compared to other countries.

“As we face the challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss, it’s crucial that our elected mayor champions nature, supports green industries, and fosters sustainable growth. With the Government aiming to protect 30 per cent of the UK’s land and sea by 2030, we urge the people of Hull and East Yorkshire to engage with the candidates and ensure that the region’s nature and the environment are at the heart of their agenda.”

Jon Parkes-Withers, head of advocacy at Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, added: “This event is a fantastic opportunity to find out more about how our mayoral candidates will approach the double emergency of declining nature and a changing climate.

“The mayor will have powers over the future of nature’s recovery in East Yorkshire and whoever wins will need to ensure its crucial role in securing our economic, health and environmental stability.”

The following candidates have so far confirmed their participation: Kerry Harrison (Green Party), Margaret Pinder (Labour & Co-operative Party, and Mike Ross (Liberal Democrats).

Rowan Halstead (Yorkshire Party) is sending a deputy, while Anne Handley (Conservative Party) is unable to attend but is sending a statement.

The only candidate yet to respond to the invitation is Luke Campell (Reform UK).

You can book a place at the hustings here.