Teesside man calling on Government to listen to the hardest hit by climate change

A Teesside man, who's disabled and has faced financial insecurity, is telling us how his life's been affected by a lack of environmental policies.

47 year-old Liam from Middlesbrough says high energy bills, cold housing, and inaccessible transport is making it difficult for him.

He's one of many calling for the Government to listen to those who are hardest hit by climate change.

Liam is part of a group of 10 people who has sent an open letter to the Prime Minister. They are calling on the government to listen to people at the sharp end of inequality when coming up with ideas and solutions on the environment.

He said: "Parts of the world are more dramatically affected by us than ourselves and the difficulties that creates for people to just live and get by but here we have a sort of continued reliance on things like fossil fuels that have been shown repeatedly over the last few years to be a thing that really makes people here poorer. They need to make some individual changes so that it's accessible for people.

"The changes can related to sort of heat pumps, electric cars, all these types of things that a lot of people would like to do, but it is out of their reach. Locally, I would like to see some real investment in sort of transport infrastructure.

"We get sick of hearing too many times where everybody's in agreement, we'll do something, but we'll do it by X amount of years in the future, but we're not going to start now, but it'll definitely get there by that time. And then everybody else comes along after and says, yeah, well, we're not going to do it now, but don't worry, because by this year, once it's somebody else's problem, I'm sure they're going to do something.

"If you're in Middlesbrough and you want to get up to Sunderland or Newcastle, you're talking about like sort of an hour or an hour and a half on a really old, uncomfortable train. But actually then if the person's got the option to drive, why are they going to get on that train? So you've got to make it so people are able to make the choices that they would actually like, because some people would like to make that choice.

"This region particularly could be sort of really built on high-paid jobs in sort of green industry. Like, through my lifetime, we've talked a lot about industries and stuff that we've lost or are losing or probably going to lose at some point. The economy, particularly locally, but nationally, could be really built on that green industry. It's only ever sort of discussed in this sort of completely abstract way, rather than how it affects people.

"My needs or my wants would be very different to somebody else with a disability sort of needs or what. So I don't think that we're a group that have been really consulted and I think that is what needs to change in order to get it so it works for everybody."

The collection of letters, titled Our Environment, Our Voices, has been written by a diverse range of people from across the UK including Disabled people, racially minoritised communities and people facing financial insecurity. They highlight the action they want the government to take based on how climate change impacts on their lives and the challenges they face when striving to be environmentally responsible.

Coordinated by Everyone’s Environment, an alliance enabled by New Philanthropy Capital (NPC) working alongside the Race Equality Foundation, Disability Rights UK, Turn2us and more than 80 other organisations, the letters are part of a wider drive to ensure people experiencing inequality are part of conversations about climate and environmental policy.

Jabeer Butt, Chief Executive of the Race Equality Foundation, a key partner of Everyone’s Environment, said: “Too often it’s the people at the sharp end of inequality who are most affected by environmental problems and most excluded from being part of work to change it. These letters are a stark reminder that if the transition to a greener economy is to succeed, it must work for everyone.

"We urge the Prime Minister and all those making decisions on environmental policy and delivery to listen to these letters and ensure the voices behind them help shape the decisions ahead.”

Sarah McLoughlin, Turn2us Director of Programmes and Partnerships, a key partner of Everyone’s Environment, said: “At Turn2us, we know that financial insecurity shapes how people experience the climate crisis. Those facing unaffordable energy bills, poor housing and unemployment are often hit hardest, yet too often left out of the most important conversations.

"The transition to a greener future must happen with communities, not to them. Government must go beyond consultation and ensure people facing the sharpest inequalities are genuinely heard and supported. We are proud to be part of the Everyone’s Environment alliance, working to centre the voices of those too often excluded.

"Government policies responding to the climate and nature crises will either reduce or deepen poverty in the UK, which is why meaningful engagement must be central. There can be no environmental justice without economic justice.”

Dan White, Climate Lead at Disability Rights UK, a key partner of Everyone’s Environment, said: “Disabled people must be recognised in climate discussions because they face the highest risks, the fewest resources to adapt, and because Disabled people are twice as likely as any other group to die in disasters.

"This is why these letters are needed; they are a reminder that Disabled people are here and want to help design environmental solutions that don’t exclude them. Disabled people are consistently excluded from the decisions that shape their survival. Climate discussions and policy that ignores Disabled people is not just incomplete — it is eco ableist, and it leaves millions behind.”

“We strongly urge the government to read these letters and hear the voices, and to finally engage a community that deserves to help shape a greener, cleaner future for all.”

Sir Keir Starmer is yet to reply but a Government spokesperson said: “This government has put clean energy and climate at the heart of its agenda and we are working closely with disabled people and other marginalised communities so that their views and voices are central to everything we do.

“Thanks to our decisions the energy price cap fell by £117 at the start of April, with savings locked in until the end of June, and we have widened the £150 Warm Home Discount to reach six million of the poorest families.

“We are going further and faster in our clean power mission, because it will bring energy security, lower bills for good and tackle the climate crisis.”

You can read the letters here.