Climate change 'the most important election issue'

A lack of action on climate change will be catastrophic for future generations.

That is the feeling of two people from Gloucestershire, who want the winning party at the UK general election to "bring environmental matters to the fore."

Richard Fox, from near Gloucester, and Diane Clark from Lydney are among the many people who got in touch with the BBC via Your Voice, Your Vote to tell us that climate change is the most important issue for them in this election.

"We're betraying our children and grandchildren by disrupting the climate," Mr Fox said.

Mr Fox lives in a village near Gloucester, and says he is trying to reduce his impact on the environment.

He has a small wind turbine in his back garden, which he uses to power his home, and avoids flying - instead travelling by train to see his relatives in Germany.

"We're seeing record temperatures," he told BBC West.

"We're seeing droughts, floods, and we need to do something to make sure the situation doesn't get any worse.

"I would hope that the winning party will bring environmental matters to the fore."

He added: "It's so important and it can't be neglected - in fact it's more important than any other issue - perhaps more than all the other issues put together."

Twenty miles away in Lydney, Diane Clark has similar concerns.

She chooses not to drive, flies only to see her father in Canada, and is particularly worried about the prevalence of flooding in the town, which has happened several times in recent years.

"Increased temperatures and rising sea levels are likely and stronger storms... where do people go if their homes get flooded?"

She stressed: "It's no longer a debate - it's real, it's happening, and if we don't do something, we'll all be affected and our grandchildren, too."

Earlier this month, academics said if party leaders do not make the climate a priority, they put our future prosperity and future wellbeing at risk.

For whoever gets into Downing Street, it will be one of the biggest challenges they face.

Labour promise a "Green Prosperity Plan" which includes setting up Great British Energy to drive the move to renewables

The Conservatives say under them Britain became the first major economy to halve emissions and will continue to meet targets without "clobbering" households

The Liberal Democrats promise to up electricity generation from renewables to 80% by 2030 and reach net zero on greenhouse gases in 2045 - five years ahead of the current target

Green Party policy is to cancel recent gas and oil licences and bring in a carbon tax on fossil fuel imports and home production while boosting wind and solar power

Reform have previously said the drive for net zero is damaging livelihoods and the economy. They say it is better to adapt to warming rather than "pretending" it can be stopped

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