Climate change is NOT an old drab or dull issue. Is is THE single most important issue facing humanity and our species. It will define the 21st century in the way that World War defined the 20th century. It must not be ignored by the new Prime Minister. The climate is changing rapidly. This is causing rapid destruction of biodiversity and is increasingly leading to extreme weather, shrinkage of the polar ice-caps, melting of glaciers, rising sea-levels and a catastrophic change to global weather patterns. This is leading to human conflict over space, food and resources, and is the driving force behind the migrant crisis the world is experiencing. We must not ignore this issue because it will engulf us!

The UK is one of the science power-houses in the world. We attract and produce some of the best scientists and contribute greatly to increasingly important scientific areas including cancer, bacterial resistance, renewable energy and food research as well as a whole host of research areas that span all areas of science, technology and engineering. Leaving the EU has the worrying potential to restrict the amount of funding these research areas get, causing the UK to fall behind in world leading research but also slowing scientific progress. The UK is part of EU funded projects such as Horizon 2020. As a PhD student in cancer research I have seen first hand in the labs the reaction to the UK leaving the EU. Everyone is worried about what this means for science here and whether we'll be able to maintain our excellent work. This petition is to raise awareness in the hope that we can get a deal whereby scientists and funding can move between countries as easily as possible in order for research to progress as it always has done.

EVERY SINGLE PRODUCT SOLD IN THE UK COULD BE PACKAGED WITH 100% RECYCLABLE MATERIALS As the largest UK supermarket chain, Tesco should be the market leader in sustainable packaging. Packaging is important to protect their products, and recycling is important to protect our environment. If ALL products were offered in recyclable packaging, we would dramatically cut the unnecessary filling of further landfill sites each year. WE WANT TO RECYCLE! Households across the UK want to recycle. Year-on-year, recycling figures are increasing. Consumers are increasingly engaged and increasing the levels at which they recycle. It is the responsibility of retailers to ensure they offer their products in recyclable packaging. WHY CAN'T I RECYCLE BLACK PLASTIC?! Black plastic packaging is one of the easiest packaging items that could be swapped for a recyclable alternative. Almost every local council offers a household collection service that recycles clear plastics, a simple alternative to non-recyclable black plastic. Black plastic can't easily be recycled, as there is no efficient way to sort it at a recycling facility. The solution is simple: don't use it in packaging! BE THE LEADER As the market leader, Tesco has an opportunity to set the precedent on sustainable packaging. Starting with black plastic, many other non-recyclable items such as expanded polystyrene should be phased out. In their place, recyclable and/or bio-degradable alternatives should be utilised as standard.

We are concerned that fracking could Contaminate our water supply Pollute the air with hazardous chemicals Cause earthquakes Reduce the value of our homes Increase our insurance premiums Make our roads less safe by increasing heavy traffic Leak methane which is a potent greenhouse gas 80 times more powerful than carbon dioxide Cause illness in the local population Increase noise and light pollution from drilling operations and traffic movement Cause industrialisation of countryside and adversley affect wildlife corridors Adversely effect local tourism and agriculture Fracking is bad for our environment, bad for our communities and we call upon Angela Smith MP to support our campaign for a ban on fracking in our area.

Democracy is of the upmost importance. We trust councillors that we elect to serve our interests. In this instance nearly 4,000 letters of objection to the company’s plans were received at the County Council, set against only 32 letters in favour. Councillors are required to adhere to the standard of good conduct as set out in the Local Government Act 1989 which requires that they effectively represent the interests of their Ward and of individual constituents. In addition councillors must maintain the highest standards of conduct and ethics, serve the public interest and take decisions having regard to the interests of the whole local community. We feel that our interests have been disregarded in favour of fiscal and political reasons.

West Sussex County Council can help address climate change by divesting £100m of its pension funds out of fossil fuels (1). Fracking, shale gas, arctic sea oil exploration – all of these, plus the systematic drilling for coal, oil and gas on land and in the sea, are financed in part through pension funds. Dangerous climate change is the risk if we don’t all act. Divesting these funds now is morally and ethically correct. What’s more ethical and sustainable investment funds outperformed non-ethical investment funds in 2012/13 (2). Climate change is leading to extremes in our weather. Globally, the State of the Climate report shows a “toppling of several symbolic milestones” in temperature, sea levels and carbon dioxide (3). For Sussex, we are to expect increases in extreme heat – a real danger for young and old members of our community - and flooding. Professor Virginia Murray from Public Health England said, "Data has shown real risk of increased deaths when temperature goes above 26C"(4). Already in our local area, flooding events are increasing and the risk of damage to people and property growing (5). “Divestment represents a tangible action that individuals and organisations can take to combat climate change. I’m scared for my children’s future and take every opportunity I can to pressure action on climate change for them and all of us” - M, Worthing 1 Freedom of Information request dated 02/03/16 2 BlueGreenTomorrow.com: http://blueandgreentomorrow.com/2013/08/15/financial-returns- from-ethical-investment-funds- better-than- mainstream-in- last-12- months/ 3 https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/aug/02/environment-climate-change-records-broken-international-report 4 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/weather/10187140/Heatwave-deaths-760-lives-claimed-by-hot-weather-as-high-temperatures-continue.html 5 Climate UK: http://climateuk.net/resource/climate-change- risks-south- east-england

Gas extraction firms plan to drill several shale gas wells in North Yorkshire in the next five years, after being handed the rights to explore using the controversial hydraulic fracturing process across the county by the national government. The Joint Waste and Mineral Plan for North Yorkshire is currently being negotiated by City of York Council, North Yorkshire County Council and the North Yorkshire Moors National Park authority. This plan, when enacted, will outline how each of these areas deal with a host of topics including recycling provision, waste management, as well as gas and mineral extraction. Due to national laws and regulation City of York Council, North Yorkshire County Council and North Yorkshire Moors National Park are not allowed to exclude gas drilling completely within their territories, but the the local authorities have influence to set conditions to protect residents and the outstanding countryside of North Yorkshire from the impact of the gas industry.

The economic impact on both the employees, and those dependant on the local economy, of the closure of the Longannet Power Plant will be felt far and wide. Small local business will be badly hit. There remains no large scale employer in the West Fife area after this closure so regeneration funding is vital to the recovery process.

The scientific evidence of the risks and harms of unconventional gas development mounts every year and we believe that fracked gas has no place in Wales's low carbon future. The 2015 Paris climate agreement, the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act of 2015 and the Environment (Wales) Act of 2016 all make it clear that a swift transition to renewable energy is needed. This is the direction that Wales should firmly take.

The 2015 Paris climate agreement, the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act of 2015 and the Environment (Wales) Act of 2016 make our moral and legal obligations clear - in the face of potentially catastrophic climate change, we must act now to protect future generations. This transition is totally feasible, both technically and financially, and such a bold programme could be transformative for Wales. It would attract green investment, create tens of thousands of jobs and give Wales ownership of its own energy generation and distribution systems. This would be true energy security and it would give Wales political and economic freedom like never before in its history. ------ Mae Cytundeb Hinsawdd Paris 2015, Deddf Llesiant Cenhedlaethau'r Dyfodol (Cymru) 2015 a Deddf Amgylchedd (Cymru) 2016 yn glir iawn ei ddisgwyliadau moesol a chyfreithiol - yng ngwyneb newid hinsawdd a allai fod yn gatastroffig, rhaid i ni weithredu yn awr i amddiffyn cenedlaethau'r dyfodol. Mae'r trawsnewidiad hwn yn gwbl oddifewn ein gallu, yn dechnegol ac yn ariannol, ac fe allai rhaglen uchelgeisiol o'r math fod yn drawsffurfiol i Gymru. Fe fyddai'n denu buddsoddiad gwyrdd, creu degau o filoedd o swyddi a rhoi i Gymru berchnogaeth ar ei systemau ei hunan o gynhyrchu a dosbarthu ynni. Byddai hyn yn wir sicrwydd-ynni ac yn rhoi i Gymru ryddid economaidd a gwleidyddol na fu ganddi erioed o'r blaen.

Unconventional Fossil Fuels extraction and the Volatile Organic Compounds that are released as gasses and liquid spills are inherently dangerous, and we have plenty of evidence from other countries that it causes major damage to life and health. If this industry is to be allowed to operate in this country close to people they should be regulated and monitored stringently. If the cost has to come from the industry then so be it, we need to ensure that the public, animals and environment are safe, and so far with calls to the sites that have been active in the UK the response from the EA has been less than desirable; lying and failing in their duties. Millions of lives are at risk if these wells leak, we need to prevent this from happening. At this moment in time there is no public safety net from this industry who are releasing contaminants into the atmosphere.

Hinkley Point C is a vastly expensive project which has a good chance of failing, at great cost to UK electricity consumers. The model of reactor chosen for Hinkley Point C, the EPR (European Pressurised Reactor), is proving to be a technical disaster. Four are under construction in Finland, France and China and all overdue and over cost - the one in Finland is 9 years behind schedule. The cost of the Hinkley programme has escalated to £18billion and is likely to rise further. At present, the UK demand for electricity is falling and the cost of energy on world markets is also falling. Renewable technologies such as solar and wind are also rapidly becoming cheaper and represent far better value for money if we wish to invest in low-carbon electricity production. The Hinkley reactors will be funded by EDF, a company largely owned by the French government. Its finance director has resigned as he believes the company cannot afford the project. In order to attract investment in the project from France and China, the UK government has guaranteed a unit price for the power produced which is roughly three times the current price. This will inflate the electricity bills of all consumers for decades to come. Since it is a Government decision, it is effectively a tax which we can in no way avoid. A government which professes to believe in the free market has rigged the market by promising the French and Chinese investors a large return on their investment. Any profits will leave the country. Hinkley Point C is an infrastructure project that will end up as a white elephant. The next generation will not understand why we allowed such a grandiose project to be built. They will be left to pay the price through inflated electricity bills and to deal with the nuclear waste which the reactors will produce.