Having lived in the rainforest working alongside the Pech tribe in Honduras, I saw first-hand the destruction of the environment by loggers. We were powerless to stop them. Their presence was so common children would draw pictures of lorries with their cargo of logs, as illustrated in this picture. As the disappearance of our rainforests becomes more critical, we have to take control of our own localities and make a difference to our environment. We need trees to reduce pollution and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. They improve our mental health and provide a habitat and nourishment for wildlife By lobbying the government to finance local authorities, trees can be cultivated and planted locally in parks, schools, nature reserves, housing estates and even supermarket carparks. Cultivating wildlife friendly native species locally eliminates the risk of importing plan based diseases. With the benefit of creating jobs and encouraging local volunteer groups we can improve the environment for everyone and play a part in looking after our futures

It is the single best way to tackle the climate crisis within a capitalist society.

Living near a quarry brings increased risk to the health of people in the nearby communities. At the moment there are no standards laid down by government, relating to how far away quarries have to be from settlements, so each regional authority views the situation differently and each community has to argue their own case for a “buffer zone”. Some authorities try to get away with no buffer, whereas others are more considerate. We believe that there needs to be a standard buffer zone nationwide, of at least 1,000 metres, in order to protect the health of people who live near quarries, especially older people and children. A national standard is required so that all communities are treated fairly. Dust generated by quarrying can contain silica. Silica is naturally found in certain types of stone, rock, sand and clay. Working with these materials can create a very fine dust that can be easily inhaled. Once inside the lungs, the dust particles are attacked by the immune system. This causes silicosis, a disease that can take years to develop. It causes swelling and scarring in the lungs. The NHS website states that people with silicosis may become bed-bound and, in rare instances, may die. Silicosis can also lead to other serious lung diseases such as COPD and lung cancer. Companies who operate quarries where silica is likely to be present are required by law to provide their employees with protective equipment. There is no such protection for people who live near quarries. Older people, those with existing respiratory conditions such as asthma, and young children are particularly vulnerable to airborne silica entering their lungs. The risk of harm to health is higher where the prevailing winds carry dust from quarries towards residential settlements and schools. We are therefore calling upon the Government to establish a common national standard that would keep quarrying activities at least 1000 metres away from areas where people live, work and study. This standard would then have to be adopted by local authorities when preparing their minerals policies and plans (which include quarrying activities), and making planning decisions. This standard would reduce the risk of serious long term health problems caused by silicosis and other lung diseases. Please sign our petition today. Thank you.

We’re in the middle of a climate emergency. A record 85% of us are now concerned about climate change, and for the first time ever, more than half of us say it will affect how we vote. Our next Prime Minister could lead the urgent action we need to save our planet, or take us even closer to a climate and nature catastrophe. We deserve to know exactly what each UK party leader will do to tackle this enormous challenge. A televised debate on climate and nature would put the defining issue of our generation in the spotlight. But leaders will only sign up if they know hundreds of thousands of us are demanding it. Add your name now - it takes just 30 seconds. Together we can make this happen. This petition is being run and organised by Possible and school-strike organisers the UK Student Climate Network (UKSCN). 38 Degrees is acting as a service provider, but is not involved in campaign strategy.

500,000 Disposable cups are dropped on the floor daily, littering our countryside and our streets. Many find their way into the oceans adding to the plastic islands with the biggest of these islands now 7 times the size of Great Britain! When run or cycle I am constantly stopping to pick up these cups dropped all over the countryside. Every minute in the UK 2 trees are chopped down to feed our takeaway coffee habit - that is around 2,800 trees per day! Go outside and stand looking at the trees and then imagine you come back tomorrow and every tree you can see gone for 50-100 metres in all directions ... just to get a coffee on the go! We use more than 7 million disposable cups each day in UK and recycle less than 4%. The pile of cups going to landfill each year is bigger than the Albert Hall! Mainly the cups are combined paper and plastic with the plastic taking 40-400 years to degrade in micro plastics. These then enter our environment and our bodies - already shown to be reaching the brains of fish and causing them to be disorientated. Many of the so called compostable cups are not much better as they need to be industrially composted which means they are not even collected in big numbers. As virgin paper needs to be used for these cups the trees still get cut down. There are easy alternatives to assuage our coffee habit - use a reusable takeaway cup, sit in an enjoy your cuppa in a porcelain mug or grab an espresso caffeine hit in Italian style. Baristas in all the major coffee chains hate this part of their job. They do not like giving our these highly destructive cups. In order to get change we need a blanket ban on all these cups which will mean alternatives quickly takeover - we will all still find a way to get our coffee ... simply in a more sustainable way which is nicer to our planet and climate.

Universities have an obligation to play a greater role in the Climate Strike movement, showing solidarity with students who will be most affected by the climate crisis. This petition will show that this is an issue that virtually all staff and students feel very strongly about, making it impossible for the University to ignore our demands.

Following storm damage in 2014, Network Rail are currently working on a resilience programme to upgrade the London to Penzance railway between Exeter and Newton Abbot. In 2018 they hosted public forums and presented plans to build a new line 30 -40 metres (or more) out to sea at from Teignmouth's East Cliff Cafe to the Dawlish tunnel - a scheme which would destroy 1.7km of the beach. In November last year they then announced that revised plans were now being considered. Subsequent Freedom of Information requests for details have been denied, "in the public interest". In February 2019, Network Rail advised that their current proposal between Parson's Tunnel and Teignmouth is, "to deliver a new railway alignment involving a new sea wall beyond the footprint of the existing." Teignmouth Beach, with it's open sea aspect framed by the towering red Devon cliffs, is possibly the most visually outstanding part of any journey on the iconic train route, and has been a cherished destination for both local's and visitors for many generations. Whilst it is agreed that the railway must be maintained and updated, we enjoin that this must not be to the detriment of a special and unique location. Network Rail must use their best endeavours to ensure that any development they undertake specifically maintains or enhances the visual and environmental merits of Holcombe and Teignmouth Beach.

Climate change is the most urgent issue of our generation and those to come. The IPCC warns that we must limiting warming levels to 1.5C if we are to avoid catastrophic impacts from climate change. These impacts include more severe and frequent droughts, heat waves, coastal flooding and disease. Although impacts in the UK will be severe, this is an ethical issue as effects are being disproportionately felt by poorer countries. To avoid disastrous levels of warming, action has to be taken immediately at all levels of society. The City of Nottingham has a target of going carbon neutral by 2028, as well as many other universities.

We need 20MPH zone in Bromley with speed cameras to cut down road traffic accidents. Making the roads safer, especially for vulnerable groups e.g. primary school children and the elderly and infirm.

The government has declared a climate emergency, and committed to making the UK a global leader on the climate crisis. But government documents have revealed that they’re planning to invest millions of pounds meant for green energy into the dirty fossil fuel industry in Argentina. Scientists say if we want to tackle the climate emergency, politicians have to take bold action in the next 15 months - and investing more money into the fossil fuel industry is taking us in the wrong direction. Will you sign the petition now, and call on the government to stop investing in the dirty fossil fuel industry, and start investing in green energy instead?

Hengrove Park is used every day by hundreds of people and for Bristol Council to sell off this land is a disgrace.

Middlewick Ranges (The Wick) have never been built on. Their extensive - and nationally declining - grassland and other habitats support protected birds and nationally scarce species including beetles, butterflies, moths, bats, snakes, lizards, mammals and plants. Local people - mainly from council estates - have walked The Wick for leisure, research and relaxation for 100 years or more.