CAMPAIGNERS from Rugby have failed to convince the town’s MP Mark Pawsey to support a ban on new fossil fuel projects.
A group from Rugby was among over 80 professionals who visited Parliament to discuss the matter with their MPs.
Dunstan Vavasour, a chartered electrical engineer, and his son William, a healthcare dispenser, joined a group of scientists, engineers and healthcare professionals who travelled to Westminster in an event organised by a coalition of organisations, including MP Watch and Extinction Rebellion.
Dunstan said: “Whichever party they belong to, MPs must understand that any oil and gas developments in the North Sea will join a global market and are not ring-fenced for UK consumption. Energy security and lower bills come from reducing consumption and using cheaper renewables, not from digging up more fossil fuels for burning.
“We spoke with Mark about a wide range of net zero related topics, including hydrogen, battery manufacture, onshore wind, rooftop solar and the need for development of the electricity grid.
“While he and we are in broad agreement on many of the topics, we would like to see the government move much faster and give strong leadership.”
Mr Pawsey said he had known Dunstan for more than 20 years and had respect for his views on the subject.
He said: “As a member of the Energy Security and Net Zero Select Committee, I am committed to seeing us achieve the government’s goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2050. However, there will still be a need to use some fossil fuels as we transition to renewable and zero carbon technologies.
“However, it makes much more sense for those to be produced domestically than to be shipped from around the world, which would create more emissions through shipping and leave us more vulnerable to global shocks.
“For this reason, I support the granting of additional licences to support our domestic energy sector and our energy security as we transition to net-zero.”
