Extinction Rebellion activists marching on MPs’ offices in Lincolnshire to call for action on climate change

Extinction Rebellion groups in Lincolnshire will be taking to the streets of Sleaford, Lincoln, Louth, Bourne and Gainsborough on Thursday (June 25), to highlight what they say is the Government’s “woeful inaction on tackling climate change”.

The protest is part of a nationwide response by Extinction Rebellion to the report of the Government’s own Committee on Climate Change, which will be published on Thursday. It is claimed by the group that the report will show that the Government has made negligible progress towards meeting the legal target of reducing the UK’s carbon emissions to net zero by 2050.

The protesters, strictly maintaining social distance and wearing masks and gloves, will walk with placards to the offices of their local MPs to deliver a strongly worded letter.

The letter will be presented to the office of Dr Caroline Johnson in White Hart Mews in Sleaford.

Local XR activist Eddie Francis alleges: “The Government is failing in its commitments to reach net zero emissions by 2050, a target already woefully inadequate. It’s failing in its responsibilities to keep people safe.

“The government’s slowness to act on coronavirus led to tens of thousands of unnecessary deaths. The same is now happening with the climate and ecological emergency. Only this time the science is terrifyingly clear: tens of MILLIONs of lives are at stake.

“Politics as usual is failing us, so we are demanding a fair and representative Citizens’ Assembly to decide our future together.”

The letter to MPs states:

“We need you to tell the truth by publicly declaring to your constituents and to the government that the current target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050 is too late and will lead to the death of millions.

“We need you to act now to take immediate preventative action to halt biodiversity loss and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2025.

“We need you to go beyond party politics by initiating a fair and representative Citizens Assembly with real decision making power, on climate and ecological justice.

“Your inaction is a betrayal of all those you have been elected to protect. We call on you now to do your duty and take action on behalf of life.”

* The Lincoln action will start at 8.30am at the junction of Tritton Road and Doddington Road, and proceed to the office of Karl McCartney MP, arriving about 9.15am.

* The Louth action will start at 10am in the Market Place.

* The Sleaford action will start at 11am at the Handley Monument.

* The Bourne action will start at 11am at the bus station