Earlier this week I was proud to be a signatory on Hugh Fearnly-Whittingstal's open letter to Michael Gove and Grant Shapps, which called for a lifting of the de facto ban on onshore wind.

Government rules, introduced by the Conservatives in 2015, mean that just one objection to an onshore wind farm can block an entire project, meaning there’s effectively been a ban in place for eight years.

The letter – covered in the Guardian on Tuesday – was published by Possible, and signed by dozens of notable figures from the worlds of politics, media and science, including Caroline Lucas, Chris Packham CBE, Liz Bonnin, Deborah Meaden, and Mike Berners-Lee.

We’re in the middle of a climate and ecological emergency, coupled with a cost-of-living crisis. Immediate action to responsibly use ‘one of the cheapest, cleanest and most nature-friendly forms of energy available’ has to be top of the political agenda in order to make progress on the UK’s legally binding climate targets, improve energy security and reduce household bills. We have also been vocal in our backing of recent campaigns such as Warm This Winter, and #EndGasNow, and this letter helps join the dots between the two crises.

How you can take action

If you’re with us – and you wouldn’t have read this far if you’re not – then lend your name to the cause and sign up here. Amplify the message across social media, and write to your MP.

The letter is published in full on Possible’s website.

_{Photo by ZHANG FENGSHENG via Unsplash}