Thursday, 27 May 2021

Column 27 May 2021 - G7 update

Last week I had a productive time in Parliament, asking two questions of my Ministerial colleagues in the Chamber on further support for our constituency.

With Falmouth hosting the world’s media at next month’s G7 Leaders Summit, I was able to highlight the tremendous home-grown television and film talent already produced in the town via Falmouth University, in a question to Oliver Dowden The Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. In response to my question I was pleased to secure a meeting with the Secretary of State or one of his Ministerial colleagues about what further support the Government can give to the film and television industry both in Falmouth and across the whole of Cornwall.

Also last week I was able to secure a visit from Kwasi Kwarteng, The Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy to see the exciting plans in Falmouth for the town to be at the heart of the renewable energy sector in Cornwall. Falmouth boasts the deepest natural harbour in western Europe and it is well placed to play a leading role in the UK’s ambition to deploy a gigawatt of FLOW—floating offshore wind—capacity by 2030. FLOW deployment in the Celtic sea alone could create more than 3,000 jobs. Local universities and the private sector have come together in Falmouth to accelerate deployment of this crucial renewable energy sector, with a Strength in Places fund application. I was pleased to hear the Secretary of State’s commitment to a visit and look forward to showing him these plans in person in Cornwall to help promote our bid to be part of the emerging sustainable energy sector which is really gathering strength in Cornwall right now.

With the G7 now less than a month away I was pleased to see a joint statement issued by Ministers from the participating countries acknowledging the unprecedented and interdependent crises of climate change and biodiversity loss pose an existential threat to nature, people, prosperity and security. The statement included a commitment to do this by putting climate, biodiversity, and the environment at the heart of their COVID-19 recovery strategies and investments. The Ministers also stated that they wish to set the world on a nature positive and climate-resilient pathway to bend the curve of biodiversity loss by 2030 and to keep a limit of 1.5°C temperature rise within reach by making our 2030 ambitions consistent with the aim of achieving net zero emissions as soon as possible and by 2050 at the latest. This is an incredibly positive statement to make and I am pleased that sustainable living is being placed at the heart of the UK’s G7 Summit in Cornwall, where we are already making such strides locally ourselves.

Another local connection to this international event is Sing2G7, an apolitical international engagement programme with a vision to enable children to raise their voices in song and be heard by world leaders.  Sing2G7 was conceived and is run by a tiny team of volunteers with the support of creative professionals and seven strong partners, including Truro Cathedral and Truro School. My thanks go to all who have taken part in this wonderful initiative and if you want to hear the song, go to their website at  https://www.sing2g7.org/

As ever, if you need my assistance with anything then my team and I are here to help. Please get in touch with me by email at Cherilyn.mackrory.mp@parliament.uk , or by telephone on 01872 229698.

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