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Simon Opher's Climate-related Tweets, Speeches & Votes

We've found the following climate-related tweets, speeches & votes by Simon Opher

• 2 Dec 2025: Parliamentary Speech

  The Sustainable Energy Association has developed a proposal for an energy efficiency incentive that can unlock greater investment by rewarding in-use performance of energy efficiency measures over several years through a revenue-based mechanism. The proposal would lower fuel bills across the country, keeping money in people’s pockets. In-use performance can be measured through technologies such as smart meter-enabled thermal efficiency ratings. Measuring performance is likely to drive up the quality of measures, as the financiers of those measures will have a strong financial interest in ensuring quality of product and installation.

  A call for evidence would certainly invite other innovative proposals to be brought the table. Although I hope the Bill will be unnecessary, what it proposes is a no-brainer that would provide solutions to problems that unite us as a House: soaring energy bills, energy security and the health of the UK population. I invite the Minister for Energy Consumers—the Under-Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, my hon. Friend the Member for Inverclyde and Renfrewshire West (Martin McCluskey)—to back my campaign and issue a call for evidence.

  Full debate: Domestic Energy Efficiency (Call for Evidence)

• 7 Jul 2025: Parliamentary Speech

  I am an MP and a practising GP, and I chair the all-party health group for health and co-chair the net zero all-party parliamentary group. I therefore bring a dual perspective to this question—and, to be honest, from both positions I think the time has come: we must end all fossil fuel advertising and sponsorship.

  Full debate: Fossil Fuel Advertising and Sponsorship

• 31 Mar 2025: Parliamentary Speech

  I thank the right hon. Gentleman for that point. The lack of transparency is a key issue. In 2023, oil and gas lobbyists spoke to Tory MPs on average 1.4 times per day, so is it really any wonder that they are now stepping back from their commitment to net zero? We must stop that sort of influence in Parliament. We must take the evidence and respond in the right way.

  Full debate: Political Donations

• 20 Nov 2024: Parliamentary Speech

  Plastic pollution is putting the Earth’s ecosystems and natural processes under serious strain, worsening climate change, biodiversity loss, ocean acidification and land use—and if you think the situation is bad now, it could be much worse in decades to come. Plastic production, which is already far too high for our planet’s systems to cope with, is set to triple by 2050. The impact on climate change will be monumental. In its current state and with its current growth trajectory, plastic production will make achieving net zero impossible.

  Full debate: Global Plastics Treaty

  Earlier this year, over 220,000 people decided to take part in the Big Plastic Count—a massive citizen science project where individuals count every piece of plastic waste that they dispose of for a week. The results showed that the UK throws away 1.7 billion pieces of plastic each week, with 58% of that being incinerated, producing toxic fumes and greenhouse gases. Incineration is the UK’s dirtiest form of power generation, and incinerators are three times more likely to be placed in poorer neighbourhoods, as was the case with the one built recently in the Stroud area.

  Full debate: Global Plastics Treaty

  As I was saying, the Environment Secretary has made zero waste one of the Department’s core missions, and has set up a circular economy taskforce. This is a good move and will create jobs in repair, rental and recycling, as well as will significantly reducing CO2 emissions. The reuse of plastics, and not just recycling, is also incredibly important. It has perhaps dropped down the agenda a little, and we need to emphasise the point, so I thank the hon. Member for Glastonbury and Somerton for her intervention.

  Full debate: Global Plastics Treaty

  The plastics treaty is the third time in quick succession that this Government’s international climate and nature leadership has been tested. The UK demonstrated our ambitions at the biodiversity COP in Cali, Colombia, and was one of the only countries to announce a genuinely ambitious nationally determined contribution at the COP29 in Baku. The plastics treaty is another vital opportunity for the UK to demonstrate once again that it is a progressive actor on the world stage, prepared to face down polluting industries and to put the brakes on the climate and nature emergency. That leadership role is needed now more than ever, particularly in sustainable energy and in recycling.

  Full debate: Global Plastics Treaty

• 5 Sep 2024: Parliamentary Speech

  Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I thank the hon. Member for Waveney Valley (Adrian Ramsay) for his support for this really exciting piece of legislation—one of the most exciting in our manifesto. I am delighted to be making my maiden speech during a debate on renewable energy. Stroud has been a centre for sustainability and the environment for many years.

  Stroud is also home to cutting-edge companies, including Renishaw in the engineering industry. Ecotricity, owned by Dale Vince, has been at the cutting edge of sustainable energy for many years.

  My father is 90. He was going to be here today, but he could not make it, which is really sad. He has been a lifelong socialist and Labour party member. He said in 2019, “I will probably never see another Labour Government,” but he has got to see one. Let us make this work and work hard to deliver renewable energy, so we can bring down the cost of power and change the whole environment of the country.

  Full debate: Great British Energy Bill

• 08 Jul 2024: Tweet

  The onshore wind ban had been in place for 9 years. Labour removed it in 3 days. This is a major step in enabling Stroud to become self-sufficient in zero-carbon electricity, giving local communities a say/stake in local renewable energy infrastructure. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/policy-statement-on-onshore-wind/policy-statement-on-onshore-wind [Source]

• 22 Jan 2024: Tweet

  100 years ago today we saw the first Labour Government. To #SaveOurNHS, rebuild our schools and communities, get serious about tackling the climate emergency and bring back hope - we need to elect the next @uklabour Government. Join us: https://jdr.labour.org.uk/join-journey https://twitter.com/SimonforStroud/status/1749551254081036797/photo/1 [Source]

• 05 Jan 2024: Tweet

  While @Keir_Starmer and @UKLabour are looking forward to improving people’s lives, Sunak seems to just want to hang on to power. In a climate emergency, with our health and social care in crisis, to delay an election seems like utter folly. #GeneralElectionN0W https://twitter.com/SimonforStroud/status/1743230594992001198/photo/1 [Source]

• 22 Oct 2023: Tweet

  This painting of floods (by Angie Spencer) is at @prema_arts It’s sadly prescient. As climate change increasingly affects our daily lives, we need to review our water management strategies. As well as tackling water upstream, we must get better at managing floods on our roads. https://twitter.com/SimonforStroud/status/1716113315737280775/photo/1 [Source]

• 18 Oct 2023: Tweet

  The #ClimateCrisis is a huge concern for parents raising the next generation of children. Yesterday I had the pleasure of joining a local meeting with @parents_4future - growing group of parents navigating the climate crisis. An inspiring discussion, thank you to everyone ???? https://twitter.com/SimonforStroud/status/1714725475182870948/photo/1 [Source]

• 16 Jun 2023: Tweet

  This is what Labour will deliver: ???? 100% sustainable power by 2030 ???? new spending from day 1 ???????? £28bn annually within 3 years ???????? ???? GB Energy. Sustainable, publicly owned. #Sustainability #LabourGovernment #GreenEnergy #GBEnergy https://twitter.com/SimonforStroud/status/1669595980935618560/photo/1 [Source]

• 12 Jun 2023: Tweet

  Firing up coal plants to meet the demand for electricity to cope with increased air conditioning in a heatwave is insane. If the Tories were serious about tackling #ClimateChange we would be further along the road to being self sufficient in clean power. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/jun/12/uk-heatwave-prompts-order-to-fire-up-coal-plant-to-meet-aircon-demand [Source]

• 10 Jun 2023: Tweet

  Great reception in Arlingham this week. People are worried about: ????climate change ????the cost of living ????‍????‍????‍????broken society The Tories offer soap opera politics & a government unable to tackle the crises which they helped create. It's time for change???? We need #GeneralElectionNow????️ https://twitter.com/SimonforStroud/status/1667573411957075968/photo/1 [Source]

• 10 Jun 2023: Tweet

  There doesn’t need be any cost to getting to 100% green energy. Remove the bans (real and de facto) on onshore wind/solar developments, tidy planning criteria & level the playing field - industry will do the rest. Which, of course, could be happening now. #GreenProsperityPlan https://twitter.com/Ed_Miliband/status/1667076807558852609 [Source]

• 29 May 2023: Tweet

  I was on @BBCPoliticsWest yesterday morning discussing, amongst other things, solar/sustainable power and the local election results. Struck, as ever, by the Conservatives' lack of urgency about the #ClimateCrisis. https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001mgk8 [Source]

• 13 Apr 2023: Tweet

  We need: ???? better insulated homes ???? targeted support ???? access to cheaper energy ????☀️???? investment in renewable energy sources More information here: https://www.warmthiswinter.org.uk [Source]

• 30 Mar 2023: Tweet

  The Conservatives are failing to take the #ClimateEmergency seriously. Labour would: ????Make Britain a clean energy superpower by 2030 ????????Set up GB Energy, a public energy company ????️Create a National Wealth Fund to secure good jobs ????Insulate 19m homes https://twitter.com/Ed_Miliband/status/1641395523943800833 [Source]

• 15 Mar 2023: Tweet

  I condemn the government's language & policy choices on the refugee crisis. The #AntiRefugeeBill2 won't work. Their language inflames racial hatred. We need: - safe, legal routes - better co-operation with partners - mitigate the effects of war/climate emergency [Source]

• 12 Nov 2022: Tweet

  We owe young people so much for making sure we prioritise the climate emergency. Labour is listening. #YouthStrikeForClimate #Stroud #ThanksToAllInvolved https://twitter.com/SimonforStroud/status/1591514466251948032/photo/1 [Source]

• 08 Nov 2022: Tweet

  Amongst other things, Labour is committed to making #Ecocide an international crime. Because it is. #COP27 https://www.stopecocide.earth/breaking-news-22/uk-labour-party-re-affirms-and-strengthens-its-support-for-ecocide-law https://twitter.com/SimonforStroud/status/1589977399906951173 [Source]

• 08 Nov 2022: Tweet

  #COP27 is an opportunity we can't waste. As MP I would be Stroud's voice: ⚡️accelerate our transition to renewables ???? be serious about our responsibilities ????support poorer countries manage climate shocks ???????? demonstrate global leadership & cooperation #GBEnergy https://twitter.com/SimonforStroud/status/1589977399906951173/video/1 [Source]

• 27 Oct 2022: Tweet

  UK Shell Oil today announced a further doubling of their profits. £8bn profits in 13 weeks. That’s £3.6 million every hour. This cannot be right in any way. And Sunak isn’t going to #COP27 https://twitter.com/SimonforStroud/status/1585757997199986688/photo/1 [Source]

• 27 Oct 2022: Tweet

  Sunak isn’t going to #COP27 - the most important event of it’s kind. The Tories aren’t serious about the #ClimateEmergency. Working with world leaders is an opportunity to grasp, not avoid. The government should embrace Labour’s #GreenProsperityPlan https://twitter.com/UKLabour/status/1574763255939186688/video/1 [Source]