🌍 Our Power. Our Planet.

by Tom Morrison MP

Every year on Earth Day, people around the world come together to celebrate our environment and confront the reality of the climate crisis. For me, it’s also a chance to talk about power — not just the energy that fuels our homes and businesses, but the collective power we have to make change happen.

Here in Cheadle, I’ve seen firsthand how much people care about protecting our green spaces, cleaning up our air, and securing a more sustainable future for the next generation. At every level, our community is fighting for our environment. From the Parks groups and local litter pickers cleaning our environment, to climate action groups like Sustainable Bramhall, pushing for action locally, to Friends of the Earth Manchester campaigning for national change, I share these values. I believe we all have a responsibility to look after our planet — and that means taking bold, practical steps, both locally and nationally.

One of the biggest changes we need to make is how we power our lives. Right now, we’re still too reliant on expensive, polluting fossil fuels — not just bad for the planet, but bad for our pockets too. That’s why I’m backing a major shift to renewable energy. Wind, solar, and tidal power are not only clean and sustainable, but also increasingly the cheapest forms of energy.

And crucially, I believe our energy should be owned by us, not by foreign states or fossil fuel giants. We need to take back control of our energy grid, keep profits here at home, and reinvest in communities.

We also need to think about energy efficiency — especially in our homes. Cheadle’s housing stock is some of the draughtiest in the country, meaning higher bills and more emissions. I’m calling on the Government to back a proper home insulation programme, street by street, to reduce energy use, save people money, and cut our national carbon footprint.

But it doesn’t stop there. A greener Cheadle means:

• Cleaner air through better public transport and safe walking and cycling routes.
• Thriving green spaces, protected from overdevelopment.
• Support for local businesses to transition to low-carbon practices.
• Investment in green jobs, so we can rebuild our economy with climate at its heart.

And in Parliament, I’m pressing ministers to stop approving new oil and gas projects, and to bring in stronger protections for our natural environment — from peatlands and woodlands to rivers and wildlife corridors.

This Earth Day, I want to say thank you to everyone in our community who’s doing their bit — whether that’s switching to reusable items, planting trees, joining local litter picks, or speaking up about climate change. Your actions matter.

But we also need action at the top. We need leadership that matches the urgency of the challenge. And I’m determined to be part of that fight — not just today, but every day.

Together, we have the power to build a future that’s cleaner, fairer, and more secure. Let’s use it.

Happy Earth Day, Cheadle.
Let’s protect our planet — and our future — together.