400 billion tonnes of ice melted into the sea in Greenland in 2012. Four times more than in 2003. The ice is melting faster than expected and in regions where the ice was not expected to melt. Should the ice melt altogether then the sea level would rise by 23 feet. Global warming is not entirely the responsibility of humankind but we are playing our dangerous part. We must act to reduce harmful emissions here in West Cornwall, as a nation and around the world. Here in Cornwall I’m supporting Cornwall Council’s Carbon Free commitment and seeking Government support to meet this target. Nationally I was glad to put my name to a cross-party letter last year to commit to a future where the UK no longer contributes to climate change by achieving net zero emissions by 2050 - visit theclimatecoalition.org. And I’ve taken every opportunity to stress that the Government, our NGOs (delivering international aid programmes) and UK trade overseas do not miss any opportunity to contribute to delivering the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, three deal directly with promoting renewable and sustainable measures whilst reducing harmful environmental practices http://17goals.org.
People know that I am firmly in support of the Ten Year Plan for the NHS. The success of the Ten Year Plan and NHS Kernow and social care services is dependent on a well-valued and happy workforce. On Friday I was privileged to take part in the launch of the Cornwall Health and Social Care Academy which offers people a health or social care job here in Cornwall while they learn leading to a career in health or social care in the Duchy. This joint venture between Royal Cornwall Hospital Trust, Cornwall Foundation NHS Trust, Cornwall Council and others provides a very practical way to ensure we recruit and retain the workforce needed and offer the opportunity for local people to get the skills they need whilst doing a rewarding job and securing a career in the area in which they live and love. The objectives of the Academy include ‘facilitating high quality care for all and improving patient outcomes in the Cornwall area both now and in the future through the use of good quality training, opportunities and retention’. A particular aspect of this Health and Care Academy is the fact that it will deliver this year a Clinical Associate Psychologist to work in every secondary school in Cornwall. This will be enormously welcome by parents who have battled to find support and professional care for their children.
I don’t often get my steel toe-capped safety boots and my overalls on these days so I was delighted to spend a couple of hours on Saturday in Carbis Bay with DIY SOS and as many as 60 local tradesmen and women. The BBC production team commented on the quality of the work and how well everyone worked together. It’s quite a thing for local tradesmen and women to give up their time when they are all under pressure with their usual work commitments. An example of West Cornwall at its best.