North Lancashire Green Party invites the public to two free evening meetings in Lancaster this March on the climate emergency and on plans to overhaul local government.

The National Emergency Briefing - Climate & Nature Crisis

Tuesday March 3 | 7.30pm–9pm | St Thomas' Centre, Marton Street, Lancaster Free entry. No booking required. All welcome.

A recently released Government report - The Global Biodiversity Loss, Ecosystem Collapse and National Security Report - warns that the UK is sleepwalking into a national security crisis.

Professor Mike Berners-Lee will be a special guest at one of North Lancashire Green Party's meetings in Lancaster.

placeholder image — Professor Mike Berners-Lee will be a special guest at one of North Lancashire Green Party's meetings in Lancaster.

It finds that the collapse of key ecosystems could begin as early as 2030, with consequences for health, food supply, poverty, crime and international conflict. No community will be spared.

This public meeting is part of the National Emergency Briefing, a UK-wide initiative bringing together leading scientific and expert voices to present the latest evidence on the climate and nature crisis, and make the case that it must be treated as a true national emergency, in both policy and public understanding.

Speakers include Councillor Sam Riches, Lancaster City Council's Cabinet Member for Climate Action, and special guest Professor Mike Berners-Lee, writer and researcher on climate and sustainability.

Come along to hear from the speakers and explore how to respond together.

Lancaster City Councillor Sam Riches. Sam holds the Climate Action portfolio on Cabinet.

In Conversation with Professor Steve Leach on Local Government Reorganisation

Thursday March 12 | 7.30pm–9pm | The Social Room, Quaker Meeting House, Meeting House Lane, Lancaster Free entry. No booking required. All welcome.

The Government is proposing the biggest shake-up of local government since 1974, replacing existing councils across Lancashire and other county areas with new unitary authorities.

All Lancashire councils voted last November on their preferred number of new unitaries, with different councils backing different options.

Rather than narrowing things down, the Government has now reopened consultation on all options, though keeping the current structure is not on the table.

Professor Steve Leach, Emeritus Professor of Local Government, co-authored a paper describing the Government's proposals as "the worst White Paper for local government in living memory."

He comes to the meeting to explain what is being proposed, what it means for communities in Lancashire, and how people can make their voice heard before the consultation deadline onMarch 26.

Respond to the consultation at https://lancashirelgr.co.uk/say-1

The Government is expected to announce its decision this summer.

For more information visit https://northlancs.greenparty.org.uk/