Last month, I invited constituents in Hampstead and Kilburn to a virtual meeting about how we can tackle the climate and ecological emergency.

I was delighted that over 100 people attended, bringing with them a range of expertise and experiences that have shaped my thinking.

It was fantastic to speak to people from local climate groups in Camden, alongside so many residents who are committed to doing their bit for our planet and campaigning for a green transformation.

While our lives and our politics has been dominated by coronavirus this past year, our community has not forgotten the existential importance of combatting climate change.

This year will be crucial as we fight to make the path to recovery from Covid-19 a green one.

My Labour colleagues in parliament and I have been pushing the government to deliver a transformational green agenda and take a strong global leadership role at the COP26 summit in Glasgow.

We must not allow yet another opportunity to pass us by without real commitments to the radical change we need to avoid substantial rises in global temperatures and the environmental catastrophe that this would lead to.

Ham & High: Tulip Siddiq says the government has let children down during LockdownTulip Siddiq says the government has let children down during Lockdown (Image: PA Archive/PA Images)

At the meeting, we were joined by Dr Alan Whitehead, Labour's shadow minister for energy and a Green New Deal, who spoke about the work that the Labour Party has been doing to put climate change at the top of the political agenda.

It was fantastic to have the opportunity to have an open conversation with local residents about the scale of change that is needed to protect our planet.

This is an issue that is very close to my heart, and I have spoken many times in parliament about the need to make our carbon emissions targets much more ambitious, improve energy efficiency, invest in renewable energy sources and cut down on waste that is destroying our environment.

Last year, I campaigned for the government to stop financing new oil and gas projects around the world.

We have so much more to do to on this, and I will always be there campaigning with our community for a greener, cleaner future.

  • Tulip Siddiq (Lab) is MP for Hampstead and Kilburn.