Leighton Buzzard residents have written to Alex Mayer MP demanding that the government takes action on the climate crisis.
On Saturday 25th July we held a climate crisis stall in Leighton Buzzard town centre, outside Waitrose. We asked passers by to write a letter to Alex Mayer MP about their concerns about the climate, and what action they want to see from the government.
In just two hours, we collected 45 responses from worried residents about a wide range of issues for the government to address. These letters will be sent to Alex Mayer MP for a response.
Some of the issues residents raised included:
- Integration of renewables, such as solar and heat pumps, for all new housing developments
- Improving the infrastructure of the National Grid
- Stopping the prolific building of data centres and cap the use of AI due to the threat to water security
- No more drilling for fossil fuels
- Investing in our water security
- Creating easier and more transparent routes for people to improve their home insulation
- Supporting more tree planting to create shade and support biodiversity
- Bringing climate change education to schools
“I have panic attacks”
Many of the people we spoke to were very worried about the climate crisis, particularly after experiencing the relentless and extreme heat in the town. One letter states: “When I think of the heat wave, forest fires, drought, basically the cataclysmic changes that have taken place in my lifetime, I have panic attacks. I think of the future that awaits my middle-aged children and more particularly, my grandchildren. We need a more holistic approach of development.”
Another resident had this thought: “Climate action should be built into everything through pricing, which encourages people and companies to make more sustainable choices as its the cheaper and more efficient choice. EV schemes are a great example, and solar. We need more like this!”
The stall comes amidst the UK’s third consecutive heatwave, which has seen a series of wildfires across the UK and Northern Ireland. There have been more than 2,700 excess deaths because of the extreme heat.
According to the Met Office, the world has warmed by 1.4°C on preindustrial levels. By 2050, that is estimated to reach 2°C, and by 2100, 4°C is possible. The Committee on Climate Change published its report, A Well Adapted UK in May 2026, which highlights the devastating impacts that climate change will have on the UK.
According to the report, by 2050 under 2°C of global warming:
- Summer heatwaves could regularly exceed 40°C
- The UK will be short of 5 billion litres of water per day
- There will between 3,000-10,000 excess deaths a year due to heatwaves
- The number of properties at risk of flooding could increase by 40%
- High-quality farmland for food production will reduce from 40% to just 10% in England and Wales due to drought and flooding
We will post an update with any response we receive from Alex Mayer MP on this campaign.
If you missed our stall, don’t worry. You can write to your local MP any time – this article tells you how.