LAST week was the first ever Green Great Britain Week, a week of events and activities which brought together businesses, schools, universities, communities and charities to explore the opportunities of low carbon commitments, to celebrate what we’ve achieved as a world leader in this area and challenge ourselves to do more to protect our environment and take action against climate change.

The recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s report made clear the scale of this global challenge to fight dangerous climate change. But our record shows that we can make a difference: since 1990 we’ve cut our emissions by over 40 per cent (the last time emissions were this low, Queen Victoria was on the throne!) while growing the economy by more than two thirds - among the best performance in the world.

But it is also clear we must raise our ambition, which is why I wrote last week to the Committee on Climate Change to ask for advice on how we can achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions across the economy. It’s not just good for the planet, but good for business - our low carbon economy currently employs over 400,000 people and is set to grow four times faster than the rest of the economy, as more and more people take up ‘green collar’ jobs.

Locally, as we draw towards November, many communities across the Devizes constituency are organising events to mark the 100th anniversary of the end of the Great War. I recently met with John McConnell and Peter Unwin of the Ludgershall Great War Commemoration Committee to hear about the wonderful Centenary Garden which is close to completion in Ludgershall. It has been lovely to watch the refurbishment of the Centenary Garden as I pass on my weekly commute to London, and I am so pleased that this project has been so enthusiastically supported by the whole community, including contributions from Tidworth Area Board, Ludgershall Town Council and Lovell, the principal contractor for the new Service Family Accommodation being built in Ludgershall.

I know that the finished garden will be absolutely stunning and a wonderful place of calm and reflection for everyone in Ludgershall. I am very much looking forward to joining the Remembrance events in Ludgershall this year and laying a Parliamentary wreath at the Ludgershall War Memorial, whilst councillors lay Parliamentary wreaths on my behalf in the other towns across the constituency.

Claire Perry MP