Greenpeace volunteers have spoken with residents to understand opinions on rising energy bills, Putin’s war, and the climate crisis.

Last weekend, Greenpeace Preston volunteers spoke to people in Preston Flag Market, inviting the public to write down how much their energy bills have increased.

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The volunteers discovered that some bills have increased by £200 a month. Many spoke about how their payments had become unaffordable.

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One resident, Claire, said the rise in bills has been difficult for her as it means ‘being able to spend less on my children’.

Another concerned resident, Jill, said she ‘lives more and more on my credit card, with a lot more difficulty paying it off’.

The volunteers have called on the government to deliver an emergency energy package that stops rising energy bills, the climate crisis and Putin’s war.

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They also said they want local MPs to keep the pressure on the government until they ‘do the right thing.’ 

Helen, a Greenpeace volunteer, said: “I was shocked to hear stories of having to choose between heating and eating and how many more local people are worried about being pushed into fuel poverty when bills rise again in the autumn.”

On 1 April, energy bills rose by an average of £700, pushing 2.5 million UK households into fuel poverty.

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In October, bills will rise again, potentially reaching an estimated £2,600 per year, which could put 1 in 3 households in fuel poverty, according to National Energy Action.

Greenpeace said although the government recently declared a windfall tax on oil and gas producers, It will only provide temporary relief and does nothing to address the causes of the climate or cost of living crises.

They have called for a tax rate of 70 per cent, which could offer an extra £13.4bn per year.

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Greenpeace said £7.9bn of this tax should go towards the six million households experiencing fuel poverty.

They said it would leave just over £5 billion to invest in the nationwide rollout of heat pumps, insulation and other energy efficiency measures and increase investment in renewable energy infrastructure.

Helen said: “The government has failed to get a grip on the climate and cost of living crises.

“We’ll keep facing these problems for years while oil and gas giants pump out planet-trashing emissions and enjoy sky-high profits.

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“Join us in calling on the Chancellor to make them pay up.”

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