Pippa Heylings - Green Hero - Green Liberal Democrats

Cllr Pippa Heylings - Green Hero

Pippa recently beat the Conservatives once and for all in South Cambridgeshire and is a passionate environmental campaigner with an impressive record.

"I have been working on the interrelated issues of climate change, biodiversity and poverty reduction all of my professional life"

"Climate change is the defining crisis of our time...Whilst impacts of climate change are already being felt, there are huge gaps between governments’ plans and what is needed to reduce carbon emissions"

4 October 2024

Global Green Change Catalyst

Pippa is the Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for South Cambridgeshire. She is the Energy Security and Net Zero Spokesperson for the Liberal Democrats and a key member of the Green Liberal Democrats and Chair of the Climate Change and Environment Advisory Committee on South Cambridgeshire District Council and currently represents the Histon & Impington ward.

She is also one of the Vice Chairs of the Climate Change APPG and a member of the Lib Dem Natural Environment Policy Working Group which seeks to review Lib Dem working policy at the national and international level and update these proposals on a multitude of different issues which face our environment. Read more here.

With a master's degree from Rhodes University, South Africa, Pippa has a distinguished career inenvironmental policy formulation, seeking practical solutions to global problems and acting as a catalyst in their implementation.

"After working as a director of a large NGO I set up my own company which works
with scientists, the UN and government organisations to ensure that local voices
are heard and policy decisions are evidence-based, sustainable and practical".

Local Action

Pippa has more claim than almost anyone to thinking globally, but she also very much acts locally...

"Fine words and targets from the Government is not enough. We need to call out the greenwash and push for urgent action now – to decarbonise our homes, our transport, our workplaces – and to restore nature across our towns and villages."

She chairs the Climate Change and Environment Committee of South Cambridgeshire District Council. Pippa made the South Cambridgeshire DC one of the first district Councils to make a zero-carbon pledge. This places the Council next to Oxford City Council as the top in the UK for taking real budgeted action after recognising the climate emergency.

Passion for the environment will run through Pippa's work in the House of Commons:

"I have spent my career working around the world to tackle climate change.

I understand the wholesale policy changes needed to avert environmental disasters.

I'll push for a strong green economy and green jobs."

Pippa's proven ability to bring people together and find solutions will be an essential skill for the next Parliament. Pippa has made such an impact that she has made her way onto the ENDS Power List 2024 for the top 50 Green Champion Politicians, alongside Liberal Democrat colleagues, Wera Hobhouse MP, and Baroness Kate Parminter. The list recognises a lifetime of commitment to environmental causes. ENDS is “the UK's No 1 source of intelligence for environmental professionals, delivering news, analysis and reference across the carbon, environmental and sustainability agenda”. The full ENDS Power List 2024 can be found here.

Pippa holding the Natural Environment Working Policy Paper with Keith Melton (Chair GLD) and Steve Mason (GLD Exec)

Making Change Happen

We can't think of anyone better able to make environmental change happen in Parliament, congratulations Pippa!