  Oxford East MP Andrew Smith is backing local climate change campaigners who want to "ditch dirty
development". The campaign, organised through the Oxford-based campaign group People and Planet, is calling on the Department for International Development to phase out support for
fossil fuel extraction projects and to increase support for new renewable energy sources. Oxford students collected hundreds of signed palm prints from local people supporting the
campaign.
Andrew Smith said: "Local renewable energy projects will do more to raise living standards in poor countries, who don't see much
benefit from oil extraction, as well as helping the environment. The local People and Planet campaigners have done a great job raising awareness with this palm print petition. I am
asking questions in Parliament and will present the petition to International Development Secretary Hilary Benn."
The picture shows Andrew Smith receiving the petition outside the Oxford offices of People and Planet in Union Street, East
Oxford.
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