We contacted all of the candidates vying for your vote to be the next MP for the Wells and Mendip Hills constituency, asking each of them the same questions. We've taken their responses exactly as they were sent to us - so you know where each of the candidates stand, to help you decide who to vote for.

Here's their responses to the question:

What initiatives will you promote to address environmental issues and climate change at a local level?

Meg Powell-Chandler - Conservative:

"Houses shouldn't be built on flood plains. We need to make sure that rivers are cleared of silt and 'foreign rocks' to ensure they can flow to their full capacity so when the rain does fall it doesn't flood in the devastating way we have seen along the Sheppey and in the levels. I would work with local government, national government, and the Environment Agency to better protect families and businesses from flooding."

Craig Clarke - Independent:

"Ten years ago I knew the Tories planned to axe the solar feedback tariff that actually made solar a good investment for businesses. Therefore I advised a business in Cheddar to install solar before the Tories took away the feedback tariff. They did and it has been a good investment for the business. As this worked, I intend to approach all business owners who have roof space that could install solar to sign up to asking the government to re-introduce the feedback tariff incentives to make solar a wise investment for them all. Solar on business property makes simple sense."

Helen Hims - Reform UK:

"I care deeply about the environment. Our air has never been cleaner. We can protect our environment by more tree planting, more recycling, cleaning up our rivers and seas, reducing single-use plastics, and investing in clean energy production methods. Net Zero is not the right policy. It pushes up our bills and damages British industries making us less secure. The UK produces only 1% of global CO2 emissions, China produces 27%. We must not impoverish ourselves in pursuit of unaffordable, unachievable global CO2 targets."

Abi McGuire - Independent:

"We need to be far more proactive in protecting our environment whilst also supporting our farmers in the constituency with food production. I have already developed relationships with many farmers and the Mendip Hills National Landscape and the Somerset Wildlife Trust. I will continue to work with these organisations and others if I am elected to champion environmental issues in balance with our farming community."

Tessa Munt - Liberal Democrats:

"Lib Dems recognize the vital role communities have in tackling climate change and addressing emergencies in nature.

We would ensure local authorities have the powers and resources they need to produce and pioneer community-based solutions for a fairer, cleaner, and more sustainable future. We would champion the expansion of community and decentralized energy to guarantee that communities receive a fair share of the wealth created by local renewables. This would benefit renewable energy projects and encourage sustainable practices across Wells and Shepton.

Also important for us here in the West Country, we'd invest in innovative clean energy sources like tidal and wave power, which would not only help us towards our national target of 90% renewable energy by 2030, but it would also bring new jobs to our local economy.

We'd keep the ban on fracking, stopping this from happening on our doorsteps.

We'd make it easier and more financially rewarding for farmers to put the environment and food production on an equal footing.

And we'd take steps to drastically improve the impact of transport on the environment, while making sure this is affordable for people - something that's really important in an area that's predominantly rural.

This is in addition to national rollouts and incentives for environmental home upgrades and sustainable practices that would be available to local people.

Last but not least, we must stop the disgusting dumping of sewage in our rivers, streams, rhynes, and seas. As a rural area, we are deeply affected by the appalling actions of water companies and the failure to hold them to account - it's not enough to just measure the problem, we've got to do something about it. We would toughen regulations, ban bonuses, increase fines, and make water companies act in the public's interest."

Joe Joseph - Labour and Co-op:

"This is incredibly close to my heart and I'd like to think I can bring real expertise to Parliament. Labour will establish a flood resilience taskforce so that we can protect vital farmland, communities, and schools from flooding. Having visited the Croscombe flood group, I'm only too aware that this matters beyond the moors and levels across the constituency.

We'll also introduce tougher regulation on water companies, not letting them mark their own homework under 'operator self-monitoring' and banning bonuses for bosses where they dump sewage illegally.

I will also be promoting Co-operative community renewable energy projects. We plan to deliver 1 million new owners of community energy, creating 8 Giggawatts of clean power across the UK. That's the equivalent of three nuclear power stations. I expect 'GB energy' to focus on offshore wind in the Celtic Sea, where the grid can support it through Hinckley Point, rather than seeing new wind turbines on the Mendips."

Peter Welsh- Green Party:

No response was received.

How will you support renewable energy projects and sustainable practices in Wells and Shepton?

Meg Powell-Chandler - Conservative:

"I am hugely supportive of the gigafactory development at the Gravity site near Bridgewater, the jobs and expertise it will bring to the area and the benefit it will bring to the supply chain. I am also supportive of the contribution it will make to the electric car industry as we seek to decarbonize travel."

Craig Clarke - Independent:

"Ten years ago I knew the Tories planned to axe the solar feedback tariff that actually made solar a good investment for businesses. Therefore I advised a business in Cheddar to install solar before the Tories took away the feedback tariff. They did and it has been a good investment for the business. As this worked, I intend to approach all business owners who have roof space that could install solar to sign up to asking the government to re-introduce the feedback tariff incentives to make solar a wise investment for them all. Solar on business property makes simple sense."

Helen Hims - Reform UK:

"Scrap Net Zero and related subsidies: The cost of Net Zero has been estimated by National Grid and other to be around £2 trillion or more. It's so big no one really knows.

Scrap annual £10 billion of renewable energy subsidies: Renewables are not cheaper and should not be subsidized by the taxpayer. Our bills have increased dramatically as a result of subsidies.

Start fast-track licences of North Sea gas and oil. Grant shale gas licences in test sites, starting major production once proved safe, with local compensation schemes. This could transform our country's fortunes and ensure prosperity for generations to come.

Cleaner Energy from new technology: Fast-track clean nuclear energy with small modular reactors built in Britain. Increase and incentivize UK lithium mining for electric batteries, combined cycle gas turbines, clean synthetic fuel, and tidal power."

Abi McGuire - Independent:

"We need to use the right land for the right purpose. Good farming land needs to be used for farming. Other areas need to be utilized for our renewable energy. We can be intelligent about this rather than just tick our green box. The two priorities are not in conflict but need careful balancing."

Tessa Munt - Liberal Democrats:

"We would champion the expansion of community and decentralized energy to guarantee that communities receive a fair share of the wealth created by local renewables. This would benefit renewable energy projects and encourage sustainable practices across Wells and Shepton.

Also important for us here in the West Country, we'd invest in innovative clean energy sources like tidal and wave power, which would not only help us towards our national target of 90% renewable energy by 2030, but it would also bring new jobs to our local economy."

Joe Joseph - Labour and Co-op:

"I will be promoting Co-operative community renewable energy projects. We plan to deliver 1 million new owners of community energy, creating 8 Giggawatts of clean power across the UK. That's the equivalent of three nuclear power stations. I expect 'GB energy' to focus on offshore wind in the Celtic Sea, where the grid can support it through Hinckley Point, rather than seeing new wind turbines on the Mendips."

Peter Welsh- Green Party:

No response was received.