This week we saw the publication of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Synthesis Report which paints a grim picture of the future if action to tackle the climate emergency isn’t taken immediately. There is only a small window of opportunity that governments still have to give us a liveable, sustainable future and limit the global temperature rise to 1.5C. They call for action on climate change that also provides wider benefits.
Their report should be a loud alarm bell for the UK government, but just last week we had a Spring budget in which the Tories failed to include any meaningful measures on climate change. Instead of investment in public transport and active travel, we got a petrol duty freeze; instead of investment in abundant and affordable renewables such as onshore and offshore wind, tidal and solar, we got yet another relaunch of expensive nuclear which will take over a decade to come on stream, and has no funding commitment. Instead of a carbon tax to make polluters pay for the damage they cause to our environment, we continue the granting of licences for further fossil fuel exploitation.
The IPCC call for action on climate change that also provides wider benefits. Tories are clearly asleep at the wheel. Greens have long argued that actions such as insulating homes, putting in place infrastructure to boost walking and cycling and a move towards a more plant based diet can all have positive impacts on health and address the cost of living crisis.
Cllr. Jill Perry
Published in Local Newspapers 23.3.23
