Last Monday the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released a report described by the UN chief as a “code red for humanity”. It said we are changing the planet in “unprecedented and sometimes irreversible ways”. In a year in which we have seen record breaking heat waves, floods and wildfires around the world it’s becoming increasingly clear that action on climate change is no longer just about protecting future generations.
But we are seeing a failure of leadership on climate change at every level. Our national government has pledged to be net zero by 2050, but is allowing plans for new coal fields in Cumbria and new oil fields off the Shetlands to continue, against recommendations from the International Energy Agency.
Locally, we had large public demonstrations in September 2019, including several local schools “striking for the climate”, leading our Council to declare a climate emergency and pledging to be a net zero borough by 2030. As we approach 2 years since the Council declared this emergency – 2 years out of only a decade in which to transition our energy, our business, our homes and our land – we have yet to see an overall plan for how the Council will achieve this.
Locally and nationally, targets are not enough. We need proactive leadership and decisive action to avert the IPCC’s worst case scenarios.
Andy Hunter-Rossall
Chorley Green Party
