As economic, political and health crises buffet the world, there is one bubbling away in the background which threatens even greater calamity: the ecological crisis wrought by anthropogenic climate change.
World leaders have descended on Dubai to hammer out more concrete plans for reducing and ultimately eradicating the use of fossil fuels.
The King issued a personal rallying cry, grounded in realism at the gap between steps made and where nations need to get to: “Some important progress has been made, but it worries me greatly that we remain so dreadfully far off track as the global stocktake report demonstrates so graphically.” The grim reality is that the Earth is on track for unacceptable warming, and scientists say emissions must be almost halved by 2030.
The UK, for so long a leader in climate policy, must re-take that mantle, securing not only a better planet but the jobs, growth and economic prosperity concentrated in the industries that will power the 21st century.
A cool head in a crisis
Alistair Darling was the man for a crisis. Appointed chancellor in 2007, he took the phone call when it became clear that the Royal Bank of Scotland would run out of cash within hours. The global financial crisis, credit crunch and recession that followed were difficult times. They would have been far worse without his leadership.
Such was the respect Darling commanded that his death at 70 has been met by all sides not just with great sadness but also an outpouring of appreciation for his time in office. Jeremy Hunt, the present Chancellor, called him “one of the great chancellors” who will “be remembered for doing the right thing for the country at a time of extraordinary turmoil”.
The pandemic served as a brutal reminder of the importance of having the most competent people running vital government departments. Britain was fortunate in 2008 to have the right person in place at the right time.
Hall’s missed chance
The story of Susan Hall and her missing wallet took a new twist, as the Standard tracked down the Good Samaritan who found the Conservative candidate for mayor’s valuables on the Tube, replete with cash and Oyster card.
Retired businessman Ajiz Andani revealed how he spotted her Freedom Pass and £40 in cash stuck between two seats on the Jubilee line train.
Hall has thanked the public-spirited Londoner who returned her wallet. It's just a pity it followed claims she had been a victim of pickpocketing. Far better would have been to hammer Sadiq Khan for the significant rise in crime on London’s transport network — an issue covered in these pages. Alas, it was another missed opportunity.
