Politicians will be judged on whether they tackle the climate crisis. That’s the view of Professor Jim Skea, chairman of the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, speaking exclusively to the Evening Standard. And that requires not only warm words, but net zero pledges “backed up by credible actions”. Regrettably, some of our political leaders are instead backsliding.
In his role, Professor Skea does not comment on the net zero plans of individual nations. But the UK’s own Climate Change Committee recently warned Britain’s leadership position on addressing global warming had been “very substantially challenged” by government chaos and actions over the last year or so. Indeed, only days ago Rishi Sunak provoked a backlash by backing hundreds of new oil and gas licences in the North Sea. This followed weeks of anti-green interventions, most notably on the extension to London’s ultra low emission zone.
The Government’s recent focus on energy security is instructive. Clearly, it helps neither our economy nor the net zero transition if we lack reliable and safe power generation. But as Professor Skea points out, “somebody in the future is going to have to make the choice. Do we leave that oil in the ground? Or do we meet our Paris goals?”
The window for action is rapidly closing. It is not too late — each fraction of a degree of warming averted is worth it. Instead of launching a culture war, we must maintain cross party support not only for net zero as a concept, but for the society-wide changes required to meet it.
Hanwell’s finest
London wins the World Cup? Yesterday morning, Hanwell’s Chloe Kelly stepped up and under the most intense pressure, hammered her penalty into the top corner to send England into the World Cup quarter-finals.
The Man City player, who honed her skills on the five-a-side football pitches of west London, has been praised by her former teacher as “hard as nails” — an understatement. Not at their best, the Lionesses found a way to win. Come Saturday, they will have the entire city, and country’s, support.
Gallery’s a sweet idea
The battle against the proliferation of American candy shops continues. A Moco Modern Art Museum is planned for One Marble Arch, set to display works by artists such as Banksy and Damien Hirst.
It has been painful for many Londoners to observe the decline of Oxford Street. We hope a new museum can form part of an exciting transformation of the area into a cultural destination.
