A recent headline in the magazine ‘Current Affairs’ bellowed that “The Silence on Climate Change Is Totally Unacceptable.”
I agree!
‘Current Affairs’ is, admittedly an American magazine, talking about American issues. They are referring to Democrats, who are no longer discussing Climate Change, which was once a major issue for them. However I believe the position is similar in the UK. There the severity of the situation is often dismissed as unworthy of serious consideration by much of the right-wing press.
An organisation called Carbon Brief has given its opinion on press accuracy on the subject of Climate Change. They said “nearly 100 UK newspaper editorials opposed climate action in 2025. This is a record figure that reveals the scale of the backlash against net-zero in the right-leaning press.” (Net Zero refers to a state in which the greenhouse gases going into the atmosphere are balanced by removal out of the atmosphere. This is the point at which Global Warming stops.)
Carbon Brief further said, “Nearly every climate-related editorial in the UK’s right-leaning newspapers last year opposed climate action.” (The circulation of major right-wing newspapers in the UK is over 2 million.)
How Can That Be???
I find this hard to comprehend. The situation is rapidly getting worse! According to the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) “Oppressive heat. Species extinctions. Pollution-choked skies. This is the future that awaits the world unless humanity takes dramatic steps to end a series of mushrooming environmental crises.”
Yet it is not just the press that is letting us down on this issue. A Tory candidate in the UK recently won a by-election in Aberdeen with nearly 50% of the vote. This highlights public support for the oil and gas sector in the region. Admittedly Aberdeen is the heart of the UK’s oil and gas industry, and job losses in this sector are an issue for parliamentarians.
Kemi Badenoch, the Leader of the Tory Party, excelled herself with imprudent comments on the future use of oil and gas in the UK. She said “The people of Aberdeen sent a message on behalf of the whole country. Energy security is National security (fair enough). They know it is common sense to use our own oil and gas rather than importing it from overseas. They know it is madness to make ourselves poorer, weaker and more dependent at a time when even the government’s own intelligence tells us we are under threat.”
This seems like madness
Seems to me that it is madness to use fossil fuels at all given the present situation. Yes, the government needs to think what will happen to people’s jobs, but whatever happened to retraining?
European Politicians
British and American politicians are not the only ones to stop talking about Climate Change. In France, Marine Le Pen (a right-wing politician) has, according to Le Monde newspaper, “… recently released an unbudgeted and unclear major plan for air-conditioning. Meanwhile, the far-right leader plans to cut budgets for measures tackling climate change.”
Television
An article by the Reuters Institute shows that “Declines in climate news and information use are driven by two overlapping trends: reduced climate news access via television, and reduced climate news use by the over 45s. Climate news use among the younger age groups and via other sources has remained stable.”
Individuals
An article by the Everyday Society discusses the (un)willingness to talk about Climate Change among individuals. They say “given the extensive concern and desire for action on climate change, why is it that people do not talk about it more than they do? Asked in surveys how frequently they share their opinions about climate change with family, friends and acquaintances, over half say rarely or not at all.”
In spite of all these depressing reports we DO know what to do about Climate Change. We just need to get on and do it.
We Know How to Fix This
The ‘Current Affairs’ Magazine quoted above says “ – – – – we can do something about it. We know the cause of the problem: it’s fossil fuels… we know that fossil fuels and the fossil fuel industry are the root cause of the climate crisis, harm public health, worsen environmental injustice, accelerate biodiversity extinction, and fuel the petrochemical pollution crisis.”
It’s the Fossil Fuels Stupid!
Despite trying to avoid AI, my Ecosia browser tells me that “Fossil fuels are deeply embedded in our energy systems and economy, making their phase-out complex and challenging despite their environmental impact.” In other words they are proving very hard to get rid of. Fossil fuel companies have become entrenched in many areas of our lives including politics. This is their choice and part of their tactics to ensure the continuation of their profits.
The Good News
Firstly, some progress on getting rid of fossil fuels.
- At the end of April the first conference on the transition away from fossil fuels finished. E3G announced in a recent report that “57 first-mover countries sent a definite signal supporting continued collaboration on actively managing the transition away from fossil fuels.”
- The 2027 Second Conference on Transitioning Away from Fossil Fuels will take place in Tuvalu. Ireland and Tuvalu will be co-hosts.
- ESG today recently reported that “the UK has announced a target to reduce carbon emissions by 87% by 2040.”
- The African market for renewable energy is booming according to ERM. While the process for developers is not necessarily easy because of local rules and regulations, the potential is apparently enormous. It is particularly so in South Africa, Morocco, Egypt, Kenya and Tanzania. The potential from other countries looks exciting.
- An article on China from the BBC shows that “China, which is still the world’s top carbon emitter, has been building an unrivalled green energy grid. The country’s leader Xi Jinping told the UN in 2020 that China would aim to hit peak emissions by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060. This goal now appears to be within reach with analysts from Carbon Brief saying its CO2 emissions have been flat or falling for 21 months.”
- While affairs in the US are incredibly depressing, and appear to become more so on a daily basis, the use of renewable energy is very popular (especially given the war with Iran). For example, Texas (a very important oil state) according to Reuters “… tops US states for renewables and battery capacity.”
- In 2025 a new film was made in the UK called the National Emergency Briefing. Its producers believe that “The UK faces a growing climate and nature emergency. Yet most people have never been fully briefed on what it means for our lives, our economy and our future.” This new film sets out the risks facing the nation – and the credible, positive responses available – in a clear and accessible account designed for screenings in communities across the UK. The film is to be screened over 1900 times, and the producers are calling for the government to declare a National Emergency. Other countries are now applying to have the film dubbed into their language, and Germany is having an inaugural meeting about the same idea.
Solar Farm for Renewable Energy
So the day will come when we stop using fossil fuels. The planet and its population will be the better for it. In the meantime we need to find a way to increase the pressure we put on our politicians to phase out fossil fuels, and to make the other required changes.
Of course Climate Change is linked to many areas of our lifestyles: the food we eat, the types of transport we use, the type of farming in vogue, the way we dress, our buying habits and so on. As individuals it is important to change these, however as individuals we can also talk to others about these things and how we might do them better. For example buying solar panels and then talking about how much they save you can influence others to do the same.
How Can You Help That Day Come Faster?
- Talk about Climate Change.
- Talk about your new heat pump/solar panels/electric car and why you bought these things.
- Hold a screening of the film National Emergency Briefing if you live in the UK. It is also possible to do that internationally if you contact the producers.
- Write to your politicians and ask them what they are doing about Climate Change.
- Write to your local newspapers or television companies. Ask them to do more on Climate Change.
- Form a local group to talk about these things.
- Join an active organisation like Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth or WWF.
- Take part in local protests.
- Set up a local community organisation.
If we don’t act on Climate Change the situation will only get worse, perhaps a lot worse. But it doesn’t have to. We have momentum now with the recent heatwaves in Europe. People need change. Let’s help them get it!
If you are not yet on my mailing list and wish to be on it, please use the form on the Home page, this will help our administration and ensure you receive your own copy.
Photos by Taras Chernus, Chris LeBoutillier and Andreas Gücklhorn on Unsplash