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Back to work. Kids back to school (in the next room). Tough for them.
Didn't see many people or do much over Christmas, obviously, but so nice to have some time to wind down.
2021 has got to be a big year for climate. Some thoughts: 1/11
Didn't see many people or do much over Christmas, obviously, but so nice to have some time to wind down.
2021 has got to be a big year for climate. Some thoughts: 1/11
Of course COP26 is *the* big climate happening. Crucial chance to step up global co-operation. With a Biden-led Whitehouse, that's very possible.
But in terms of wider outreach, I worry that COPspeak galvanises climate wonks & no-one else. Big engagement challenges here... 2/11
But in terms of wider outreach, I worry that COPspeak galvanises climate wonks & no-one else. Big engagement challenges here... 2/11
For business, it's about putting some flesh on those much-welcomed net zero pledges which have sprung up everywhere. Many companies are over-reliant on carbon removals, which is hidden in the 'net' bit of net zero. 3/11 https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fclim.2019.00004/full
Now that many businesses and governments have strong stated climate ambitions, it's a tough job - and one that will probably fall to NGOs and campaigners - to scrutinise plans, and separate bluff from genuine action. 4/11
For government, it's about looking across the whole economy, understanding that climate policy is investment policy, infrastructure policy, tax policy (I could go on). And that covid recovery is also climate policy. 5/11
Encouraging signs in the UK at the very end of 2020, with the publication of the long-awaited Energy White Paper, followed by @hmtreasury's net zero review - signalling that a crucial part of government now sees itself as part of the solution. 6/11 https://www.carbonbrief.org/in-depth-qa-how-does-the-uks-energy-white-paper-aim-to-tackle-climate-change?utm_content=buffer1eef0&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer
https://www.carbonbrief.org/in-depth-qa-how-does-the-uks-energy-white-paper-aim-to-tackle-climate-change?utm_content=buffer1eef0&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer
We're still waiting for a decision from @RobertJenrick at @mhclg on whether government will allow a new coal mine in Cumbria, resulting in 9 million tonnes of CO2 emissions per yr. Hard for govt to claim climate credibility if they let this through. 7/11 https://greenallianceblog.org.uk/author/beckywillis123/
2020 was the year of climate deliberation, with the @NetZeroUK Climate Assembly UK & many, many local assemblies & juries.
In 2021, we'll need to work to make sure their insights and reccs are used, and that deliberation is built into policymaking. 8/11 https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/dec/31/its-awakened-me-uk-climate-assembly-participants-hail-a-life-changing-event
In 2021, we'll need to work to make sure their insights and reccs are used, and that deliberation is built into policymaking. 8/11 https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/dec/31/its-awakened-me-uk-climate-assembly-participants-hail-a-life-changing-event
This will remain the focus of my work in 2021 and beyond - how we build a proper politics of climate change that puts citizen engagement at its heart, and how we can use deliberative methods to ensure that climate policy works for people. 9/11
http://wp.lancs.ac.uk/climatecitizens/
http://wp.lancs.ac.uk/climatecitizens/
Stepping back a bit, this episode of @TPpodcast_, a talk by David Runciman, is really worth a listen - about the need for experimentation in politics. David highlights climate (alongside devolution) as *the* challenge for UK politics. 10/11 https://www.talkingpoliticspodcast.com/blog/2021/297-how-to-fix-british-democracy
There are reasons for optimism. Climate is on the political agenda like never before. But the climate crisis is intensifying. We need the painstaking detailed work on strategy and policy, but we also need protest and outrage. It's going to be quite a year. 11/11
