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https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/aug/01/rishi-sunak-north-sea-planet-climate-crisis-plutocrats>
"To understand this moment, we have to recognise that there is an existential
struggle on both sides. While environmental scientists and activists fight for
the very survival of the habitable planet, the fossil fuel, meat and internal
combustion industries are fighting for their economic survival. Either they are
regulated out of existence or human society across much of the world will fail.
We cannot all win: either these industries survive or we do. But we can all
lose, because, eventually, they will go down with the rest of us.
But “eventually” counts for nothing in their spreadsheets and annual reports.
“Eventually” has no effect on share prices and dividends. “Eventually” has
little traction in a four- or five-year political cycle. So, as the evidence of
climate breakdown becomes undeniable to all but the most deluded, the
pollutocrats must fight as never before. There was once a widespread belief
(which some of us cautioned against) that governments would step up when – and
only when – disaster struck. But it is precisely because disaster has struck,
visibly and undeniably, that they are stepping down.
To buy himself a few more months of political survival, Rishi Sunak,
representing a party that has recently taken £3.5m from major polluters and
climate deniers, is threatening the welfare of the human species. He has
switched, over the past fortnight, from doing a grand total of nothing to
prevent climate chaos to actively sabotaging both the climate programmes he
inherited and the efforts of other public bodies.
How can you tell when a politician is doing the work of the oil and gas
companies? When they start promoting carbon capture and storage (CCS). CCS has
been the magic fix for climate breakdown promised by successive UK governments
for 20 years – and never delivered. Most of the very few projects brought to
fruition around the world have been abject failures."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
