As millions of people prepare for exceptionally high temperatures over the next two days, the Green Party has warned that the government’s inaction could lead to people’s deaths during the heatwave [1].
Green Party co-leader Adrian Ramsay said:
“This Conservative’s government inaction in the face of the climate emergency is costing lives both here in the UK and abroad.
“For too long successive governments have had their head in the sand when it comes to the climate crisis. Boris Johnson may have talked up climate action before COP26, but over 12 years of this government the pace of change has been far too slow.
“While the UK government announced carbon emissions reduction targets by 2035, it has since actually incentivised more oil and gas production in the North Sea [2] and the Climate Change Committee has said its current policies will not achieve net zero [3].
“Not only have they done nowhere enough to bring down the carbon emissions that are causing this extreme weather but now, when confronted with potentially deadly heat, they offer next to nothing to support people through it. Meanwhile, Boris Johnson couldn’t even be bothered to turn up to a Cobra meeting on the situation. [4]
“We need politicians that recognise the impact the climate emergency is having on all of us, right here right now, and aren't afraid of taking the decisions that will help us mitigate against the devastating consequences of this crisis.
“The Conservatives should be focused on supporting vulnerable people through the heatwave while taking urgent action to reduce the impact of future extreme weather. They are showing an extreme dereliction of duty, and that is why we need a general election."
Notes
1
2
3
https://www.theccc.org.uk/2022/06/29/current-programmes-will-not-deliver-net-zero/
4