‘Dangerous’ UK politics has deterred government from tackling climate change

illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece in The Financial Times or enjoy below 

🗞️ Driving the news: John Gummer, or Lord Deben, ex-chair of the Climate Change Committee (CCC), condemns the current state of UK politics for its 'dangerous' inadequacy and lack of leadership in tackling climate change
• He notes that both the governing Conservatives and leading Labour opposition are reluctant to make tough choices essential for climate action, due to potential electoral repercussions

🔭 The context: Lord Deben’s comments followed the surprise outcome of the Uxbridge by-election, where the Conservatives held onto the seat despite backlash over proposals to broaden charges on high-pollution vehicles throughout London.
• This result sparked internal discussions in both parties regarding their environmental strategies ahead of the upcoming general election

🌎 Why does it matter for the planet: The UK government's insufficient funding for the Environment Agency (EA) has hindered enforcement against companies violating environmental laws
• Deben also highlighted the government's inaction on emissions reduction and climate change readiness efforts

⏭️ What's next: Prime Minister Rishi Sunak suggests a potential 'pragmatic' shift in the government's stance, while still affirming a commitment to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050
• Concurrently, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer urges London's mayor to rethink plans for the city's ultra-low emissions zone expansion

💬 One quote: “It’s absolutely a failure. And I also think it’s politically incredibly dangerous” (Lord Deben)

Click for more news covering the latest on sustainability law