No to Coal and Last Chance on Climate

The World’s scientists are outside the window in the street screaming alarm at the top of their voices.

While mainland Europe battles an apocalypse of wild fires, and some weather services predict temperatures tomorrow smashing records and reaching up to 44C in UK, the UK government still has to consider if it allows the opening of a new coal mine in Cumbria.

Clearly to do so would be stupidity in the extreme, totally suicidal and would make any carbon zero commitments pointless lies. The climate is unravelling before our eyes. I am sure many people like me found themselves today retreating from their gardens or porches into their houses to escape the heat. Then within an hour or two of making their first retreat they were, like me, moving later in the afternoon to other areas of the house that are darker, more secluded and therefore fractionally cooler.

Today Scientists Warning Europe wrote again to the Prime Minister advocating for the only carbon zero target that has a chance of keeping us safe - 2030 or before.

In the same letter, which carries endorsements by the great climate science minds of the planet - James Hansen, Michael Mann, Tim Lenton, Bill Moomaw and Sir David King among other noteworthy names - we urged the PM and all the UK's MPs to reject all calls for a new coal mine to be opened in Cumbria. To even contemplate accepting such a polluting fuel would be clawed out of the ground in UK makes a mockery of our 'net zero' targets.

Combined with the urgency of the actions needed to save ourselves, is a second more palatable side of the same coin. It is inevitable, in fact some may say essential, that "profits will be made and livings will paid" by those taking the necessary actions needed to decarbonise our society. After all we all need to eat! So if I can earn enough money to buy my bread at the same time as saving the planet and all those who sail on her then surely that is great!

Yes it is.

In fact, it is clear that there are vast rewards available for those people, companies and countries that face up to the climate and decarbonisation challenge and beat it. In Britain's case we need to decide firstly that we wish to win the race to decarbonise (by 2030) rather than finish the race in a mid table position - respectable when compared to other countries but suicidal in any case. By winning the race we also have to not be embarrassed or shy about making a good commercial return or even, dare I say it, a profit at the same time.

Profit does not need to be the motive. The survival and wellbeing of humanity and other species may be the main motive but earning enough to pay the mortgage at the same time would help.

In a World where every country absolutely has to get to carbon zero, surely it makes good commercial sense to get there first and crucially much earlier than others. Being the first to arrive at the inevitable destination would mean being the owner or developer of multiple remarkable innovations whether technical, social or financial. All such innovations then become assets to be sold on to other nations thus enabling and accelerating their own paths to zero carbon emissions.

I believe Britain can do this. I believe we can get there first and crucially, very fast. 2030 is not impossible it just needs focus. We need to decide that 2030 is the target and then get on with the job. 2030 is the target because we want to be safe. 2030 is the target because we want to be first and benefit commercially from reaching this milestone. We simply need to believe and commit ourselves.

There is also the very current issue of energy security. “Forward looking governments and communities will seize upon this moment - especially in light of the?Ukraine invasion and (ensure sustainable) independence from Russian fossil fuels.” says Phoebe Barnard, lead author the last Scientists Warnings into Action paper. Michael Mann agrees "Why, when profitable clean renewable energy solutions are ready to go, would the UK allow investment in backward looking dirty energy that is terrible for the planet? The UK would be much better encouraging development of its biggest free resource - wind."

Lastly Britain has a responsibility to the rest of the World. After all we started the industrial revolution. Now we need to start the decarbonisation revolution and then help the rest of the World finish it.

Let us build on Britain's industrial heritage of the past and create the essentially sustainable decarbonisation heritage of the future. And lets do it at pace. 2030 is the target. We can make it and it will be beneficial on so many fronts!