The former US environment secretary has warned that political leaders who pretend to be “adults” while slowing the pace of climate action are pushing the world into a deeper catastrophe.
Todd Stern, who served as special envoy for climate change in President Barack Obama’s administration and helped negotiate the 2015 climate change agreement, said, “We need to think of ourselves as adults and decarbonize at the speed that the climate change community wants.” Our actions are slowed down by those who believe that this is unrealistic.” Paris Agreement.
“They’re saying we need to slow down, that’s not what’s being proposed.” [in cuts to greenhouse gas emissions] It’s unreal,” he said. observer. “I see this a lot in the business world. It’s really tough. [to push for more urgency] Because those “adults” have a lot of influence. ”
But Stern said the speed at which renewable energy is being deployed, its falling costs and the wealth of low-carbon technologies now available are evidence the world can cut emissions to net zero by 2050. Ta. “It’s about big changes to the global economy, and we can do that,” he said.
Mr Stern did not name any world leaders, but said the UK was “backing down” on climate issues. Rishi Sunak and Energy Secretary Claire Coutinho have reversed course on climate policy several times in the last year, saying climate change policy imposes “unacceptable costs on struggling British families” and calling for no such action. He has repeatedly said that delaying the move is “realistic and pragmatic.” protect household finances. ”
Mr. Stern said that in fact, delaying action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is a recipe for disaster, given the rapid acceleration of the climate crisis, which is happening faster than predicted when the Paris Agreement was signed. He said there was. “Look out the window. Look at what’s going on, the extreme heat. It’s ridiculous.”
He said leaders who claim to be adults by saying they need to slow down need to be honest about the alternatives. Just as political leaders took swift action to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in 2020, they must now face the consequences of slow action on climate change.
“All difficult questions of this magnitude must be analyzed and considered ‘compared to what’.monumental danger [the climate crisis] When political and business leaders wonder what to do, this pose justifies the same kind of ‘compared to what’ debate. ”
He warned of a backlash against climate change measures caused by “right-wing populism” in Europe. “I hope it doesn’t go too far,” he said. “Even if such an attitude is popular among some people, it is not helpful.”
Stern called the Inflation Control Act “the most important climate bill in American history and it’s very strong,” and praised Joe Biden’s “very successful first term.”
But he warned that if Donald Trump were elected this November, the United States would withdraw from the Paris Agreement and set back global efforts to tackle climate change.
“He’s going to try to overturn everything he can in terms of domestic policy.” [on climate action]’ he warned. “I don’t think anyone else is going to pull out of Paris because of President Trump, but the United States is so big and so important a player that it’s so destructive to what could happen internationally. So [without the US] You don’t move that fast. ”
Mr. Stern called for stronger civil society support for climate action. “What we need is a broader normative change, and a willingness to show our political leaders that their political future depends on taking strong, clear action to protect the world.” “It’s a change of heart,” he said.
“Changes in norms may at first glance seem like weak reeds in a battle with those who defend the status quo, but norms can move mountains. , it has to do with a sense of what is important, what is expected, and what is required.”
Mr Stern first issued the warning in a speech at the London School of Economics on Friday night honoring British civil servant Pete Betts, who served as the EU’s chief climate change negotiator for the Paris Agreement. He passed away last year.
