Brian Taylor: Why action to reverse climate change is in trouble

The urban vista features an endless, sooty parade of factory lums, serving Dundee’s jute mills.  Quite fairly, the commentary draws attention to the deleterious impact upon the environment. 

Equally, though, the accompanying words remind us that the image depicts a busy, bustling port – a hub of enterprise and endeavour, bringing work and wealth. 

There we have one of the fundamental dilemmas confronting efforts to address the environmental crisis.  Our political leaders may want to tackle climate change – although some, avowedly, do not.  But they are also pulled by the imperative to bolster the economy. 

It strikes me there are two further core problems.  Firstly, leaders who want to act need to bring the voters with them – and that is currently proving problematic in practice. 

Credit: PA

Secondly, those same leaders are glancing over their shoulders to see whether other nations – their global rivals – are following suit. 

These factors are all simultaneously in play – and explain why COP29, the UN climate summit in Azerbaijan, is struggling to sustain credibility. 

Indeed, a group of leading climate experts have warned that the COP process, which enthralled Glasgow in 2021, is “no longer fit for purpose.” 

As the critics note, it scarcely helped that the host nation is a significant oil and gas producer; that a Minister closely involved in the event was secretly filmed trying to strike petrochemical deals. 

But worse.  The biggest players are absent.  It is understandable that Joe Biden stayed away.  He is fully occupied in securing what little remains of his legacy as he prepares to hand power to Donald Trump. 

But also no sign of the number one leaders from other populous nations:  from China, India, Indonesia.  No sign of the French President – even although it is the Paris Agreement which is under scrutiny. 

Now Argentina has withdrawn from the talks in Baku.  Their Right-wing leader previously called the climate crisis “a socialist lie”. 

The world waits to discern the direction to be taken by incoming US President Trump who has signalled that he is, at minimum, a climate sceptic.  Might he, once more, seek to withdraw from the Paris accord?

That agreement, from 2015, commits to efforts to limit the rise in global temperature to 1.5 per cent.  Not a cut, you note, simply a cap. 

Climate experts say even that target is already in jeopardy.  It does not look as if the talks in Baku – and the action pending from Washington – will remedy matters. 

Cars being swept away after floods in the town of Alora, Malaga (Image: Gregorio Marrero/AP) (Image: Gregorio Marrero/AP)

All this as volunteers in Valencia and other parts of Spain wield brooms and brushes in a tortuous effort to push back the floods which have beset their cities. 

So what can we do?  I think any action we take, individually or collectively, needs to recognise the three underlying challenges I identified.  In essence, these all boil down to consumer tolerance and electoral support. 

Firstly, the economy.  We need to acknowledge popular and business concerns.  As the news of discord in Baku broke, it was accompanied by stats showing that the UK economy barely grew between July and September. 

Comparable concerns prompted the ousted Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, to slow down climate action in favour of what he called a “more pragmatic, proportionate and realistic” approach. 

Read more: 

Brian Taylor: How to respond to Trump? Swinney gets it right – eventually

Brian Taylor: Why John Swinney really, really hates this UK budget​

Brian Taylor: Hope and fear – the emotions on display as we stand by for the Budget

He wanted, he said, “to bring the country along with me”.  Now, that objective of working with the grain of popular sentiment is undoubtedly sensible. 

Perhaps, instead of a slow-down, we need an acceleration – but in a different direction.  We need to build and sustain an environmental transformation which provides economic opportunities, rather than setbacks. 

There has been talk of that here in Scotland.  Of benefiting from the new green economy.  We need that endeavour to be amplified. 

In similar vein, we need to acknowledge consumer reluctance with regard to change.  The changes which will be needed if climate action is to succeed. 

As things stand, there is support which can be mustered for action on climate change, especially among younger people.  Frequently, though, it is generic and non-specific. 

We need to face the fact that we are asking a lot from folk – who may already be struggling in these post-pandemic days. 

We are asking them to replace their familiar gas boilers with heat pumps.  At what cost?  What about reliability? 

We are asking them to cut down on holiday flights to the sun.  To change their cars.  Are they confident that electric vehicles suit their purposes? 

It may be necessary to provide yet more financial incentives to engender change.  By contrast, it is unlikely that fretful families will respond sufficiently to lectures or appeals for social cohesion. 

Then there is the third issue.  How do we ensure that all countries keep pace with each other in the drive to address climate change?  And, if we cannot do that, is the endeavour doomed? 

Scotland previously boasted of pursuing world-leading climate change targets.  Such talk is heard less frequently these days. 

That is understandable.  We may still be in the vanguard – but progress has palpably slowed.  Prompted by Ministers, MSPs have now voted to drop the aim of a 75 per cent cut in emissions by 2030. 

Pictured: Gillian Martin (Image: Unknown)

Gillian Martin, the acting Net Zero Secretary, boldly declared that this did not involve diluting targets.  The longer-term aim of net zero by 2045 was still in place. 

To which two points.  Critics say interim targets are vital to drive progress.  And, secondly, the target was dropped because it was not being met. There was not enough action on home heating, transport and the rest. 

Enough, Brian.  Scottish Ministers remain well-motivated on this issue.  As, I am sure, is Ed Miliband, the UK Secretary for Energy Security.  It is simply that they are facing profound, pragmatic difficulties. 

They – and we – must strive, in the face of obstacles, to engender a renewed global endeavour to tackle this most basic of challenges to our life, our planet. 

Brian Taylor is a former political editor for BBC Scotland and a columnist for The Herald. He cherishes his family, the theatre - and Dundee United FC