‘Every crisis has its moment... we have not been beaten yet’
IF you had the opportunity to visit central London in the past week or so, you could not have avoided the Extinction Rebellion protests that had gripped the city. A series of protests had driven one of the world’s major cities to standstill.
The group uses civil disobedience and a series of high profile stunts to raise awareness around climate change and environmental damage.
The stunts have not been without controversy and the blocking of key access routes has caused untold disruption to commuters, residents, hospital access routes and businesses alike. In a recent interview with Andrew Neil, the Extinction Rebellion spokesperson, Zion Lights, clearly demonstrated the lack of answers being offered by the protest group, seriously undermining their credibility.
Their clearest request is that the country achieves net zero carbon emissions by 2025.
To say this is ambitious is an understatement, at the very least.
I often speak about the role that business will play in curing society’s ills – and tackling climate change is no different.
Undoubtedly, Extinction Rebellion would argue that it is because of their work that people are taking notice.
I would argue they are a symptom of change, not the solution.
If Extinction Rebellion really care about the environment, they need to stop disrupting the lives of so many hard-working people and back business.
To be clear, I want a thriving planet. I want clean air. I want our planet to sustain our future generations for centuries to come.
I want my children to enjoy British summers in the greenest of fields.
To do this we need business to provide the necessary innovative solutions to make sure our technology is clean and that we protect our environment as much as possible
Local authorities across the country are acknowledging the need for zero net emissions. Just last week Solihull Borough Council, under the leadership of Councillor Ian Courts, set target proposals of reducing net carbon emissions to zero by 2030.
The route to this isn’t by civil disobedience but a campaign of collaboration and partnership, much like the one endorsed by Solihull Council. The proposal recognises the collective effort that will be required to raise awareness among residents, and to work with schools and businesses to find ways of building sustainable practices.
I am sure many other councils will follow the lead of Cllr Courts and embrace responsible attitudes to the environment we live in. Contrary to the doom and gloom of the protestors, there has never been a better time to tackle environmental challenges and I am proud of the role that the West Midlands will play in this. The advent of electric cars and our Mayor’s fight for a gigafactory to be based here are just two examples of how innovation through technology can deliver the change we need to build a sustainable future.
New innovations in food technology mean the use of ‘urban farms is on the rise and simple dietary changes mean our reliance on carbon intensive farming will inevitably fall. Every crisis has its moment. As a species, we have not been beaten yet. I don’t intend on allowing my generation to be the one that bucks that trend.
Saqib Bhatti is president of Greater Birmingham Chambers of
Commerce
Extinction Rebellion are a symptom of change, not the solution...
Saqib Bhatti