Our future depends on world cleaning up its act
IN THE 18th century Britain led the world into the industrial age. In the 21st, we must lead it into the new clean, green industrial revolution to boost economic growth.
The UK is hosting the next United Nations climate conference, COP26, in Glasgow in November for one simple reason: time is running out.
The greenhouse gases we have been pumping into the Earth’s atmosphere are overheating our world and transforming our climate, which threatens our way of life. And the situation is now critical.
The next 10 years will determine the future of our planet. We need to halve global greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 to bring climate change under control. Before a baby born this year has even finished primary school, the future will be set. To avoid the worst effects of these changes, we must drive down greenhouse gas emissions fast, and take steps to protect people and nature from extreme weather.
That means taking action now. Not in two years, not in five years. Now.
The climate doesn’t care whether emissions come from Britain, Bahrain or Brazil. So, when the countries of the world meet in Glasgow, we’ve got to get a grip and, together, sort this crisis out. The good news is that fighting climate change benefits us today, by creating good jobs and cleaning up our air.
Last year, Boris Johnson announced plans for the UK’S Green Industrial Revolution to support a quarter of a million jobs, particularly in our proud industrial heartlands.
More than 2,000 global businesses have committed to reach net zero emissions by 2050 through the Race to Zero campaign, including companies such as Tesco, Rollsroyce, Sony, ITV, Microsoft and Vodafone.
However, we need more action, faster. And that’s what COP26 must deliver.
Under the UK’S presidency, we must put the world on a path to a clean, green future. Our climate, our country, and future generations depend on it.