Climate change

Aviation sector bosses globally are pursuing rapid expansion despite the climate crisis, with the International Civil Aviation Organization predicting doubling of air traffic by the late 2030s. Even in the UK, with its already over-expanded aviation industry, the Government’s climate-indifferent “Jet Zero Strategy” endorses 70% expansion by 2050. Expansion plans have already been launched or greenlighted at airports around the country — though with strong opposition from community and climate campaigners. A key way the industry sells its antisocial agenda is job creation. Even before the wider...

On 2 November the Unite Save UK Steel campaign held a day of action in Sheffield, Port Talbot, Teesside and Scunthorpe. In Sheffield about 20 people took part, mostly Unite staff members, Unite Community, and retired members. Three students from Sheffield Solidarity Group also took part. The action consisted of a short march followed by holding banners above bridges over the roads. The main chant was “We don’t need your pity, invest in our steel city”, and most of the banners read “Support UK Steel”. There was a lack of specificity to the chants and demands, though a detailed policy report is...

On 28 October 1,000 climate activists from across the South West came together for a day of action and a march in Bath. The day of action was called by Extinction Rebellion South West and had over 40 sponsors including local XR groups, climate groups, local trade unions and trades councils. It was pitched as a “family friendly” day in a park to unite for the climate, nature and social justice, with stalls, panels, workshops, music and a protest. Speeches before and after the march covered topics such as Shell’s safety record, local ecology, the environmental impact on the military...

What if fossil fuels continue to be burned unabated? What if greenhouse gas emissions continue on their upward trajectory? What if capitalist firms carry on putting profit before human needs and the ecosystems on which we depend? What if bourgeois states fail to reach the necessary agreements to reduce emissions and undo the damage already done? What if the impacts of climate change are greater than expected? What if tipping points are reached and boundaries exceeded? Socialists active in climate struggles have a duty to face realities now and in the foreseeable future. We have an obligation...

“No new fossil fuel projects” is currently the most unifying demand of the climate movement in Australia. As the International Energy Agency (IEA) has said, there can be no new coal, oil and gas projects if there is to be any chance at limiting warming to 1.5°C. Around two thirds of Australia’s contributions to global GHG emissions are from burning of exported fossil fuels in other countries, and the majority of extraction in Australia is for export. Only governments have across-the-board powers to stop new coal and gas projects. Companies and corporate investors can decide to halt or withhold...

Holly Jean Buck has emerged in recent years as one of the most incisive voices on the left on climate change, notably with After Geoengineering (2019), along with a range of academic and popular articles. Her recent book, Ending Fossil Fuels: Why Net Zero Is Not Enough (2021) is another valuable contribution, confronting realities, facing difficult questions and drawing out serious, grounded political conclusions that take the struggle forward. Fossil fuel realities The first merit of the book is to underline the power of the fossil fuel industry and the scale of what has to be ended. Fossil...

Activists from Workers' Liberty and supporters of Solidarity will be at Labour Party conference and women's conference, 7-11 October in Liverpool. We'll be there to help the efforts of Free Our Unions, the Labour Campaign for Free Movement, the Ukraine Solidarity Campaign, India Labour Solidarity, and other campaigns; to sell literature, seek discussions and contacts. There will be demonstrations for the NHS and for abortion rights on Saturday, for free education on Sunday. And agitation for a block on new North Sea oil and gas fields, following the Tories' decision to "max out" licences in...

Apart from the personal interest he and other leading Tories have in fossil capital, Rishi Sunak calculates that there are votes to be won by championing reckless individual advantage in the face of climate breakdown. That explains his announcements on net-zero policies and the Rosebank oil field. The Tories’ original net-zero plans were not ever sufficient for meeting Paris climate targets. Further, the Paris climate targets in themselves are not sufficient to avoid 2°C+ global heating: that requires creating a global carbon drawdown industry in addition to halting emissions. The government’s...

The political context for climate action in Australia appeared to change with the election of a Labor Government in 2022. Labor campaigned on climate change as an economic opportunity, for exports and jobs in renewable energy. The ALP leaders framed climate action as new industries, new development and new employment. This approach is guided by Ross Garnaut (see his book Superpower: Australia’s low carbon opportunity ), who was a principal economic adviser to the Hawke Government. The approach made the party more electable. But the combination with its commitments to market stability, and...