Kevin Anderson, a professor of energy, has said the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels is no longer viable. Anderson made this “very depressing statement, as he described it, the central point of his keynote speech at the National Emergency Briefing on climate change in Westminster last week.

The briefing drew political figures from across the political spectrum. MPs Barry Gardiner (Labour), Ellie Chowns (Green), Iqbal Mohamed (Independent) and Green Party leader Zack Polanski, were in attendance.

Marshall plan-scale action

Anderson stood firm, highlighting the scale of global warming and demanding urgent action of a scale: “like the Marshall Plan after WWII”. The culprits — the top 1 percent of global emitters, he said, are collectively producing twice the emissions levels as the poorest half of the world.

He scolded high-income UK households consuming up to five times more energy than the lowest income households.

He dismissed the UK’s cost-of-living crisis, speaking instead of a crisis of equity. The rich are getting richer he added, underlininmg the complacency of mainstream political parties to address the imbalance.

He proposed measures including:

• Retrofitting homes
• Mandating zero-carbon new buildings
• Rolling out public transport
• Electric vehicles charging infrastructure
• Transitioning to zero-carbon electricity
• Electrifying energy systems.

He also called for deep cuts in aviation and the energy use of the UK’s wealthiest households, in his powerful call to action:

The discretionary emissions are locked into the lives of us high income emitters […] This is where we need urgent legislation to drive down energy use within that particular group.

It is now too late for non-radical futures. We need revolutionary changes in how we live. The choice is between deep, rapid decarbonization through organized technical and social revolution, or facing chaotic and violent change as temperatures reach dangerous levels for everyone.

Similar warnings were expressed by environmentalist and television presenter, Chris Packham. He called out ideological denialism as a factor standing in the way of the government’s policy responses.;

Climate denialism has become mainstream again thanks to the well-oiled machines of the rich, powerful, and influential lobbyists from the fossil fuel and other industries. A dangerous wave of misinformation and lies fills our lives.

Labour reneges on promises to resolve climate crisis

The expectation of industrial action, as proposed by Anderson from the current Labour government, is another diminishing hope.

Recent reporting by DeSmog shows that Labour has betrayed its climate change pledges.

Influential Labour Peer Maurice Glasman spoke at a conference hosted by the Together Declaration, a group with ties to Reform which campaigns against net zero policies. The Labour government has also been signing massive technology deals with US tech giants. These deals will power UK data centers with fossil fuels, potentially jeopardising climate targets.

The Labour party also maintains close relations with the oil and gas industry. This includes offering £22 billion in carbon capture subsidies, which many environmental experts consider a false solution to the climate crisis.

As the climate crisis deepens, Anderson’s call for a Marshall Plan-scale energy initiative aims to target the wealthiest emitters — whom Labour  continues to indulge — while the window for preventing catastrophe closes.

Featured image via Unsplash/Jon Tyson

By Nandita Lal

This post was originally published on Canary.