Our world is hurtling into climate disaster and what do politicians give us? Oilfields and new runways | Bill McGuire

<p>In the name of ‘pragmatism’, green measures are being ditched, net zero derided. Be very clear: without slashing emissions we are in deep, deep trouble</p><p>The hope that followed the signing of the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/paris-climate-agreement">Paris climate agreement</a> in 2016 has long gone as the global community has failed utterly to rein in emissions, which – barring a small pandemic-induced blip in 2020 – have headed remorselessly upwards ever since. And there is little sign of this changing anytime soon. Indeed, as global heating has accelerated over the past few years, instead of trying harder, the world is turning its back on measures to tackle the climate crisis.</p><p>In the UK, Labour is considering the approval of two major new <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jun/19/uk-ministers-to-restart-approval-process-for-two-north-sea-oilfields">oilfields in the North Sea</a> – Rosebank and Jackdaw – with both Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves reported to be backing the proposals, which would lock in reliance on fossil fuels at the expense of renewables. Alongside this, instead of the government introducing measures to reduce aviation emissions, such as a frequent-flyer levy and the taxing of aviation fuels, a Heathrow expansion has been greenlit and, just last week, a second runway <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/sep/21/gatwick-given-green-light-for-22bn-second-runway-plan">at Gatwick</a>.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/sep/30/climate-disaster-oilfields-runways-pragmatism-emissions">Continue reading...</a>