Helen Clarkson, CEO of Climate Group, said:
“Tony Blair sets up a false binary when he suggests that we have a choice between climate strategies of either phasing out fossil fuels, or investing in new low-carbon technologies. We need to do both. The climate crisis and the speed at which the world needs to decarbonise to keep humanity safe, needs all solutions on the table.
Perhaps he has forgotten the landmark Stern report that his own government published back in 2006, which demonstrated that the costs of climate inaction far outweigh the costs of action. These findings have been borne out in the years since; for example the cost of the LA fires alone this year was $250bn.
The world needs long-term thinking which does not keep changing, but sets out a clear direction against which governments and business can deliver. Tony Blair used to be such a leader, setting out a positive vision of a zero carbon future – we’d like to see him stick to that, and not buy into the false narratives perpetrated by the fossil fuel industries.”
ENDS