'Why you should be sceptical about whether Boris Johnson really cares about climate change' | Will Hayward
| Published date | 11 August 2021 |
| Publication title | WalesOnline (Wales) |
In response to this Prime Minister Boris Johnson issued a statement. “Sobering reading” he called it. “It is clear that the next decade is going to be pivotal to securing the future of our planet."
He added: "We know what must be done to limit global warming -consign coal to history and shift to clean energy sources, protect nature & provide climate finance for countries on the frontline.”
Read more: Nine ways climate change is going to drastically alter life in Wales
You may feel reassured by this statement.
But there are very real reasons to doubt our Prime Minister's dedication to tackling this issue. An issue which, lest we forget, is likely the biggest issue facing any PM in history.
Beyond his long established scoffing at science this is the man who proudly declared he shook hands with every Covid patient in hospital just weeks before he nearly died of Covid and took up a vital hospital bed there is a record dating back over a decade which suggests that we are not being led by a man who understands the fight he is up against.
Let's take a look at his record.
In the run up to his May 2008 election as London Mayor, prominent Tory and billionaire hedge fund manager Sir Michael Hintze donated the following to Mr Johnson:
£2,000 in December 2007 £2,000 in February 2008 £1,000 in March 2008.
Sir Michael, who is a prominent Tory party donor is the financial backer of the climate science denial group the Global Warming Policy Foundation.
Let's fast forward to December 2010 when BJ wrote this article for the Telegraph. In it he promoted the work of well known climate change denier Piers Corbyn.
This included the lines: "Piers Corbyn believes that the last three winters could be the harbinger of a mini ice age that could be upon us by 2035."
He also suggests maybe emissions aren't what is driving climate change it unequivocally is by the way and perhaps it is "the Sun".
Our future PM then adds sagely: "Is it possible that everything we do is dwarfed by the moods of the star that gives life to the world The Sun is incomparably vaster and more powerful than any work of man.”
How do you feel our government's are handling the climate crisis Tell us in the comments below
Again in the Telegraph in 2013 he wrote this column where he suggested that it wasn't the human impacting...
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