Lots of national elections are happening and voting now is more important than at any time in history because these elections are deciding the fate of the planet.  We are at a critical stage in our fight against global warming. We are about to reach global warming temperatures of 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and are also close to tipping points which could lead to ecological collapse and irreversible change. The re-election of Lula in Brazil is a major victory for the planet and protecting the Amazon rainforest which is one of the most biodiverse areas in the world and shapes our climate and water cycles. About 18% of the Amazon rainforest has been cut down and we are very close to the tipping point of it dying out, which will happen if 20-25% of the rainforest is cut down. Lula has been very effective in reducing deforestation rates compared to his political opponents and his election win could not have come at a more important time.

Culture wars and misinformation have led to increasing attacks on the idea of ‘Net Zero’ from some political parties around the world. As climate change is clearly happening and cannot be denied anymore, those who are opposed to doing anything about it are now turning against the idea of Net Zero. The idea of Net Zero and climate change is being characterised as left-wing, expensive and pointless. The truth is climate change and the race to get to Net Zero by 2050 has nothing to do with political ideology. It is a scientific problem in the real world affecting all of us.

Getting to Net Zero carbon emissions is a solution to climate change; just the same as the COVID vaccine was the solution to getting the COVID pandemic under control.

It is expensive NOT to do anything about climate change.

Climate change has already cost the world $2.8 trillion over the past twenty years due to damage from extreme weather events. This is the equivalent of $16 million an hour. The cost of climate change is predicted to rise fast in the future, up to $38 trillion a year by 2049. Investing in flood defences and infrastructure to reduce our carbon footprint and restore ecosystems is will not only reduce future costs; it will also keep us safer from extreme weather and enable us to carry on with our lives.

Climate change is a scientific problem not ‘woke’, ‘socialist’ or ‘communist’

Climate change activists and scientists often have their communication dismissed as ‘woke’, ‘socialist’ and ‘communist’ by opponents. But the problem of global warming and climate change has nothing to do with what is thought of as ‘left wing’ or ‘right wing’. ‘Left wing’ and ‘right wing’ are confusing terms with a lot of ideas tacked onto them. The categories of ‘left wing’ and ‘right wing’ are social constructs that were invented in France in the 18^th century and came to the USA at a later point. After the Russian revolution in 1917, politicians, historians and intellectuals increasingly referred to politics in ‘left’ and ‘right’ terms.

Over the course of the 20^th century, ‘left wing’ has been associated with expansive government, using language of ‘change’ and ‘reform’. ‘Right wing’ has been associated with limited government using language of ‘traditional’ and ‘preservation’. Since the early 1950s, this ideological system has spread across the globe, with ideological labels combining with an ideological political spectrum. These labels are social constructs, meaning they come to exist by collective agreement, they do not naturally occur in our environment. This is the same as other concepts such as gender, race, disability, age and childhood.

Science studies the physical world rather than the social world and scientists collect data from the physical environment to analyse it. Climate change is a scientific problem relating to the physical world. It is not a social construct but an observable event happening in our physical environment. This is the same as observing the COVID virus spreading globally.

The goal of reaching Net Zero emissions by 2050 is a solution to climate change because the world should stop warming up once we reach that state. Although it does have economic consequences because we need to change how we produce and consume, it is not a solution for any economic or social problem. Economists as a profession have not reached a consensus on how the economy should be organised to live within the limits of the planet. There is discussion around the concepts of ‘green growth’ – only pursuing economic growth that is sustainable or ‘degrowth’, producing less to avoid crossing the planetary boundaries. Whatever we decide on how to produce and consume in the future, we have to live within the planet’s limits.

Who does climate change impact?

Climate change is going to impact everyone across the globe. Extreme weather will be felt in all countries with heatwaves and floods causing deaths and impacting our ability to work and live. It will impact our ability to grow food and increase prices across the globe. So, wherever you are on the political spectrum, climate change should be a concern for you.  

Who should I vote for?

We are at a stage where we have most of the solutions to solve the problem of global warming and it is only matter of accelerating their implementation. You should vote for politicians who acknowledge climate change is real threat to humanity, that it is caused by humans and Net Zero is a necessary target to meet by 2050 to stop global warming. Politicians have the power to make changes on a local and national level that make a difference in cutting their nation’s carbon footprint and protecting biodiversity. Look for politicians who want to actively pursue Net Zero strategies and move the national economy off fossil fuels as well as promoting biodiversity.

Politicians should also be adapting infrastructure to cope with heat waves and flooding to reduce deaths which are inevitably going to happen due to climate change. You should look to reward politicians who promote environmentally friendly practices in their local areas and respond to the concerns of environmental activists. We want politicians who don’t just talk the talk but actually walk the walk too!