Exploring the challenges politicians face in honoring environmental promises, with insights from Sophie Howe, Tara Singh, and Professor Colin Davis. Discussing the impact of political backtracking on green investments, public willingness towards climate action, and the balance between economic growth and conservation. Delving into the importance of sustainable policies, accountability, and writing letters to future generations to support climate policies.
Politicians struggle with maintaining climate commitments due to short-term political pressures and difficulties in implementing long-term beneficial policies.
Public support for climate-friendly policies hinges on aligning policies with public values, fairness, and transparency in decision-making to garner broader acceptance.
Implementing effective climate policies requires clear messaging, long-term planning, economic balance, and public engagement to ensure policy efficacy and address concerns about fairness and equity.
Deep dives
The Urgency of Climate Change Commitments
Politicians face challenges in maintaining commitments to climate change due to short-term political pressures and the difficulty in implementing policies that promote long-term benefits. The episode explores the shift in political attitudes towards climate action, highlighting the struggle to balance immediate electoral advantages with long-term environmental priorities. Despite the growing urgency from scientists and the public's concern, there is a disconnect between political consensus on climate change and the actual implementation of transformative policies.
Public Attitudes and Climate-Friendly Policies
The episode delves into public attitudes towards climate-friendly policies, emphasizing the importance of aligning policies with public values and ensuring fairness and equity. It discusses examples where public support is high for actions that have minimal lifestyle impact, but declines for more significant changes. The conversation highlights the significance of engaging the public, providing incentives, and promoting transparency in policy-making to garner support for climate initiatives.
Challenges in Implementing Climate Policies
The discussion explores the challenges in implementing climate policies, focusing on the need for clear messaging, long-term planning, and balancing economic impacts. The episode highlights the importance of creating policies that resonate with people, convey the benefits of climate action, and address concerns about fairness and equity. It also emphasizes the role of independent accountability mechanisms and transparency in ensuring policy effectiveness.
The Role of Activism and Public Engagement
The episode touches on the role of activism and public engagement in driving climate action, citing examples of successful awareness-raising initiatives. It discusses the impact of public messaging, behaviour change, and the need for inclusive and collaborative solutions. The conversation underscores the significance of empowering individuals, seeking consensus, and incorporating public values in climate policy decision-making.
Lessons from Wales and International Models
The episode draws insights from Wales' Future Generations Act and international models of climate governance, highlighting the effectiveness of long-term planning, independent oversight, and public participation. It underscores the importance of setting clear goals, promoting fairness, and addressing short-termism in policy-making. By discussing global examples and innovative approaches, the episode showcases potential strategies for politicians to uphold green commitments and navigate challenges in climate governance.
Why do politicians have such trouble sticking to their environmental promises? Why are they happy to hug a husky one minute, desperate to ditch the 'green crap' the next?
As Labour ditch their £28bn commitment to green the economy, Tom Heap and Helen Czerski are joined by a panel of insiders to analyse the electoral gains and costs of environmental policies and consider the best strategies to maintain the focus of those in power on the greatest challenge to the planet.
Sophie Howe was the Future Generations Commissioner of Wales, charged with ensuring that government policies did no harm to the unborn citizens of Wales. Her pressure helped put a stop to a new motorway in South Wales and supported the government's virtual moratorium on road-building and 20mph zones in built-up areas. Tara Singh is a public affairs advisor with the PR company, Hill and Knowlton. She was a government advisor at the time that Prime Minister David Cameron cancelled commitments on home insulation and put a stop to new onshore wind farms in England. Professor Colin Davis holds the chair in Cognitive Psychology at Bristol University. He has taken part in Extinction Rebellion protests and has a particular interest in the psychological factors that prevent politicians and the public acting against climate change.
Produced by Alasdair Cross for BBC Audio Bristol in conjunction with the Open University.
Get the Snipd podcast app
Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Save any moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Share & Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode