Top scientists call for political leadership to tackle the climate crisis

A guide to help parliamentarians understand and respond to the challenges of climate change will be launched today (Wednesday) in the House of Commons.

The Parliamentarians’ Guide to Climate Change contains contributions by world-leading climate experts to provide policy makers – at the national and local level – with an overview of key areas of climate science.

The authors stress the need for urgent action and call upon politicians to work across party lines to tackle the climate and environment crises.

It includes chapters on the fundamentals of climate change, the case for net zero, the need for adaptation, why biodiversity loss matters, the impacts of the Polar crisis, the threats and opportunities from “tipping points”, how to empower developing economies, the economics of climate change, and the importance of the COP process.

Coordinated by the University of Exeter and Peers for the Planet, the guide includes authors from the University, the Met Office, two UN High-Level Climate Champions, and a chapter from Professor Lord Stern.

Baroness Hayman, Chair of Peers for the Planet – the House of Lords climate and nature action group, said “Actions taken in this Parliament will determine whether we can meet our 2030 and 2050 climate and nature targets.

“Strengthened ties between politicians of all political colours and the scientific community are essential, as there is a vital need for reliable, accessible and trusted data and analysis to counter disinformation and secure public buy-in for positive action.”

Professor Lisa Roberts, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Exeter, added: “We hope this guide will be extremely useful to policy makers, and remind them of the critical dangers we face, as well as the urgent need for action to tackle climate change and reverse nature decline.

“We have a chance to strengthen the consensus for action at the national and local level, to help get the UK back on track with delivery, re-energise our international leadership, and deliver the transition fairly, and in a way that stimulates clean economic growth.”

Lord Alok Sharma KCMG, former COP26 President has welcomed the guide and the importance of its timing.

“This parliament has a crucial role to play in responding to the climate and nature crises,” he said.

“The cross-party consensus on the need to act on the latest scientific evidence has guided UK climate leadership and progress in the past.

“We hope this guide to climate change will help inform the many important decisions that we know lie ahead.”

Lord Deben, former chair of the Climate Change Committee, said: “Peers for the Planet and the University of Exeter have produced a long-needed Parliamentarians’ Guide to Climate Change.

“It will be extremely useful for all of us – from the well-informed to those who still have doubts about the biggest material threat we all face.”