JOHNSON FLYING TO UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEETING
Harrabin report on 19 September 2021 on Radio 4, 2200 hrs 'News'
"The stakes in New York are almost indescribably high because nations are falling way behind on emission cuts. Scientists say to avoid the worst impacts of global heating, annual carbon emissions must be almost halved by 2030. The latest UN analysis shows current international policies are actually projected to rise over that period leading to a temperature increase of around 3 C above pre-industrial times. To put that in context, with a temperature rise of just one degree C at present the world has suffered deadly heat, wildfires and floods.
"Mr Johnson will attempt to persuade the current number one polluter, China to quicken its timetable for reducing emissions, even though its the rich nations with their historic emissions that bear most responsibility for climate change, so far. Mr Johnson must also form policies to ensure carbon cuts in the UK. Britain is the leader on target setting on climate change but a recent report showed it produced fewer than a quarter of the policies needed to deliver on its own goals. Meanwhile, Mr Johnson is planning policies that will increase emissions, such as HS2 and the £27 billion programme of new roads and, cuts in taxes on aviation."
