Boris wasn't too bad

Hey there lovely people, and welcome back to the Strawman, the daily climate newsletter that’s like the friend that’ll hand you a towel when you pop into the shower and forget it outside - we’re there for you buddy.

Today we’re digging into the political side of the UK’s shift in climate policy - turns out, going through 3 prime ministers in as many months leads to a little bit of confusion as to what actual policies are.

Let’s dive in.

Boris Johnson’s legacy

The UK's climate change stance took an interesting turn under Boris Johnson, a late green convert.

Johnson's administration made tackling climate change the nation's "number one international priority", like a new year's resolution to lose weight.

And for a while, he stuck to it, demonstrating an ambitious environmental programme that positioned the UK as a front-runner in the global climate race.

Think of Johnson as that one friend who suddenly becomes a fitness freak - surprising but welcome.

Fast forward to the present, and it seems like that new year's resolution is slipping. Under Rishi Sunak's reign, the UK's once vibrant green agenda is losing its lustre.

Climate change is no longer at the top of the priority list, replaced by the buzzword of the season - "energy security."

Silence can be violent

Sunak's leadership has sparked a series of climate-concerning actions that make his green stance seem as steady as a three-legged table. This shit rickety af.

Critics argue that the approval of a new coal mine in Cumbria and the impending nod to a vast new oilfield called Rosebank in the North Sea suggest a significant shift from Johnson's eco-ambitions.

Sunak's noticeable silence on climate issues is more deafening than the awkward silence at a dinner party when someone brings up politics.

His lack of vocal commitment to climate change has stirred unease even within his own party. If this silence continues, the UK's green narrative might take an unwanted detour.

We’ll keep a watchful eye - until tomorrow,

The Strawman