Growing gap between climate risk and response Political Inertia and Climate Denialism

A recent opinion piece by the Financial Times delves into the growing dissonance between the escalating reality of climate change and the insufficient response from various global leaders.

The piece reflects a sharp critique of political inertia and climate denialism, primarily focusing on the policies of the Trump administration and the far-right political factions in Europe and beyond. These factions are undermining climate action, such as freezing funding for clean energy initiatives and attempting to roll back crucial green policies. The author suggests that, while climate change is manifesting with disturbing intensity—evidenced by extreme weather events like wildfires and floods—the political will to address the crisis is flagging.

One of the most glaring examples of this retreat from climate action is seen in the U.S., where former President Donald Trump's rollback of environmental policies continues to resonate. This is mirrored in European politics, with parties like Germany’s AfD and Austria’s Freedom Party campaigning against green measures, positioning them as elitist burdens on ordinary people. The appeal of these far-right movements to working-class voters, especially in times of economic hardship, highlights the challenge of balancing ambitious climate goals with public concerns over rising living costs.

The piece also touches on the broader business sector, where companies such as Norway’s Equinor are scaling back their green investments in favour of fossil fuels. This shift signals a broader trend of companies rethinking their green commitments, particularly as economic pressures mount. In this context, the Paris Agreement, which marks its 10th anniversary this year, has failed to gain the momentum necessary to accelerate global decarbonization efforts. The piece points out that the green backlash is particularly pronounced in countries where climate policies are no longer abstract goals but have begun to impose tangible economic and social costs.

Despite these setbacks, the article highlights the continued importance of the global energy transition, especially in China, where green energy advancements are accelerating. However, the author warns that the pace of this transition is still too slow to mitigate the increasingly unpredictable and destructive impacts of climate change.

In conclusion, while climate change poses an urgent existential threat, the political and economic resistance to bold climate action remains formidable, and the gap between the risks we face and the responses we see continues to widen.

By Vugar Khalilov