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Why politicians have failed to tackle climate change
- Future generations, who cannot yet vote, are identified as the primary beneficiaries of climate action, while costs are expected to fall disproportionately on high-polluting groups.
- Government intervention is deemed essential for a sound environmental policy, contrasting with right-wing preferences for minimal regulation and reduced economic involvement.
- China's economic expansion following Kyoto, which saw GDP nearly triple and emissions double, may have driven a shift toward climate action due to significant climate-related risks and the strategic appeal of leading a renewable energy revolution to the ruling party.
- Developed nations are anticipated to ratchet up their environmental commitments as they progress economically, potentially disrupting a 50-year historical cycle of political compromise that has previously enabled inaction.
- A new generation of activists is expected to drive streets-level movements to force drastic political delivery, complementing diplomatic trends toward increased ambition.