Governments and trading blocs are reportedly moving away from climate action, even as over 35,000 wildfires are active globally. The climate action media platform, We Don't Have Time, reported last week that 45 climate policies were reversed worldwide in the 12 months leading up to July this year.
Europe, previously considered a leader in emissions reductions, is said to be weakening measures across various areas, including carbon pricing, methane emissions, and the phasing out of petrol and diesel vehicles. This retreat on climate action is described as global.
The report attributes the blame for these reversals to lobbying by the fossil fuel sector and other industries that oppose climate action. Bill McGuire, professor emeritus of geophysical and climate hazards at University College London, suggests that climate scientists need to speak out more forcefully to counter these influences.