UK leaders debate climate, with Boris Johnson replaced by ice sculpture

(Climate Change News, 28 Nov 2019) Leaders of most major parties presented their ideas for meeting tough climate goals, but the Conservative prime minister declined.

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Leaders of Britain’s major political parties – minus the governing Tories – have battled it out over their green credentials in the UK’s first ever general election debate on the climate emergency.

The leaders of the Labour Party, SNP, Liberal Democrats, Plaid Cymru and the Green Party all participated in the detailed discussion on how to reduce the UK’s carbon emissions and restore nature, which ranged from greenhouse gas reduction targets, to zero-carbon homes, to meat consumption.

Conservative leader Boris Johnson chose not to participate, saying ahead of the debate that he did not want environmental issues to be “siloed”. Dripping ice sculptures stood where the leaders of the Conservative and Brexit parties would have been – a reminder of the glaciers that continue to melt while politicians fail to take action.

The event, hosted by broadcaster Channel 4, comes ahead of the general election on December 12.

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Climate Change News, 28 Nov 2019: UK leaders debate climate, with Boris Johnson replaced by ice sculpture