45 Climate Policies Reversed Globally in Past Year
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- We Don't Have Time climate action platform reported that 45 climate policies were reversed globally in the 12 months to July, and laid the blame on fossil fuel industry lobbying for the rollback.
- Europe is leading the retreat on climate action, weakening measures across carbon pricing, methane emissions, and the phasing out of petrol and diesel vehicles.
- More than 35,000 wildfires are currently burning worldwide, including at the gates of Bordeaux and Madrid, even as governments deliberately turn away from climate action.
- Bill McGuire, professor emeritus of geophysical and climate hazards at University College London, argues that climate scientists must speak out more forcefully to counter corporate lobbying and government inaction.
- The rate of global heating has doubled, yet many climate scientists remain silent due to concerns about funding, career prospects, academic prestige, and the contempt or ridicule of colleagues.
- An estimated 18,000 climate scientists worldwide — likely an underestimate — could collectively pressure governments to reinstate climate-friendly policies if they spoke with one voice, McGuire argues.
Why it matters: McGuire frames the 45 policy reversals as a direct consequence of fossil fuel industry lobbying out-muscling climate advocates in the rooms where decisions are made. The rollback is hitting Europe hardest on carbon pricing and methane rules, while the global heating rate has doubled and 35,000 wildfires burn — yet an estimated 18,000 climate scientists worldwide remain largely silent, leaving the policy debate dominated by vested business interests.
