Byline Times asked me to comment on their analysis which has revealed that 52 Peers in the House of Lords hold interests in the fossil fuel industry – a 20% increase from this time last year. This is what I told them:

“One of the reasons governments around the world are failing when it comes to decarbonising at a speed and scale compatible with keeping global temperatures under 1.5°C” is the “political influence big oil and gas money exerts on political decision-making”.

“It’s therefore hardly surprising we’ve fallen so far off the mark here in the UK when it comes to renewables investment and decarbonisation when a sizeable number of government legislators have such direct financial and advisory interests in the oil and gas industry.”

“It’s akin to asking arsonists to legislate on robust fire safety legislation. Frankly, it would be laughable if it wasn’t such a dire and existential threat we faced.”

Read the article here