Climate world turns to London as U.S. retreats
Say what you will about the annual climate summit calendar, but the fact that London Climate Action Week is roughly double the size of last year’s event is a shot across the bow of New York as the U.S. retreats on global warming commitments.
More than 700 events are planned in and around the British capital this week and more than 40 mayors from around the world are in attendance, including the mayors of London and Paris, who penned this piece for The Guardian.
The apparent success bodes poorly for New York Climate Week in September, which will take place as usual amid the United Nations annual leaders summit and be attended by noted climate villain President Donald Trump. Climate advocates will be keen to see how the U.S. administration’s hostility toward many forms of renewable energy will play out in terms of attendance.
All is not perfect in London, of course. Climate Action Week is taking place as the European Union is slashing climate reporting commitments for companies as well as transition requirements amid a climate backlash across the continent. Even UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s own Labour government, which has said it is committed to fighting global warming, agreed this week to cut green fees and taxes on big business to boost manufacturing and lower energy costs.
Still, the crowds in London this week signal the climate movement is alive and well. It’s just looking for more friendly confines for the time being; a fact that should not be lost on Brazil as it prepares to host the COP30 UN climate summit in November.
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