Zack Polanski has cautioned that delaying climate action could severely harm the Labour party’s electoral prospects, as trade union leaders expressed concerns over proposals for increased North Sea drilling.
Addressing The Guardian amid record heatwaves, Green Party leader Zack Polanski urged potential Prime Minister Andy Burnham to strengthen climate policies. He emphasized that diluting commitments would harm both the environment and Labour’s political standing.
“Ignoring climate justice risks deepening economic inequality and solidifying Labour’s decline,” Polanski stated. “Bold action now is essential to avoid irreversible damage.”
Unison, Britain’s largest union, opposes further North Sea oil and gas extraction, arguing that such moves conflict with Labour’s net-zero goals. In contrast, former Health Secretary Wes Streeting and Unite leader Sharon Graham support expanding drilling, claiming it would create jobs.
Union sources note that North Sea oil and gas jobs have plummeted from 441,000 to 214,000 in a decade, with most reserves already exploited. The British Chambers of Commerce advocates exploiting remaining reserves to prevent workforce losses.
Internal Labour tensions reflect divides over economic strategy. Some unions criticize Sharon Graham’s pro-drilling stance for aligning with figures like Nigel Farage and undermining Ed Miliband’s net-zero agenda.
Polanski stressed that fossil fuel reliance exacerbates risks during extreme weather. “Inaction on clean energy threatens economic stability amid escalating climate impacts,” he warned.
A recent report highlights the net zero sector’s £100bn annual contribution to the UK economy, outperforming other sectors in job quality and growth.
Other unions back Labour’s climate agenda. Fire Brigades Union leader Steve Wright stressed that firefighters face exacerbated wildfires due to climate inaction, demanding stricter drilling restrictions.
Unison leader Andrea Egan criticized climate denial in politics, arguing that North Sea drilling would harm both domestic and global working-class communities.
The National Education Union also urged Burnham to prioritize climate action, citing school disruptions from heatwaves. “We cannot address today’s crises without tackling their root causes,” said union leader Daniel Kebede.
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