Can we move past identity politics to find a third way for climate action?
In short: Climate change is increasingly becoming a divisive wedge issue in global elections. Myles Allen argues that relying on technocratic stealth policies has failed to build a broad coalition. To succeed, we must abandon the false promise of costless solutions and embrace a third way that prioritizes practical, scalable climate action.
The current political landscape surrounding climate change is shifting from a technocratic concern to a polarizing identity issue. Myles Allen, Director of the Oxford Net Zero initiative, suggests that past attempts to keep climate policy apolitical through reliance on institutional experts have backfired. Instead of fostering productive debate, this approach has left the public feeling alienated, leading to a climate of despair where experts often spend their time attacking each other's solutions rather than collaborating on effective, large-scale strategies.
A central point of contention is the role of carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS). While some campaigners argue for pausing CCS projects, citing safety concerns or suggesting funds be redirected toward renewables, Allen contends that such opposition is counterproductive. CCS is not optional; to meet global climate goals, we must permanently dispose of hundreds of billions of tonnes of carbon dioxide this century. Geological storage is currently the only known method capable of achieving this at the necessary scale, despite the challenges of managing potential leaks.
The debate often suffers from a 'Hunger Games' mentality, where proponents of different technologies view each other as competitors rather than partners. For instance, CCS can actually support renewable energy by managing grid intermittency through gas-fired power stations or blue hydrogen production. By framing climate action as an all-or-nothing choice between competing technologies, we risk terminal delays. Allen argues that the U.K. should leverage its resources and geology to lead in safe carbon disposal rather than opting out, which would only damage investor confidence and global progress.
Ultimately, the path forward requires honesty about the costs and requirements of decarbonization. We cannot have both costless delay and costless decarbonization. By moving away from the binary politics of the past and focusing on a 'third way' that appeals to a broad electoral coalition, we can stop climate change from becoming a permanent wedge issue and start implementing the necessary, albeit difficult, infrastructure required for a net-zero future.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: How to raise the Net Zero conversation - Myles Allen
- Also: How to raise the Net Zero conversation - Myles Allen - Gresham College Lectures
- Also: Raising the Net Zero Conversation: How to Stop Climate Becoming a Wedge Political Issue
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