UK ‘failing planet’ if it invests in new fossil fuels, says climate activist Vanessa Nakate | Climate News

Ugandan climate change activist Vanessa Nakate has told Sky News the UK will “fail the planet” if it continues to invest in new fossil fuels.

Ms. Nakate said Britain should not expand drilling activities in the North Sea, lift the ban on shale gas or consider opening a new coal mine in Cumbria.

“Climate leadership doesn’t call itself a ‘leader,’ it’s practical action,” she said.

“If the UK continues to open up new coal, oil and gas infrastructure, then the UK is not a climate leader, not just its people but the planet as a whole.

“It is failing future generations, it is failing current generations that are seeing the effects of the climate crisis right now.”

Her comments come just weeks before the UK hands over the presidency of the United Nations climate change summit COP to Egypt.

She says she has little time to argue that the energy crisis has forced countries to go back to fossil fuels.

“It has always been against the interests of the West,” she said.

“What sympathy should we have for the West because energy prices are going up? … What will happen to the citizens of Uganda, where energy prices are also rising?

“Why don’t we change the conversation to, you know, ‘what does the global south need?’

“You know, people, millions of people in Africa, still don’t have access to electricity, and when you think about rising energy prices, it’s only going to get worse.

“That’s why we need renewable energy, no more fossil fuel infrastructure.”

‘Fighting for a starving child instead of art’

Ms. Nakate argues the criticism directed at the controversial Just Stop Oil group, which has recently been targeted arts and culture destinationshas been misplaced.

“It’s really a privileged place to be disturbed for something that has been done for art,” she said.

“For me, if I choose to fight for art, or fight for a starving child, I will fight for a starving child.

“If the thought of a piece of art being destroyed can cause all this stress and all this criticism, I wish the thought of a child starving to death would cause the same reaction and get people to speak up and urge people to do something about the climate crisis.”

There are growing calls for the wealthiest nations most responsible for climate change to create a new funding base to compensate those least responsible and most vulnerable to the crisis. .

It is seen as loss and damage, and for Ms. Nakate, it will be a defining issue at the United Nations climate summit COP27 in Egypt.

“The climate crisis is pushing people beyond their ability to adapt,” she said.

“People are losing things they can’t get back, you can’t adapt to losing your culture or tradition, and I think this is what the climate crisis is doing right now.

“Ultimately, history is being destroyed.”