I’M struck by the similarities between the government’s inaction on climate change and its inaction on the Covid-19 pandemic.

With Covid-19, the government initially minimised the scale of the problem.

Then, when it finally realised the problem couldn’t be evaded any longer, it embarked on a damage limitation strategy (herd immunity), claiming it was too late to suppress the infection.

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I fear that the government’s approach to the even greater threat of runaway climate change is the same.

First, minimise the scale of the problem. Then say we can’t stop it, we can only adapt to it.

I hope I’m wrong, and that the government will learn the lessons from its disastrous failures in relation to Covid-19, realise there is a problem about climate change, and take effective action while there is still time to avoid the worst impacts.

ALAN NEALE

Poole