Of the mass walkouts of transport drivers in parts of London where temperatures have hit 34C, John Harris says: “Everything is being led by the union Unite” (Andy Burnham has barely acknowledged the climate crisis. If only Britain’s workers had that luxury, 17 August).
This action makes perfect sense, although it is addressing one of the symptoms of the climate crisis (heatwaves) rather than one of its primary causes (global heating due to burning of fossil fuels).
The irony is that Unite is also pressing the Burnham government to license the Rosebank oilfield and Jackdaw gasfield. Maybe it’s time for both to join the dots between these two campaigns and realise they are incompatible.
In the long-term interests of all of us, these North Sea hydrocarbons should stay where they are. Focus instead on the just transition of skills into the increasingly productive renewables economy.
Edward Jackson
Crediton, Devon
Excellent to see John Harris raising the fact that workers in this country are given so little protection in extreme heat. The Guardian reported three years ago on air-conditioned jackets for workers in Japan (The fan jacket: the Japanese innovation keeping workers cool in extreme heat, 25 July 2023), while this summer these jackets are being issued to street sweepers in Chinese cities.
Europe is dragging its feet on recognising the reality of climate change and the mitigations needed.
Alan Gray
Brighton
