UK Climate Minister Says Green Policies Are Good Politics as Public Support Rises After Record Summer

Britain's climate minister, Katie White, argues that the transition to a low-carbon economy is not just an environmental necessity but also a political winner. Citing a record-hot summer with four heatwaves and deadly wildfires, she points to an Ipsos poll showing 74% of Britons are concerned about climate change, up from 69% before the summer. White, speaking at the UN, said right-wing parties that pledged to scrap net zero goals miscalculated public sentiment. White acknowledged upfront costs of renewable infrastructure, comparing fossil fuel imports to renting a house and building wind power to buying one with a down payment. She noted the UK's abundant wind resource and stressed that after two fossil fuel crises, clean power is the long-term answer. The minister also defended electrification, citing her own positive experience as an EV driver, while confirming that some oil and gas drilling fits within the country's carbon budget.