Extinction Rebellion: How might ministers win over the protesters?–Harrabin

By Paul Homewood

Harrabin is off in the clouds again!

Protests by Extinction Rebellion’s seemingly inexhaustible army of activists made plenty of headlines last week.

They say politicians are out of touch with climate reality. But what do they want, and can ministers realistically make it happen?

Let’s consider XR’s three core demands: for the government to "tell the truth about climate change", to create a citizens’ assembly to oversee progress, and to reduce carbon emissions to zero by 2025.

If Mrs May regularly referred to a "climate crisis" or "climate emergency", that might fulfil their wish that the government should "tell the truth"
A citizens’ assembly looks unlikely, especially during the current constitutional mayhem of Brexit
The third objective of cutting CO2 emissions to almost zero by 2025 is surely unachievable.

So, if not all this, then what?

This weekend, I asked environmentalists on Twitter for their suggestions about what ministers can do to show XR they mean business.

Here – in no particular order – is my summary of some of the responses, with my own micro-analysis along the way.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-48015293

I’m not quite sure who his environmentalist chums are, but they seem pottier than him judging by their replies, not least because they seem to think their ideas will make the slightest difference, or why ministers should want to convince this tiny motley band of middle class hippies.

But the final item is the one which really stands out: