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Britain’s green transition should belong to everyone. Why is Labour so intent on stopping us having our say? | George Monbiot

The Guardian UK Wednesday 27 May 2026, 05:00 UTC By George Monbiot 1 min read
Key Points

George Monbiot criticises the current approach to Britain's green transition, arguing that the government's methods are alienating the public. He contends that the use of planning restrictions and protest laws demonstrates a climate authoritarianism that refuses to listen to local voices. Monbiot further points to the government's failure to effectively communicate the urgency of climate change to the public.

Tearing up planning and using protest laws to criminalise local people – this isn’t how to build the broad consent needed

We will not persuade. We will not explain. We will not listen. We know best and we will force you to comply. This, I’m sorry to say, is how the government’s climate policy works. Or rather, how it doesn’t. Because nothing could be better calculated to alienate the people you need to reach than climate authoritarianism.

Three astonishing things are happening simultaneously. One is the government’s utterly baffling failure to communicate with us on this existential issue. Where are the public information videos? Where are the televised emergency briefings on climate breakdown, like the emergency briefings on Covid-19?

George Monbiot is a Guardian columnist

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Originally published by The Guardian UK Read original →

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