What should Andy Burnham's climate change strategy be - and why it could involve chocolate

What should Andy Burnham's climate change strategy be - and why it could involve chocolate EXCLUSIVE: As public concern over the climate grows, and the political consensus over Net Zero fractures, The Mirror looks at Andy Burnham’s options on one of the generational issues of our time Andy Burnham has been urged by leading environmental experts to link his climate change strategy to cost of living benefits for voters. How the Prime Minister approaches the climate emergency - which has shot up the agenda in this summer’s heatwaves and wildfires - could be one of the most consequential moments of his premiership. Mr Burnham has faced criticism for failing to be explicit on the link between climate change and the widespread drought and destruction seen across the country. Excess deaths linked to the heatwaves nearing 3,000, farmers at breaking point, and fires decimating homes have triggered calls for him to toughen his stance. As autumn approaches, the PM faces a crucial decision on whether to sign off on two oil and gas fields in the North Sea - a ruling that could define his legacy on climate change. Unions want him to approve more drilling as they say it will create jobs but green experts urge him to reject the environmentally costly plans. As public concern over the climate grows, and the political consensus over Net Zero fractures, The Mirror looks at Mr Burnham’s options and the challenges as he faces on one of the most consequential issues of our time. The urgency of climate change Mr Burnham sought to get on the front foot on the heatwaves and wildfires, with an emergency Cobra meeting and a temporary ban on disposable barbecues. But he faced criticism for not being explicit enough on the climate emergency facing the country - and the long-term action needed. Leading climate organisations - including Greenpeace, WWF and Green New Deal Rising - wrote to Mr Burnham and accused him of “remaining silent” on the climate crisis, noting how a statement released after his Cobra meeting failed to mention climate change. Two thirds of the public (67%) are worried about unbearably hot weather becoming more frequent in the UK and 86% think climate change is at least partially responsible, More in Common polling showed. Luke Tryl, executive director at the polling firm, told The Mirror: "It's definitely the case that climate and environment is one of the glues which actually unites the coalition that Labour needs to win or win back their 2024 vote, and whilst Net Zero has polarised on the right of the spectrum, actually support on the left is pretty much what it was." Mr Tryl also suggested that Labour could be at risk of losing votes to the Green Party, whose leader Zack Polanski earlier this month accused the government of a "dereliction of duty" in tackling climate change. While he noted that the Greens now focus on economic populist policies, as well as the environment, Mr Tryl added: "I definitely think there is a challenge that if Andy Burnham and the government isn't seen to be taking it (climate policies) seriously, that some of the progressive defectors that he's won back will maybe have pause for thought. Because if you look at Andy Burnham's polling gains to date, they have largely come from winning back voters who had gone from Labour to the Greens." Make climate change about the cost of living Many experts are in agreement that tackling climate change is as much about the political story you tell as it is about the policies you announce. Sam Alvis, associate director for environment, energy security, and nature at think tank IPPR, told the Mirror Mr Burnham has an opportunity to speak about climate change “as a driver of increased cost of living”, which the PM has already made clear is his priority. He said: “People drink coffee. People eat chocolate. They've seen the cost of these goods go through the roof because of drought, because of deforestation, because of all the things contributing to climate change. That is a way of Burnham talking about climate, where it's not in tension with the things that he already wants to talk about." He also said there are benefits in speaking about the climate as a security threat, such as “extreme weather preparedness, climate as a threat multiplier to the things that armies and militaries care about”. Holly Brazier Tope, director of politics at the Green Alliance, added: “If the government can use language that changes the way that we talk about a lot of this, that will be so key." She said talking about a cut in energy bills is important, but added that people also want to see solutions so they don't need to leave their working day to pick up their children from a nursery forced to shut in a heatwave. The oil and gas problem Environmental campaigners believe it would be unconscionable to approve Rosebank, an oil field north-west of Shetland, and Jackdaw, a gas field east of Aberdeen. But leading trade unions like GMB and Unite insist it is “essential” for jobs. Mr Burnham recently said he would “take a pragmatic approach when it comes to the North Sea”, indicating a possible change in the party’s approach to drilling. But he would face a significant backlash from Green campaigners, with Robert Palmer, the deputy director of the campaign group Uplift, last week warning that "more drilling will wreck our planet and perpetuate this extreme weather". When it comes to the cost of living, experts say there is no guarantee that new drilling in the North Sea will bring down energy bills as prices are determined by international markets. Renewable energy is the future, they argue, to stop the UK’s dependence on global markets that are vulnerable to shocks like the war in Iran. Ms Brazier Tope said that Mr Burnham's choices must link up to a coherent strategy. For instance, on the day the PM called an emergency Cobra meeting on the extreme heat, a review was launched into the Zero Emissions Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate. She said: “You cannot have a government that says it is very serious about tackling climate change and the impacts that they bring, while you are also approving oil and gas in the North Sea, watering down the ZEV mandate, consulting on expanding Heathrow. Those things are just not compatible , and they really do call into question whether we will be able to meet legally binding climate targets.” Detoxifying Net ‘stupid’ Zero The UK has set a 2050 target to reach Net Zero - the policy aimed at balancing out the amount of greenhouse gases with those being removed from the atmosphere. But support across the political spectrum is fracturing. Reform UK’s Richard Tice has repeatedly labelled the plans ‘Net stupid Zero’, claiming that there is no evidence the strategy will work, while shadow energy secretary Claire Coutinho set out the Tory case for ditching Net Zero after Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch declared the 2050 target impossible. Alasdair Johnstone, the Head of Parliamentary Engagement at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU), said Mr Burnham needs to re-normalise the conversation around Net Zero. He said: “It's become in certain quarters quite a sort of toxic brand. So being able to kind of re-normalise the conversation again about climate change and the importance of tackling it perhaps would be one approach that could potentially at least sort of help the conversation along.” He pointed to ECIU research that suggests Reform UK voters are against Net Zero when asked about it by its name, but that a majority of them are in favour of the policy when it is explained in other words. Keeping the public onboard For the first time in more than two years, the environment was listed as a top priority for 25% of the public on YouGov’s poll tracker. The issue was at 14% as recently as May. Beth Kühnel Mann, YouGov’s deputy head of political and social analytics, said health, economy and immigration almost always feature in the top three, or if not top five, issues for Brits. Defence and security also makes its way to the top but usually in response to flashpoint events such as the conflict in Iran or the war in Ukraine. “The environment is an issue that people care about, but it is trumped as soon as there is an issue that is more impactful to them personally,” she said. “So you do need to tie it into those issues if you want to kind of successfully get people on board." Mr Johnstone said it is important Mr Burnham is clear in mentioning the words "climate change". Pointing to Mr Burnham’s pledge to apply the Makerfield test to all the decisions he makes as PM, he continued: “The people of Makerfield strike me as the sort of people that will call a spade a spade. What we've witnessed over the last few weeks, it's pretty obvious that this is climate change and it's happening. "It would seem to make sense for the Prime Minister to be pretty clear in his own rhetoric that this is climate change and it's happening and we've got to have a plan."