Last night, Caroline Lucas, former Green MP and party leader, delivered the Grantham Institute’s annual lecture at Imperial College London, speaking to a full house. In her straightforward yet impactful style, Caroline tackled the significant challenges of the low-carbon transition, the role of the UK government, and the urgent need to reinvent a positive narrative in an increasingly polarised political landscape.
Here are the key takeaways from The Green Londoner.
While the lecture was titled From Crisis to Hope, Caroline Lucas highlighted the threats to the low-carbon transition in the UK and globally: rising far-right movements, increasing inequalities, the influence of fossil fuel lobbying, and pressures on social movements. A few years on from the UK’s widespread climate emergency declarations and the optimism surrounding COP26, we seem back at square one, with insufficient solutions and warnings that 1.5°C is likely out of reach.
Yet, Caroline steered clear of defeatism, outlining a clear vision of what a successful transition could look like in a happier, more democratic, and more inclusive society.
Four key points for a successful transition
- A Strong role for the State: Caroline emphasised the need for massive government support, both financial and regulatory, with the ambition of a UK “Green New Deal,” investing in energy-efficient buildings, nature restoration, and more.
- Democratic renewal: She stressed the need to address climate action and political reform side by side, calling for greater inclusivity and support for citizen-led initiatives like citizen assemblies.
- Community resilience: In a renewed vision of adaptation, local communities must be at the heart of the transition, focusing on tangible, everyday topics like local food, access to nature, and water management to drive engagement.
- A shift in narrative: Caroline called for a more positive and grounded narrative around the transition, independent from lobbying, and one that gives people hope—something she feels is lacking in Labour’s current approach.
Panel discussion: Rethinking a just transition
The following panel discussion explored the notion of a “just transition,” which can feel abstract to the public, and the importance of creating an empowering narrative around climate action. “Communities act when they feel invested” – it’s urgent to create the space for genuine community ownership of these issues.
We fully agree with these points, but the lecture highlighted some ongoing challenges. In a city like London, where many live in isolation or silos, how can we create individual and collective engagement? Changing political practices won’t happen overnight, so what do we do now?
At The Green Londoner, we believe the transition must be as local, practical, and inspiring as possible. We’ll continue to offer content, actions, and events that address real concerns with the goal of making an impact. Conferences like this are essential milestones, but the real challenge is turning these ideas into action that reaches a wide and diverse audience.
P.S. More citizen participation also means more open debate. We would have loved a more interactive session with the audience—creating space for dialogue starts here.
