Is this the Carrie effect? Boris Johnson defends ‘tree-hugging tofu munchers’ in attack on climate change sceptics
Boris Johnson leapt to the defence of environmental activists like his fiancee Carrie Symonds today as he warned that climate change was ‘a threat to our collective security’.
The Prime Minister attacked climate sceptics in a speech to the United Nations, blasting those who ‘say this is all green stuff from a bunch of tree-hugging tofu munchers and not suited to international …. politics’.
In the virtual address to the Security Council, as the UK chaired the body for the first time in 30 years, he drew a direct link between environmental change and terrorism.
He warned that those displaced when their homes became unlivable were easy prey for extremists in refugee camps.
After presenting a speech from Sir David Attenborough, the PM told assembled heads of state: ‘If this council is going to succeed in maintaining peace and security worldwide then it has got to galvanise the whole range of UN agencies and organisations into a swift and effective response.
‘When are we going to do something if we don’t act now when changing sea levels are affecting navigation around our coasts or when huddled masses fleeing drought or wildfire or conflict over resources arrive at our borders?’
Mr Johnson’s fiancee Ms Symonds is well known as an environmental campaigner. In January she began a new job as head of communications for the Aspinall Foundation.
Their relationship has been credited with influencing his declarations about ‘building a green recovery’ after the Covid pandemic by striking agreements on cutting carbon emissions and boosting renewable technologies.
The Prime Minister attacked climate sceptics in a speech to the United Nations, blasting those who ‘say this is all green stuff from a bunch of tree-hugging tofu munchers and not suited to international …. politics’.
Mr Johnson’s fiancee Ms Symonds is well known as an environmental campaigner. In January she began a new job as head of communications for the animal conservation charity the Aspinall Foundation
Sir David said that if the world acts to bring down emissions with “sufficient vigour” it may avoid runaway climate change.
The UK is also hosting the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) later this year.
Addressing the UNSC today online from the Foreign Office’s Locarno dining room, Mr Johnson said: ‘It is absolutely clear that climate change is a threat to our collective security and the security of our nations.
I know there are people around the world who all say this is all green stuff from a bunch of tree-hugging tofu munchers and not suited to international diplomacy and international politics. I could disagree more profoundly.
‘The causes of climate change we have got to address but the effects …are absolutely clear.
‘Think of a young man forced onto the road when his home becomes a desert, one of 16 million people displaced every year as a result of weather-related disasters and weather-related disasters that are associated with climate change.
The PM introduced a video message from Sir David Attenborough, a man he described as having ‘devoted much of his life to chronicling the threats to all forms of life on our fragile blue planet’
‘He goes to some camp and becomes prey for violent extremists, people who radicalise him and the effects of that radicalisation are felt around the world.’
Before the meeting the Prime minister called for action to help vulnerable countries adapt to climate change and cutting global emissions to ‘net zero’ – which requires huge cuts to greenhouse gases and any remaining pollution to be offset through measures such as planting trees – to protect prosperity and security.uralist and broadcaster will warn the 15-member council in a video message.
The UNSC session is the first leader-level discussion it has held on climate, and is the first time it has been chaired by a British prime minister in nearly 30 years.
Sir David said that if the world acts to bring down emissions with “sufficient vigour” it may avoid runaway climate change.
The UN’s Cop26 climate summit being hosted by the UK in November in Glasgow could be the last opportunity to make the necessary change, the naturalist and broadcaster warned the 15-member council in his video message.