Climate change is a political issue. Climate activists regularly condemn politicians for doing too little.

The growing calls for system change are a response to political and economic systems that have done so much of the damage to our environment and the planet.

Why then are many climate activists reluctant to tackle the real politics behind carbon emissions and climate change? For example, Extinction Rebellion (XR) has adopted the slogan “Go beyond politics”, as though politics is a problem in itself.

The naked self-interest so often displayed by political leaders has encouraged the belief that politics is dirty, and must be avoided. And there is an understandable wish for the climate protest movement to be inclusive, and not excluding supporters of any political party.

Beyond politics

While protests are important and have led to many changes, they are not enough. They leave the initiative with the governing parties, who can wait until the protests die down and make a few concessions.

Across the world, political systems provide comfortable jobs and benefits for privileged “representatives” and officials. These people are scared to confront entrenched interests, aware that by doing so they will be putting their comfortable lifestyles at risk.

Political consequences

Political decisions have consequences, which can affect the careers of politicians. Closing down fossil fuel companies will evoke huge opposition, not only from the companies themselves but from the business sector generally, from the mainstream press and the whole political establishment. It will also affect thousands of jobs. These are the kind of issues that prevent leaders from taking serious action on the climate.

It is only when we have leaders who are prepared to work outside the comfort of business as usual that real progress will be made. This means leaders getting involved in politics, a new kind of politics. This is the challenge for the climate movement. Protests will have to be translated into political movements that will fundamentally challenge the status quo.