Why it makes no difference who you vote for

That's if you care about the climate crisis

The UK general election this coming Thursday feels important. The Conservatives represent Brexit (with or without a deal). Further privatisation of the healthcare system, and inaction on the climate crisis. Labour would take a conciliatory approach to Brexit while favouring nationalisation of industries. Their Green New Deal is the first time a major UK party has placed such importance on the environment. What’s clear is the outcome of the election will set Britain on two distinctive paths.

Labour must be commended for their Green New Deal. It says much about the attitude shown towards the climate crisis that Labour is the first political party to propose such a deal. And yet, the deal doesn’t go far enough.

Yes, reducing emissions will help limit the impacts of the climate crisis. But, the climate crisis is an effect of a problem, the cause is our economic system. Without placing a lens on the cause, the problem will remain.

Consumption and the growth paradigm it feeds have fuelled the climate crisis. But during the election campaign, no political party has questioned the feasibility of continuous growth, nor the consumption feeding it.