{
  "id": 19893543,
  "title": "Fight the climate crisis or go for growth? There is a way Burnham can do both | Jonathan Freedland",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/13/fight-the-climate-crisis-or-go-for-growth-there-is-a-way-burnham-can",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-11-13T17:10:23.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Guardian Business",
    "slug": "guardian-business",
    "url": "https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/nov/13/fight-climate-crisis-growth-andy-burnham-economic-leaders"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Andy Burnham, a prominent figure in British politics, faces a daunting dilemma during his tenure as a centre-left politician – how to strike a balance between addressing the pressing climate crisis and meeting the demands of voters for economic growth and affordable living. This challenge is not an abstract one for Burnham, as he is actively involved in decisions that have the potential to impact the environment, the economy, and the livelihoods of millions.\n\nRecently, Burnham addressed the Cop summit in Antalya, vowing to usher in a \"new era of British leadership\" in the fight against global heating. While such rhetoric is important for his political strategy and aims to diminish the appeal of the Green party, it is ultimately his actions that will determine the direction of the nation. Burnham must now grapple with the reality of making bold decisions under a tight timeline, as certain choices are unavoidable.\n\nOne of the contentious issues on Burnham's plate is the Jackdaw gasfield in the North Sea, which his government approved last month. Climate activists have criticized this decision, recognizing the potential harm to the environment. Another significant decision looms on the horizon – the proposed Rosebank oilfield northwest of Shetland. With its much larger scale and a projected lifespan of 25 years, Rosebank presents even more significant concerns for climate advocates.\n\nFurthermore, there are signs that Burnham's government may be considering weakening targets for electric vehicles to support the car industry. This could be a major blow to environmental efforts, as the transition to electric vehicles is essential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, the chancellor, John Healey, has recently signaled his support for building a third runway at Heathrow Airport, a move that would exacerbate carbon emissions.\n\nWhat is Burnham to do? He is caught between the climate scientists urging him to prioritize the environment and the business leaders insisting that economic growth should take precedence. The pressure is mounting on him to make choices that may displease one side or the other. However, Burnham holds a unique position, as he must devise a solution that can satisfy both environmentalists and business interests.\n\nOne potential path forward for Burnham could involve a combination of pragmatism and radicalism. He could emphasize the importance of reducing demand for fossil fuels, rather than simply curtailing supply. This approach aligns with recommendations from experts like Michael Jacobs, who served as climate and energy adviser to Gordon Brown in Downing Street. Jacobs suggests that destroying the demand for oil and gas is the most reliable way to curb the use of these fuels.\n\nTo illustrate this point, Burnham could argue that the approval of Jackdaw, while seemingly significant, is relatively small-scale and has a short lifespan. Emphasizing the bigger picture – the need to transition away from fossil fuels entirely – may be more effective than focusing on specific projects. However, the same logic may not apply to Rosebank, given its larger size and longer lifespan. Similarly, Heathrow's third runway would have a substantial impact on the UK's carbon emissions, making it a more challenging decision.\n\nOne possible compromise could be to grant reluctant consent to Rosebank but require that any fossil fuel production in the North Sea must employ carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology. This approach would involve essentially sending the equivalent amount of carbon released during extraction back into the ground, thus neutralizing the environmental impact. While CCS technology is expensive and contentious, it has proven successful in Norway's Sleipner field, with the UK government already setting aside £21 billion for subsidies. Burnham could leverage this existing funding to redirect resources towards more worthy causes, such as schools, hospitals, and defense.\n\nImplementing such a policy would create around 50,000 jobs in the UK over the next decade, particularly in the manufacturing and installation of CCS technology. This would provide a significant boost to the economy while still addressing the climate crisis. By taking a bold and innovative approach, Burnham might be able to strike a balance that satisfies both the growth-oriented lobby and climate-concerned voters, setting an example for other leaders around the world.",
  "summary": "The environmental and economic dilemmas he faces are formidable but, with a bold plan, he could set an example for leaders around the world For politicians of the centre-left especially, it’s the great dilemma of the age. How do you do what everyone can see is essential to save the planet from boiling – even as your voters demand action to get the economy growing and to make life more affordable?…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}