According to the IPCC we have 12 years left to limit global warming to 1.5° C and then reverse it. The consequences of not meeting those targets would be quite catastrophic. Despite the consistent and wide spread warnings of scientists from varying disciplines there does not seem to be any sense of urgency. Its as if the world was in a car speeding towards the edge of a cliff and the people are debating whether we should go from 5th to 4th gear rather then hitting the brakes as hard as they can. Everywhere around the world awareness of the issues around climate change is rising and yet that does not seem to be translating itself into significant concrete action. Green parties may be winning the argument but they are not capitalising on these concerns at the ballot box. If we take the upcoming European elections the Green's are expected to get around 7-8% of the vote, and yet this should be an ideal forum for Green issues. Environmental issues are by definition trans-national and European elections are seen as an occasion to express one's actual preferences rather than having to take into account political expediency. I believe the Green parties need to focus and simplify their message. They need to propose a limited number of clear policies which would have a significant impact on global warming (also they probably need to change their name, Green parties stand for too many different things).
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