As Cop26 begins, it's time to face inconvenient truths | Letters

The UK is failing to lead the way with its climate policies, says David Humphreys, while Michael Stone calls for a more realistic way to measure the country's carbon footprint. Plus letters from Dr Steve Hyer and Drusilla LongThe budget represents a huge squandered opportunity for the UK to lead from the front as Cop26 begins. Particularly disappointing is the miserly support for low carbon energy. Energy companies have made some impressive investments in wind-powered and solar energy in Britain, but businesses will invest only where the risks are relatively low and the likelihood of profits relatively high.That leaves a whole range of actions that must be taken to decarbonise the economy, but where the private sector will not venture. Only the government has the economic power to take the risks that business shies away from, but Rishi Sunak has failed to pledge government support for decarbonisation to industry. David Humphreys Professor of environmental policy, Open University Continue reading...