The race to reverse global warming is the greatest challenge facing mankind.
If we are going to win, it will require clever decision-making to cut carbon emissions quickly without destroying our economy and way of life.
It will also need governments to work with laser focus in the interests of the planet and its people, not multinational corporations whose cross-border reach and financial muscle allows them to wield unprecedented power.
In this context, two Sunday Mail exclusives should be of concern to anyone genuinely committed to tackling climate change.
South Lanarkshire Council’s decision to lease 141 electric cars, the vast majority still unused after a year, is the opposite of an environmentally friendly policy.
Electric cars are the future of motoring but cutting unnecessary consumption is arguably more important.
There will be thousands of tons of carbon embedded in the production of these vehicles which have been abandoned in various car parks across the local authority.
Making matters worse, the £1million deal with Renault came months before South Lanarkshire was forced to cut the number of charging points it planned to install for motorists using electric cars.
We also expose a number of global firms taken on as official sponsors of the crucial United National climate change summit to be held in Glasgow in November.
They include SSE, owner of a gas-fired power station, and Unilever, which has been criticised over deforestation and the use of millions of tons of harmful plastics.
Both have been given “principle partner” status at COP26.
Friends of the Earth Scotland rightly pointed out the dangers of “greenwashing” – a word we will likely hear very often in the future as corporations invest heavily on their image as environment champions while continuing to pollute and burn fossil fuels behind the scenes.
Big business will understandably always act primarily in the interests of owners and shareholders. Wider societal considerations come second.
The UK Government – which is hosting COP26 – has refused to say how much these companies are paying. Whatever the figure it is surely not enough to risk compromising the integrity of these vital talks.
Clever decision-making, free from corporate influence, is essential in the fight against global warming and we are falling short on both counts.
Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here.
