John Redwood and Greta Thunberg
(Picture: Jonathan Nackstrand/AFP (via Getty Images) and UK Parliament (changes made))Given Greta Thunberg’s history of trolling politicians who make disparaging comments about her, you’d think they’d stop criticising a teenager trying to do the right thing on the important issue on climate change.
Yet, for one Conservative MP, the Swedish activist’s recent remarks on the UK “lying” about its status as a climate leader has clearly caused an upset.
At a UNICEF press briefing, Thunberg said: “There is a lie that the UK is a climate leader and that they have reduced their CO2 emissions by 44 per cent since 1990, or whatever.
“If you don’t include all emissions, of course the statistics are going to look much nicer. But, if you include things like aviation, shipping, outsourcing, and the imports … and the burning of biomass, it doesn’t really look that good.
“So I’m really hoping that we will stop referring to the UK as a climate leader, because if you look at the reality, that is simply not true.”
But responding to Thunberg’s suggestion, Wokingham MP John Redwoodtweeted: “Greta Thunberg should withdraw her false accusations about the UK. She should concentrate on China which produces 27 times the amount of CO2 the UK does.”
The intervention echoes that of other right-wingers, including conservative commentator Darren Grimes.
Although, with Redwood’s argument being one people have seen before, it wasn’t long before he was roasted by fellow Twitter users:
China's population is 20 times greater than the UK, so China and the UK have roughly the same emissions per capita. The West exports a lot of manufacturing and so emissions no China.
— oldak (@oldak) August 21, 2021
Pointing at other countries and this whataboutism isn't going to stop climate collapse.
The UK consumes a lot of products made in China. Surely we’ve just exported our emissions to them?
— Lawrence Garfield (@Losing_Streak42) August 21, 2021
UK's a very small contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, yes. But in the end, even small differences will count. It's the straw that breaks the camel's back. Also setting a good example is important.
— Anna-Louise Langton (@Dune9) August 21, 2021
Keep going @GretaThunberg
The fact that China is bad does not make the UK good.
— Stephen Evans 💙 (@stivevans) August 21, 2021
I really don't understand how people get so worked up about a young person who wants us all to live on a cleaner planet. We all need to work together on this issue. There is no room for finger pointing and whataboutery.
— Joe Bergin. 🌓🇮🇪🇪🇺 (@berginjoe5) August 21, 2021
They’re not false are they John ? If we reduce our output by outsourcing production to places like China and shipping the goods in we can hardly claim to be eco friendly and the point the finger at others , were not reducing output were simply shifting it around the globe
— PAD (@68PAD) August 21, 2021
Partly because we expect them to produce all our stuff.
— Dr. Bendor Grosvenor (@arthistorynews) August 21, 2021
"Nurse get me my Fisher Price Chatter Telephone I am going to give Greta Thunberg a piece of my mind. Ring ring!
— James Smith (@pramkzone) August 21, 2021
Done. She is going to stop trying to stop climate change now, well done John!
Rusk please."
The UK outsources emissions by relying on China for production. Its easy to claim we're doing our bit by getting somebody else to do our dirty work and blaming them for the consequences.
— Thomas James (@runnytom) August 21, 2021
It’s quite laughable that a Tory MP would attempt to strike a blow to Thunberg’s activism, given she’s been striking for a few years now.
