# Fight the climate crisis or go for growth? There is a way Burnham can do both | Jonathan Freedland

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/fight-the-climate-crisis-or-go-for-growth-there-is-a-way-burnham-can-do-both-jonathan-freedland/
- Published: 2026-11-13T17:10:23+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-13T18:52:47+00:00
- Original publisher: The Guardian (publisher lean: Left)
- Original article: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/nov/13/fight-climate-crisis-growth-andy-burnham-economic-leaders
- Topics: Climate, Politics, Science

## Key points

- Burnham is urged to pair climate action with economic growth.
- UK climate promises face scrutiny over fossil fuel and airport plans.
- Cutting demand for oil and gas is presented as the key route.

## Summary

The article argues that Andy Burnham faces pressure to reconcile climate action with economic growth and affordability, but need not treat them as opposing goals. After promising stronger British climate leadership at the Cop summit, his government’s support for new fossil fuel infrastructure and a possible Heathrow expansion has drawn accusations of hypocrisy and weakened campaigners’ trust.

The piece proposes combining pragmatism with more ambitious efforts to cut demand for fossil fuels. It says renewables and electric vehicles are already reducing demand: just under half of new cars registered in the UK last month were fully electric or plug-in hybrids. The approved Jackdaw gasfield is described as relatively small, with an expected lifespan of about 10 years, while the article says the much larger proposed Rosebank oilfield would be harder to defend. The supplied text ends before the argument is complete.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.