British Government’s Chief Scientific Adviser Says No To Net-Zero Fear Messaging

Britain's Chief Scientific Adviser Patrick Vallance speaks at Downing Street on Oct. 16, 2020. Eddie Mulholland/WPA Pool/Getty Images

Sir Patrick Vallance has told a committee that “we should not aim to frighten people” into changing behaviour over climate change.

During a House of Lords committee called Mobilising action on climate change and environment: behaviour change on Tuesday, the UK’s chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance faced questions about how policy actions taken during the COVID-19 crisis could support the government in meeting its 2050 net-zero goal.

Fear Not Necessary for Climate

“It’s important that the messaging [on climate change] isn’t designed to cause fear or upset,“ said Vallance. ”It should be about making sure people understand what the situation is.”