Andrew L. Urban
The overreach typical of the left (Trump is Hitler, the planet is burning) is in contrast to the growing retreat on climate alarm, with previous alarmist champions backing off the doomsaying. And now the Nationals have dumped net zero. It’s enough to make Chris Bowen choke on his breakfast hubris.
Political leaders Tony Abbot and Donald Trump were always cool on climate hysteria, but now some former leaders in politics and business are echoing what many others have been saying for years: do not fear a climate apocalypse because there is not one coming.
Other than the Nationals, the latest and most potent convert to climate sanity is Bill Gates, Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist, who made a notable shift in October 2025, moving away from his earlier warnings of climate “disaster” to caution against “doomsday” narratives. In a memo titled “A New Approach for the World’s Climate Strategy,” he argued that climate change “will not lead to humanity’s demise” and urged focusing on human welfare—like preventing disease and hunger—over solely curbing emissions. Gates criticized alarmism for potentially diverting resources, stating: “People will be able to live and thrive” despite warming, and called for philanthropists to prioritize broader global health investments. He emphasized that strategies should prioritize improving lives “even more than temperatures or greenhouse gas levels,” drawing backlash from those who fear it downplays urgency. Yes it does, thank goodness.
Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair has recently critiqued what he sees as overly rigid and unrealistic approaches to climate policy, arguing for a more pragmatic “reset” that avoids short-term fossil fuel phase-outs. In April 2025, he stated that “any strategy based on either ‘phasing out’ fossil fuels in the short term or limiting consumption is a strategy doomed to fail.” He described current net zero efforts as “irrational” and “doomed to fail,” emphasizing the need to balance environmental goals with economic realities and continued fossil fuel use to meet energy demands. Blair’s comments, published through the Tony Blair Institute.
Another former UK Prime Minister, Boris Johnson has a history of expressing scepticism toward climate alarmism, particularly in his pre-2019 writings as a journalist and mayor. While he later shifted toward supporting action (e.g., hosting COP26), his earlier statements often downplayed links between weather events and human-caused warming. Key examples include:
- In December 2015, responding to unusually warm UK winter weather, he wrote: “We may all be sweating in the winter air, but remember, we humans have always put ourselves at the centre of cosmic events… that fear – as far as I understand the science – is equally without foundation. There may be all kinds of reasons why I was sweating… but they don’t include global warming.”
- Shortly after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, he claimed it “had nothing to do with global warming” and added: “There is no evidence that the planet is suffering from the extreme weather patterns associated with climate change.”
- In January 2013, he questioned the term “climate warming” amid cold snaps, saying: “I observe that something appears to be up with our winter weather, and to call it ‘warming’ is obviously to strain the language.”
In a recent interview featured in the book How Not to Be a Politician by Rory Stewart and Alastair Campbell (published in October 2025), Johnson reflected critically on his government’s aggressive push for net zero emissions. He admitted to moving too quickly and being overly optimistic about the feasibility of renewables replacing fossil fuels.
The key quote is: “I think net zero, we went far too fast. And I’ve got to be honest about that, I got carried away by the idea that sustainable and renewable forms of energy could fill the gap.”
In the book, Johnson expressed regret over the pace, citing energy security challenges (e.g., post-Ukraine invasion reliance on imports) and economic pressures. He warned against fully abandoning net zero but advocated for a more pragmatic approach, balancing environmental goals with affordable energy.
Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro rejecting climate alarmism held that “There is no climate change catastrophe,” (via his foreign minister, aligning with his views)
These high profile figures are adding louder voices to the voices of the unalarmed and gradually wearing down the level of public fear and in turn disarming the alarmists.
As much of the world chips away at the net zero target, we can hope to see a gradual decline in alarmist manifestations as they whimper into silence. But Greta Thunberg will no doubt catch a ride on the next ‘crisis’ in vogue.
Andrew L. Urban is the author Climate Alarm Reality Check (Wilkinson Publishing).