On this day Thirty seven years ago, April 25,
Yesterday [April 25, 1989] Mr Tony Blair, Labour’s energy spokesman, went on the attack with a letter to the Prime Minister, challenging what he termed the “miserable record” of Mr Cecil Parkinson, the Energy Secretary, on energy conservation.
Hunt, J. 1989. Greenhouse Effect Warms Tempers. Financial Times, April 26, Pg. 10
The amount of carbon dioxide in the air was roughly 353ppm. As of 2026 it is 428ppm, but check here for daily measures.
The broader context was that UK politicians had been aware of the climate issue for (at least) ten years by now. The smart ones, that is. So, quite a small minority.
The specific context was that in September 1988 Margaret Thatcher had conducted one of her u-turns and declared carbon dioxide build-up a problem worth turning into an issue. People had tried to take her at her word, and she had revealed herself to be what she always was.
Anyway, on the day April 25, 1989, she had held a full-day seminar, with various technical experts from ETSU etc, briefing her and her Cabinet colleagues (including several who couldn’t be bothered to stay awake – literally).
What I think we can learn from this is that Blair was trying to get an attack line out there for journalists who were writing about Thatcher’s seminar, so they could quote him for “balance.”
What happened next: Blair? Don’t know. Faded into obscurity. Or so about a million Iraqis would have wished…
See also
May 9, 1989- Tony Blair says market forces can’t fix the greenhouse effect…
June 1, 1989 – Tony Blair versus carbon pricing
Also on this day
April 25, 1989 – The Greenhouse Effect – is the world dying? (Why yes, yes it is)
April 25, 1969 – Keeling says pressured not to talk bluntly about “what is to be done?”
April 25th, 1974 – Swedish prime minister briefed on carbon dioxide build-up
April 25, 1996 – Greenpeace slams Australian government on #climate obstructionism