Campaigners have written to broadcasters expressing concern that climate is not a more prominent discussion topic.
Green groups insist that the climate crisis must be a key priority in the TV debates between Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer.
Several NGOs have sent letters to the TV networks set to host the live debates, with the first one scheduled for Tuesday at 9pm on ITV.
“Support for climate action remains overwhelmingly high among all demographics of the UK public,” the letter states. “As broadcasters, you have a duty to ensure that general election coverage reflects the public’s desire to see strong and serious leadership on climate and nature recovery – and a genuine debate about the solutions.”
The campaigners requested a thorough examination of the subject in the context of the campaign. “We ask you to make a commitment to ensure that the main parties’ plans to meet our legal climate and nature targets are properly examined during the course of this campaign and communicated to the public,” the groups wrote.
Green campaigners are concerned that climate issues are not more prominently discussed as parties gear up for the vote on 4 July.
Hirra Khan Adeogun, co-director of the climate charity Possible, which coordinated the letter, said: “Where is the climate in this election? It’s a top five issue for the public, but you wouldn’t think it when you listen to our party leaders. We need our leading broadcasters to get the campaigns away from gaffes and infighting and onto the real issues. Climate solutions can bring down bills, improve quality of life, and unite the country – so let’s have a conversation about it.”
During the 2019 election campaign, Channel 4 hosted an hour-long climate debate among the leaders of all the UK’s main parties. Boris Johnson, who was then prime minister and bidding for re-election, failed to turn up, and his place was taken by a large, slowly melting lump of ice.
Nigel Farage was the only other political leader to skip the 2019 debate, which featured Jeremy Corbyn of Labour, Jo Swinson of the Liberal Democrats, Nicola Sturgeon of the Scottish National Party, Sian Berry of the Green Party, and Adam Price of Plaid Cymru.
Smaller parties are already concerned that they are being squeezed out of broadcasting coverage in this election. The first debate is scheduled to be a head-to-head between Sunak and Starmer, similar to US presidential election debates. A high court ruling in 2019 found that broadcasters would not breach their impartiality rules by structuring the debates in this manner.
The civil society groups that signed the letter, sent to broadcasters on Friday, include Possible, Green Alliance, WWF, Greenpeace UK, the RSPB, the National Trust, the Wildlife Trusts, Hope for the Future, the Climate Coalition, and Wildlife and Countryside Link.
A BBC spokesperson responded: “More than ever before, the BBC is putting audiences at the centre of our election coverage. We will ask the questions they want us to ask and report on the issues that matter most to them.
“We are committed to covering a range of topics across the breadth of our output, including the environment and climate, and will provide analysis of each party’s plans should they be elected. Furthermore, it’s not uncommon for campaigners to seek further coverage for the causes they champion.”
The letter was sent to the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Sky, and Global.
