Q&A with Caroline Lucas MEP

I conducted a quick question and answer session with Caroline Lucas, the Green MEP and expert on climate change. She is appearing this afternoon at the G8 Alternatives session on the environment.

Q. Are you worried, with the focus on Africa - most notably yesterday at the Live 8 events - that climate change could become the Cinderella of this Gleneagles summit?

A. Absolutely. Yes. When you look at the leaked communiqués so far, the lack of progress would be laughable if it were not so serious. We need realistic timetables for action, deeds not words, yet the US government is blocking everything, even an acknowledgement of the basic science of climate change. So I think Tony Blair and Gordon Brown are happy to let the focus be on aid and debt, and present the US as the scapegoat on climate change.