It also pays to read what the report actually said, not how headline writers interpret those words. And if any back up was needed, up popped the CCC’s Adaptation Committee with a report that confirmed what Tony Blair said was a fair assessment.

The CCC attacked the government for not spending enough on adapting to the impact of climate change – the billions of £s currently spent is not enough to stop homes flooding or people dying from heat they said. I agree and so, more importantly, does Tony Blair. He specifically made the point that voters will lose faith in net zero if they make sacrifices to reduce their carbon emissions but it has little or no global impact.

We can stop flying; eat no meat; burn no fossil fuels and rely solely on batteries to get around but if the developing world (as is their right) seek growth and increased prosperity emitting carbon in doing so, the climate will still change. Having made that sacrifice, voters in the UK will then be asked to spend more of their cash protecting the country from the adverse impact of climate change. Asking them to pay twice will not be popular, pity the CCC forgot to mention that bit. But Tony Blair did and that carries more weight I would argue, mostly because his political antennae are rarely off.

But back to the Blair paper. What he said about the political debate was also highly relevant to the UK. Questioning how net zero is to be achieved should never become part of some culture war. Challenging policy should be encouraged. That way we might arrive at a better outcome than if we are too scared to tell the emperor he has no clothes on. Tony Blair has opened up a route to have that debate, let’s use it wisely.