How much longer can Tony Blair take the heat?

Environmentalists who have been battling for years to get Climate Change on the agenda, can hardly believe their eyes as hardly a day goes by without a climate story in the media these days. But it's not the environmentlists who are sounding the alarm bells this time, it's everybody from former American Vice President Al Gore here in the UK last week, to the leaders of thirteen of our biggest companies lobbying Tony Blair for some action - even the mighty Lloyds of London warned the insurance industry to get a grip on climate issues this week or risk extinction.

The threat of Climate Change is now well recognised, but the business community in the UK can clearly see the opportunities a green revolution can offer; we already have most of the solutions and the technology ready to be rolled out, and the UK is world renowned for innovation and even leadership. Ah yes, leadership.

Those thirteen business leaders will be pressing the Prime Minister to show some leadership this week. He would do well to listen carefully. As I joined the standing ovation at the end of Al Gore's passionate climate speech at Hay last week, I'm sure I was not the only person in that packed marquee to think that it should have been Tony Blair on that stage instead.
He could do it - he must do it, instead the world seems to be passing him by as he becomes increasingly bogged down and embattled by domestic matters. I remember a Tony Blair who used to be unstoppable when he was on a mission and had the wind in his sails, he could sweep away almost any obstacles in his path; he needs to understand that today's climate issues are unstoppable and the best position for him, and the hundreds of businesses in this country poised and ready for the new green revolution, is leading the charge from the front.