The Shadow Empire strikes hard

It’s been a busy few weeks for populist influencers, especially those whose mission is crude debunking of environmental policies. Presumably some of them will have at least got rich in the process; it’d be odd to think they do all these harmful things for no reason at all.

This month has seen a big two-fold campaign, attacking the science behind man-made climate change and convincing impressionable people that “15-minute cities” are some sinister plot by non-existent forces to compel them to remain within their part of a city, with massive surveillance to ensure compliance.

As most of the victims seem to function on the more raucous social media platforms, maybe before joining the rest of the flock in bleating either “climate-change is a myth, baaa” or “climate-change is entirely natural, baaa” they could take a look around the site at some of the wild weather that is actually happening around the planet. It’s there for them if they can find the courage.

Or maybe they could remind themselves that a 15-minute city is merely an approach which tries to ensure all the necessary facilities city dwellers need are available within a 15-minute walk, bike ride or public transport ride. It involves beneficial things like pedestrian-friendly streets, mixed-use development and traffic management.

All these things have been pursued by sensible municipalities across the world for decades. Some have had great success (mostly outside the UK). A 15-minute city is not an absolute thing and can’t be achieved overnight, but it can be worked towards. Key things are high-quality public transport, traffic management and protection of traditional town centres from ruinous competition from out-of-town supermarkets.

But some sinister people have been cynically conflating measures to improve our towns and cities in this way with some bizarre, Orwellian conspiracy for coercion and control. Traffic management schemes in some of our most congested historic cities have been accused of goodness knows what, as soon as the many benefits of 15-minute cities are mentioned.

It’s odd. Some of those who adhere to these falsehoods complain (correctly) that local shops are disappearing but, at the same time, bemoan any restrictions on their right to drive where they like, when they like. Yet it’s the freedom to drive long distances to big, car-dependent retailers that’s been the main factor in destroying their local shops.

Behind all this lies a genuine “Shadow Empire” – a dark and dangerous world of “think-tanks”, “foundations” and political extremists, backed with big money from oil companies and other destructive commercial operators. Some of their influencers are doubtless making loads of cash on the back of it.

But should we, however, feel sorry for the many mugs who go on social media to support their lobbying without being paid?

It’s tempting to say they deserve all they get. But everyone suffers from congested, dangerous towns and cities where motor-cars are king and public transport weak. And the terrifying Armageddon we face from climate change means these people who peddle these lies deserve a lot more than our mere contempt.

Greed and gullibility will destroy us.

Jon Reeds