Green leader urges response, taxes fuel for fire helicopters

Green Party leader Zack Polanski has called on the government to launch a full-scale emergency response to the climate crisis, which he described as the biggest threat to the country since the Second World War. Speaking at events in London on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, Polanski accused Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s government of a “dereliction of duty” for its handling of recent extreme heat, wildfires, and drought conditions.

Polanski outlined a series of immediate policy demands, arguing that the record-breaking temperatures and wildfires seen this summer pose a direct threat to public health, food security, and water supplies. He stated that nearly 3,000 people have died from the effects of extreme heat this summer and that hundreds have been evacuated due to wildfires. He called for the creation of freely accessible “cool spaces” in every local area and financial support for households to heat-proof their homes.

A central part of his proposal is a new wildfire prevention strategy. Polanski said this must include providing fire and rescue services with direct access to firefighting helicopters, a capability currently lacking in England. He argued this should be funded by...