From the Daily Skeptic
by Will Jones
Jeremy Warner says in Net Zero that the UK is leading the world in net zero emissions, but no one is following it, leaving the UK to commit green suicide alone. telegraph. This is an excerpt.
In China and many other “developing countries”, net zero targets appear to serve no purpose other than to reduce the role of the West. Economic growth often takes precedence over climate change goals.
The same is true in the United States, which pays lip service to net-zero emissions while celebrating its status as the world's largest oil producer; huge tax breaks for fracking go hand-in-hand with the Biden administration's hundreds of billions of dollars in a transition to green energy.
Even small, self-righteous Norway, which aims to become carbon neutral by 2030, seeks to extend the life of its North Sea oil and gas reserves well into the future through continued heavy investment incentives.
In an effort to revive economic growth, New Zealand's new centre-right government, Christopher Luxon, has completely abandoned the environmental promises of his hallowed predecessor, Jacinda Ardern.
Only in the UK, the “net-zero emissions” torch still burns brightly, with the new Labor government determined to double its emissions targets at all costs. Even Brussels has shown at least a modicum of common sense on these issues.
Today, the UK is not very much “world leading” yet, but when it comes to climate change we aim to be far ahead and have some of the toughest regulatory requirements in the world.
“Brilliant, lads,” Energy Secretary Ed Miliband shouted with the righteous confidence of a crusader, only to look back and see no one was following. There is little first-mover advantage in this game, only the inevitability of being crushed in the charge.
More than a month since taking office, the new administration has further strengthened an already challenging clean energy transition timeline. The move effectively signs a death warrant for the North Sea oil and gas industry, putting tens of thousands of jobs at risk, destroying a once lucrative source of tax revenue and threatening to create another gaping hole in the balance of payments.
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