The cost of trying to make an unmeasureably small difference to the climate by demonising the essential trace gas carbon dioxide is unknown, but vast. Nevertheless most of the UK’s elected politicians regularly vote for almost anything suggested as necessary to help towards the ludicrous ‘net zero’ emissions target.
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Statist recommendations from the Climate Change Committee are treated like holy grail by Parliament, says The Telegraph.
The UK Climate Change Committee (CCC) this week published a report on the outcome of COP26, predictably calling for government to “walk the talk” and implement policies that will deliver net zero by 2050.
True to form, the CCC is acting like an eco-activist NGO rather than offering balanced and independent advice. And, as usual, its recommendations are being treated as beyond questioning.
To grasp the scale of influence this independent advisory body now holds, look no further than Parliament’s decision in 2019 to wave through the net zero target without even a Commons vote.
In a move that one expert described as a “failure of politics,” our elected representatives bypassed the opportunity to scrutinise the policy and associated secondary legislation, because they relied on the CCC’s improbable assessment that net zero was “necessary, feasible, cost effective” and “achievable with known technologies”.
The economic analysis in the Committee’s 2019 Net Zero Report has been subsequently criticised for a lack of rigour and transparency. Detailed economic analysis on net zero pathways was absent, but the CCC nonetheless concluded the cost of achieving it by 2050 would be 1-2 per cent of GDP.
The underlying calculations weren’t published until long after the legally binding target had been legislated. But deference towards bodies like the Climate Change Committee allows government departments to introduce potentially costly or disruptive policies without taking full responsibility for their decisions – or full accountability if things go wrong.
This autumn it became starkly apparent that, with current technology, our small island can either be net zero or have secure and affordable energy. It cannot, at present, have both.
In guiding us towards very specific targets rather than planning for a range of outcomes over a lengthy period, the CCC is helping shut down the market discovery process, meaning we may never uncover the most cost-effective solutions to decarbonisation.
Continued here.
Most MPs have zero scientific training or knowledge.
This autumn it became starkly apparent that, with current technology, our small island can either be net zero or have secure and affordable energy. It cannot, at present, have both.
‘with current technology’ could be replaced by ‘with current laws of physics’.
The trouble is that politicians cannot differentiate between the laws of physics (or chemistry, or science) and laws passed by Parliament. They think they can change the world by passing a motion.
And they feel spending more money means it must make things better.
There was an attempt in one State in the USA (Idaho I think) to legislate that the value of π be set at 3 to help calculations.
Net Zero relies on 10-15 technologies chosen by some frankly mediocre at best activists and ex-politicians because they think they know how to restructure and plan the entire national economy. Net Zero is only achievable if ALL the technologies work as the CCC predict. Any sensible person looking at this strategy would say it is madness – the CCC will be extremely fortunate to have 20-30% turn out as they hope. To have all of them is virtually impossible.
This is not about politicians not understanding physics or even economics, but the real world, where it is impossible to predict even a few years into the future in the way the CCC claims to be able to. This is central planning done by children with crayons. It is not remotely serious. Yet our government treats as some divinely-provided blueprint for our long term future.
Not just that, Phoenix, it’s the notion that they can define the future. The people in 2050 couldn’t f***ing care less what the people of 2020 decide. They will live as they choose to. WE CANNOT CHOOSE THE FUTURE.
How much do the people of 1990 control your life? Pretty much not at all.
If you vote for garbage politicians you wind up with garbage policies.
The CCC supports massive biomass subsidies…
Drax is expected to profit from UK energy crisis until 2023
Company’s shares hit seven-year high after revealing plans to invest £3bn despite questions over biomass
Wed 1 Dec 2021
The company has already received billions through the scheme, including £800m last year. This is despite growing environmental concerns over biomass electricity.
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/dec/01/drax-is-expected-to-profit-from-uk-energy-crisis-until-2023-biomass