Nothingburger speech by Sunak. Total waste of space. He pretends that he is walking the 'right path' between two extremes: those who want to scrap Net Zero and those who want to go harder and faster towards Net Zero. Net Zero IS an extreme political agenda to unilaterally (and thus completely ineffectively considering the major polluters are not 'following our lead') address a 'climate emergency' basically invented by the Guardian editorial team in 2018! You CANNOT pretend to be a 'go slow with democratic consent on my side' moderate when you are STILL intending to impose an extreme, unachievable, economically and socially destructive, physically impossible and completely unnecessary political agenda!
They can get to Net Zero by 2050 very simply. Just officially declare all "renewable energy" carbon neutral as they already do even though it is not, not even close. Declare all property confiscated or stolen by billionaires as natural "carbon sinks" that are given credit for the total biomass of that land. Come up with a dozen or so scams that can be officially declared carbon neutral or carbon negative and there you go, Net Zero is achieved. Meanwhile CO2 level in the atmosphere continues to rise at the same pace as before Net Zero. Funny how that happens.
I'm dubious about the value of a referendum. Recent polls have shown substantial support for Net Zero - until respondents consider its impact on their lives and wellbeing when support largely disappears. So much would depend on the wording of the referendum - and it would be easy to get it wrong.
I watched a BBC interview of Skidmore when the interviewer said something like “didn’t it make your heart sink when you heard this news?”. However, as I have predicted, Sunak will not cancel Net Zero as that decision is above his pay grade.
I have grave fears that, if we were to have a referendum about the CCA, those more sensible who are against this nonsense, would lose. The Green Blob has many weapons with which to frighten the people who are less informed into submission. Not only the children under 25 but many older people too.
Having lost Brexit the establishment would be sure to do a better job of getting the result they wanted. Besides, net zero remains for most a nebulous and distant prospect. Sunak's announcements aim to keep it that way rather than allowing in your face problems to cause rising opposition. The attacks on rented property have already started to create a shortage and rising rents as landlords withdraw.
Effort needs to concentrate on measures that have more immediate impacts. The degree of pushback against ULEZ doubtless shocked the establishment. Perhaps the same is happening over Welsh 20mph limits, although Brighton has been living with it for a long time in a state of general green decay.
Nothingburger speech by Sunak. Total waste of space. He pretends that he is walking the 'right path' between two extremes: those who want to scrap Net Zero and those who want to go harder and faster towards Net Zero. Net Zero IS an extreme political agenda to unilaterally (and thus completely ineffectively considering the major polluters are not 'following our lead') address a 'climate emergency' basically invented by the Guardian editorial team in 2018! You CANNOT pretend to be a 'go slow with democratic consent on my side' moderate when you are STILL intending to impose an extreme, unachievable, economically and socially destructive, physically impossible and completely unnecessary political agenda!
Sunak's steps are always small...
There is perhaps some nod to reality in this statement. Which is welcome.
However, it is still just tinkering around the edges when Net Zero by 2050 (& associated carbon budgets) remains enshrined in UK law.
Politicians, will no doubt, keep clinging on to that particular target for a long time until energy reality becomes very obviously apparent.
They can get to Net Zero by 2050 very simply. Just officially declare all "renewable energy" carbon neutral as they already do even though it is not, not even close. Declare all property confiscated or stolen by billionaires as natural "carbon sinks" that are given credit for the total biomass of that land. Come up with a dozen or so scams that can be officially declared carbon neutral or carbon negative and there you go, Net Zero is achieved. Meanwhile CO2 level in the atmosphere continues to rise at the same pace as before Net Zero. Funny how that happens.
An important article. You may be interested to see the comments here: https://cliscep.com/2023/07/15/draft-note-for-bim/#comment-146557 and here: https://cliscep.com/2023/09/20/sunak-blinks/#comment-146591
I'm dubious about the value of a referendum. Recent polls have shown substantial support for Net Zero - until respondents consider its impact on their lives and wellbeing when support largely disappears. So much would depend on the wording of the referendum - and it would be easy to get it wrong.
I watched a BBC interview of Skidmore when the interviewer said something like “didn’t it make your heart sink when you heard this news?”. However, as I have predicted, Sunak will not cancel Net Zero as that decision is above his pay grade.
Net Zero Watch have a good press release on this: https://mailchi.mp/thegwpf/sunak-breaks-the-net-zero-consensus-198736?e=69a42f046a.
I have grave fears that, if we were to have a referendum about the CCA, those more sensible who are against this nonsense, would lose. The Green Blob has many weapons with which to frighten the people who are less informed into submission. Not only the children under 25 but many older people too.
Having lost Brexit the establishment would be sure to do a better job of getting the result they wanted. Besides, net zero remains for most a nebulous and distant prospect. Sunak's announcements aim to keep it that way rather than allowing in your face problems to cause rising opposition. The attacks on rented property have already started to create a shortage and rising rents as landlords withdraw.
Effort needs to concentrate on measures that have more immediate impacts. The degree of pushback against ULEZ doubtless shocked the establishment. Perhaps the same is happening over Welsh 20mph limits, although Brighton has been living with it for a long time in a state of general green decay.
Fully agree with you. It would be all about how the question is framed