After Decades Of Climate Catastrophizing, Reality Hits Europe
Beginning decades ago, Europe went wholeheartedly into “net zero carbon by 2050” by implementing carbon reduction policies that eventually raised prices dramatically, putting more residents into energy poverty and causing industry to flee to areas where they could remain competitive. The United States under President Biden’s leadership is following in those footsteps at a rapid pace through legislative initiatives (e.g. the Inflation Reduction Act) and regulatory action such as EPA’s power plant rule and efficiency standards for vehicles which are forcing electric vehicles on the American public. But, now that the Europeans are starting to see the impact of their net zero carbon policies and people are rebelling in the streets of Paris and farmers on the roads in the Netherlands, European lawmakers are starting to say “whoa.” But, not the Biden administration.
The Beginnings
The European Union has been at the forefront of the fight against the energy sources which enabled their wealth and the climate change they insist is linked, but it is now under pressure to pause new environmental efforts amid fears they will hurt the economy. Some leaders and lawmakers are concerned about antagonizing workers with new binding legislation and restrictive measures and are urging the 27-nation bloc to hit the brakes. The European Union (EU) had adopted a wide range of measures, from reducing energy consumption to sharply cutting transport emissions and reforming the EU’s trading system for greenhouse gases. French President Macron even suggested people were facing “the end of abundance.”
Current Issues
Earlier this year, however, Germany delayed a deal to ban internal combustion engines in the EU by 2035 due to disagreements within its economy. The auto industry in Germany employs about 786,000 people. Last fall, Germany had signed an EU target to ban the sale of internal combustion engine cars by 2035, but the country opposed the idea earlier this year, along with Italy, Poland, and the Czech Republic. Germany’s transport minister is asking what the point is in pushing electric vehicles if the power that drives them comes from burning coal, as Germany has closed all its nuclear plants and is unable to get sufficient power from wind and solar to meet demand. Germany is tackling its reduction in natural gas supplies from Russia by re-opening coal mines. In one case, a wind farm is being removed to dig for lignite. In March, EU reached an agreement to allow internal combustion engine vehicles to be powered by synthetic fuels manufactured from hydrogen and carbon dioxide, but these fuels are considerably more expensive than gasoline and their availability is limited.
https://www.americanenergyalliance.org/2023/06/after-decades-of-climate-catastrophizing-reality-hits-europe/
