Net zero crusade is futile without China
Just weeks before the Cop26 climate summit in Glasgow, China yesterday announced plans to build dozens more coal-fired power stations. If Boris Johnson was looking to the world’s worst polluter to join his zero-carbon crusade then he looked in vain. While the UK runs down its coal production, other countries are increasing theirs. EU nations such as Germany still rely heavily on the fuel, even while the bloc lectures the rest of the world to end their dependence. China produces half the world’s coal and its commitment to running down the industry is essential to meeting any of the global targets for CO2 reduction. The UK points to its own success in this regard and yet imports both carbonbased fuels like gas and goods from high-polluting countries, thereby “offshoring” its own emissions.
The Europeans are increasingly beholden to Russia for their power. France, with little in the way of carbon fuel reserves, has invested heavily in nuclear power and this week announced a new generation of small modular reactors.
The UK’S contribution to world decarbonisation is minuscule in the great scheme of things, yet the zero-carbon mandates, taxes and levies will cause serious domestic price and supply issues this winter and beyond. Not only does this put us at a significant competitive disadvantage to countries that have managed their energy policy better but it will make no difference at all to global warming if countries such as China and India take no action.
Hopes that Xi Jinping would attend the summit now seem unlikely to be realised, although Beijing has made one concession by pledging not to finance any new coal-fired power stations abroad. But it is now hinting that it will reconsider its timetable for reducing emissions following widespread blackouts and supply problems.
Mr Johnson has invested a great deal of political capital in making the Glasgow summit a success after the failure of previous gatherings to fulfil the ambitions set out in advance. Instead of spending so much time, effort and money on decarbonisation, the time has come to start preparing for the consequences of warming, as the head of the Environment Agency said yesterday.
Emma Howard Boyd said developing resilience to the already inevitable effects of climate change was just as important as actions to cut greenhouse gases. It was a case of “adapt or die”. The Government needs to take this seriously.