Net zero quest puts us at risk

Of all the damaging campaigns afflicting us perhaps the worst is the obsession of the chattering classes with net zero emissions.

Most of the other absurdities of the woke could be easily reversed by any sensible government, as Acts of Parliament can be repealed and fanatics removed from influential positions, but reversing the physical effects of pursuing policies based on a

theory of climate change would require a great deal of time and money.

Even if one were to accept that socalled greenhouse gases are the prime driver of global climate change, which is by no means certain, despite the assertions of those such as the BBC that the science is settled, this country is responsible for only about 1% of emissions.

Statistical surveys show that China produces 30.7%, India 7.6% and Russia 4%, while even countries such as Iran, Indonesia and Turkey pump out more than the UK. The most prolific are not making any attempt to reduce these figures, indeed are still building fossil fuel power stations at an accelerated rate.

New official statistics confirm UK has cut emissions by 50% between 1990 and 2022, and the UK is the first major economy to halve its emissions, while also growing its economy by 79%, yet this is not enough for the zealots of Just Stop Oil, who continue to block roads, attack works of art, and generally cause trouble, but not of course for those countries which are the major emitters.

We are sacrificing our industrial base and putting future energy supplies at great risk, thanks to politicians of all the main parties demanding further reduction of our production of such gases.

No doubt when the inevitable power cuts take place, hospitals cannot function, old people die in unheated homes and wealthcreating industries collapse, the vociferous activists now shouting for zero carbon will blame

everyone except themselves.

A rational policy of allowing scientific advances to generate better means of power generation over a reasonable time could avoid all these dangers but setting ludicrously short targets for achieving low carbon production proves once again that the road to hell is paved with good intentions. Colin Bullen