One of the major stories on this morning’s Today Programme was the weather. We are, apparently, experiencing the coldest winter for at least ten, or even thirteen, years and the heaviest snowfall for eighteen years. We also know that global temperatures have not risen for the last 10 years – indeed they have been falling for the last two. Of course, there is evidence that some parts of the globe may still be warming – but selective geographical data is not by its very definition global. And yet, amongst stories of heavy snowfalls and more to come, the Today Programme still managed to include a story on the global warming effects of fridges just to remind us that we are still wrecking the planet unless we change our wicked ways. The story was introduced and presented without the slightest hint of irony – such is the compelling power of propaganda.
As I have discussed in my previous posts, I believe that man-made global warming is a huge con, propelled by clever propagandists who don the green cloak of environmentalism to wreck freedoms and control people’s lives. Jonathon Porritt’s latest outburst that couples who have more than two children are “irresponsible” because of the burdens on the environment was extraordinary and yet very telling. It told us everything about the totalitarian, bullying intolerance and arrogance of the “greens” and their ruthless and sinister determination to interfere in people’s most personal decisions.
But I am not the only one who believes man-made global warming is a huge con. Far from it. The majority of British people are sceptical as well and see green taxes as a cynical way to raise revenue. If more people were aware of the costs of “green policies” in their electricity bills, I suspect they would be shocked – if not very angry.
There is, too, a drip, drip, drip of absurd “green” stories which irritate and inconvenience – whether they are about the futility (if not counter-productiveness) of recycling, the demise of 100w bulbs, cutting meat consumption in hospital menus and so on.
But it is not just these absurdities that worry me. My main worry is the "green" burden on the economy and the distortion in economic policy making that is now endemic. Last week’s car rescue package was not just notable for its complete failure to inspire, but for the fact that any would-be loans to the car companies (some noted for their production of gas guzzlers) were to be linked to “green policies”. Increasingly any aid and guidance to businesses from Government will be low CO2, green-compliant, irrespective of any other merits of the case.
And as the economy staggers through its worst downturn for nearly 30 years, much will be made of how the development of “green-collar jobs” will renew our manufacturing base and lead the economy to new fields of prosperity. This is, sadly, all too likely to be wishful thinking as we generally do not have the technology or the manufacturing capacity required for such a “green revolution”. Nuclear technology (which in the green lexicon does not even count as “green”) is dominated by the French; wind technology, biomass, solar technology is dominated by the Germans and Carbon Capture and Storage (probably 10-15 years away commercially) is also dominated by the Germans. Electric vehicle and hydrogen fuel cell technologies are dominated by the US, Germany and Japan - and are in any case estimated to be around 20-30 years away commercially. We really must not fantasise. And in the meantime the increasing burdens of “green” electricity costs will drive our energy intensive industries, including steel and chemicals, offshore.
It’s madness.
