Tory MPs and peers in the Net Zero Scrutiny Group (NZSG) have gained widespread media coverage in the past month, attempting to link the government’s net zero agenda to the cost-of-living crisis and calling for cuts to green taxes and an increase of fossil fuel production. Some members claim the government’s plans to reach net zero emissions by 2050 have been dreamed up by out-of-touch elites and would impoverish working people, “making them colder and poorer”. The 19 Conservatives confirmed to be in the group say they do not dispute climate science or the need to decarbonise. Two leading members have links to an organisation, often described as “climate-sceptic”, that was founded by the long-term climate denier Nigel Lawson. The group’s chair, the MP Craig Mackinlay, has also been accused by a leading climate institute of using misleading and inaccurate information.
Michael Mann, one of the world’s leading authorities on the climate and author of The New Climate War, said the group appeared to be attempting to drag climate policies into a culture war, which he described as a “dangerous new tactic being used by those opposed to addressing the ecological emergency”. “This is where the frontline of the battle is now, and yes, we do have to push back fiercely on this sort of pernicious disinformation,” he told the Guardian.
Tory MPs involved in the Net Zero Scrutiny Group include the Brexit campaigner Steve Baker; the former work and pensions secretary Esther McVey; Robert Halfon, a former schools minister; and Peter Lilley. There are also several “red wall” MPs elected in 2019.
It's a rebranding of 'Global Warming Policy Foundation'. Their climate change denier arguments being totally discredited, they now fight against the response. Pretty sad really.
Climate change denial is something the right is much better at. However the greens in Germany seemed very keen to get rid of nuclear which resulted in the Huns becoming more dependent on Russian gas. You have to wonder if there is still influence by Russian military intelligence on the German green/left movements carrying over from East Germany.
There was also the crazy situation in New Zealand where the greens opposed small hydro projects but had no problem with gas. Less obvious but still in the end acting against the climate and for big gas producers.
It looks like they might have infiltrated the UCL Energy Institute as well. I've just booked for this webinar which sounds as if it is praising the Blue economy as a way of going Green which is one of the tactics being used by the fossil fuel industry. Register here. You might have to change my registration details though.
Can’t go green without blue - Professor Catalina Spataru's Inaugural Lecture
Description:- UCL Energy Institute will be hosting the inaugural lecture of Professor Catalina Spataru online in March 2022, looking at the intersections of the green and blue economy models.
The number of challenges our societies have to address on land and ocean is often overwhelming: climate change; energy provision; fuel poverty; sea level rise and its impact on coastal areas are all global challenges; as well as transition to a ‘green’ economy that is low in carbon, socially inclusive and resource efficient, highly interconnected and at a global scale. Policies are increasingly cross-cutting, covering different sectors and stakeholders within different networks and levels.
Tackling these global challenges requires tools capable of ensuring dialogue between stakeholders, to better understand trade-offs between sectors, resource use, the impact of coupling different types of systems with different behaviour dynamics. This will help design better policies and more efficient provision of public services.
This talk highlights the need for green blue economy as yin and yang. Catalina will be discussing her approach to complex problems, including how the blue economy contributes to climate change mitigation by developing offshore renewable energy, developing floating energy systems to power islands and coastal areas when disasters strike and support their transition to a green economy. Catalina will show how islands and coastal areas remain at the forefront of climate change, as well as the importance of ‘green’ agenda and how the contribution of the ‘blue’ economy to its agenda provides opportunities for businesses and communities to bridge the governance gaps and capture growth opportunities in different sectors.
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