Net Zero Watch Samizdat: Britain reaches “break glass” point for energy and industry

UK

John Bew: we are almost at “break glass moment” for energy and industrial policy

The respected historian, John Bew, has warned that Britain is nearing a “break glass moment” across domestic policy, including energy. A former adviser to four successive UK prime ministers, including Keir Starmer, Bew argues we must urgently rebuild the foundations of national hard power. He has said the world order is changing and Britain must abandon the Davos consensus. 

Miliband launches new £15bn energy efficiency plan

Solar panels will be fitted on all new houses and heat pumps installed in nearly half a million homes every year under sweeping plans unveiled by Ed Miliband. The Energy Secretary on Wednesday launched a £15bn green energy plan to fit solar panels, heat pumps, insulation and double glazing to five million homes for people on low incomes – all at taxpayers’ expense.

Writing in The Spectator, Ross Clark describes it as good news for “cowboy builders”. 

UK car industry faces sharp decline

The UK's car industry could face a sharp decline unless ministers urgently change course on electric vehicle rules, a major new report has warned. Government policy has been driving investment out of Britain and putting hundreds of thousands of jobs at risk across the automotive sector, with UK vehicle production having fallen by more than a third over the past decade. One major barrier highlighted is Britain's sky-high industrial electricity costs, which the report authors described as a "fundamental obstacle" to investment.

Dale Vince pulls plug on electric airline

A leading Labour donor has pulled the plug on plans to launch the world’s first all-electric airline. Dale Vince’s Ecojet is being wound up after the net zero tycoon withdrew all investment from the project, which had promised to become the “flag carrier for green Britain”.

International

Carney calls time on COP

Canada’s Mark Carney told Davos that the multilateral order is weakening, and that middle powers can no longer rely on institutions like the WTO, the UN, and the COP process. He argued countries must build greater strategic autonomy in energy, food, critical minerals, finance, and supply chains, warning that a “world of fortresses” will be poorer, more fragile, and “less sustainable”.

Wright: Britain must reverse Net Zero

Britain and Europe should reverse their net zero policies and buy more American gas, Donald Trump’s energy secretary has said. Chris Wright said Britain’s push to ramp up renewables and shut down fossil fuels was driving up energy costs and sending British industry offshore.

Etcetera…

Maurice was on Talk TV to discuss Andrew Bailey’s warnings about Net Zero and its effects on growth. He also discussed the government’s £15bn Warm Homes Plan and Chris Wright’s callsfor Britain to ditch Net Zero.

READ: Rupert Darwall has published an excellent paper for the Prosperity Institute that sets out how the Conservatives and Reform can get to the right answer on energy, and gives supporters, funders, and media commentators a clear benchmark for judging whether they are serious. Rupert talks about his paper here.

READ: Andrew Neil writes for the Mail Online about the madness of Ed Miliband’s AR7 plans.

RSVP: Net Zero Watch is hosting “Net Zero & Freedom” on Thursday 19 February at The Penn Club (New York), with Andrew Montford, Steve Baker, and Dr John Constable. Space is limited and the discussion will examine how Net Zero’s top down mandates and central planning are undermining freedom and prosperity.

From the blog

FRI, JAN 9
The antics of the climate clique

The Energy Security and Net Zero select committee is currently holding an inquiry entitled “Supporting the energy transition”. It’s very much what you might expect – panel after panel of prominent Read More 

The London-based Net Zero Watch is a campaign group set up to highlight and discuss the serious implications of expensive and poorly considered climate change policies. The Net Zero Samizdat is a newsletter summarising the latest issues - for more information, please visit the website at www.netzerowatch.com.