Is Net Zero a poisoned chalice for governments?

Credit: Through the Looking Glass – MovieLabs

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The American title of the article here is ‘Europeans Ditch Net Zero, While Biden Clings To It’. Maybe an exaggeration as nobody has tried to ditch it entirely, even if some policy targets have been watered down, re-scheduled or even dropped (possibly). But the unreality of it all is at least beginning to make itself felt, as governments try desperately to pretend it’s all a great idea that just needs a few tweaks here and there, while ever more of their citizens feel the pain of it all.
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You know you’ve stumbled through the looking glass when European politicians start sounding saner on climate policy than Americans do, says the Wall Street Journal (via Climate Change Dispatch.

Well here we are, Alice: Europeans are admitting the folly of net zero quicker than their American peers.

The latest example—perhaps “victim” is more apt—is Humza Yousaf, who resigned this week as Scotland’s first minister.

That region within the U.K. enjoys substantial devolved powers over its own affairs, including on climate policy.

An administration led by Mr. Yousaf’s left-leaning Scottish National Party had hoped to rush ahead of the national government in London in slashing carbon emissions.

Until that is, someone noticed the costs. [Talkshop comment – and the lack of ‘progress’].

A recent report from the U.K.’s Climate Change Committee noted Scotland had fallen far behind on its climate goals.
. . .
Observe two salient details. First, the specific list of targets for the country was missing.

Scotland had reached the point where further net-zero progress would have made obvious and material demands of household budgets.

That isn’t counting the additional costs of renewable power hidden in utility bills.

Apparently in Scotland as elsewhere, voters insist that Something Must Be Done to control global temperatures until the moment some hapless soul points out that Households Will Have to Pay for It.

Which leads to the other detail. Mr. Yousaf gets bad press in Britain for his political incompetence, but give him credit for this at least: He saw trouble brewing and didn’t wait for a mass protest movement to erupt before trying to change course.

Other European politicians can’t say the same.
. . .
Mr. Yousaf’s move in Scotland is part of a race for the net-zero exits in which all major U.K. parties are participating ahead of an election expected later this year.

Full article here.
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Image: Through the Looking Glass [credit: MovieLabs]