The Worm in the Rose
Net Zero agenda hands geopolitical control to China
New paper examines China and Western energy security and argues that Beijing is using climate concern to undermine us
‘Hide a knife behind a smile’ is an old Chinese stratagem that explains Xi Jinping’s cynical use of the ‘Net Zero’ agenda to encourage us to self-harm.
An important new paper warns that the ‘Green Growth’ and ‘Net Zero’ policies being championed by the UK before COP26 risk handing geopolitical control to China. The paper, by Gwythian Prins, emeritus research professor at the London School of Economics, who has been involved with climate and energy issues for decades, is published today by Net Zero Watch. Professor Prins explains that the West’s decarbonisation plans are doomed to failure because they attempt to defy the laws of thermodynamics:
The story of civilisation is the story of mankind’s shift from diffuse, high-entropy fuels to concentrated, low-entropy ones. Net zero means trying to do precisely the opposite. Seen in this light, it is clear that Net Zero will fail, and in fact we can already see that it is failing.
But Professor Prins warns that the economic and military weakness that is being built in by the futile attempt to ‘decarbonise’ is a gift to the Chinese communists. He displays the evidence that Beijing has no intention of adopting the ‘green’ agenda. His paper deduces President Xi’s ‘green’ strategy, and shows how environmentalism in the west is facilitating his efforts. Professor Prins said:
We need to wake up. Xi Jinping’s strategy is one of ‘ghost attacks’ in a ‘grey war’, in which Free World ‘net zero’ obsessions have become one of his sharpest weapons. He is quite happy to indulge our fantasies.
But it doesn’t have to be like this. The paper ends by describing a Golden Bridge strategy – one which might lead to a high-energy, clean-energy, ‘China proof’ and economically prosperous future for the Free World.
Professor Prins’ paper is entitled The Worm in the Rose, and is published today by Net Zero Watch. It can be downloaded here.
The Worm in the Rose
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Notes
The paper identifies six key fallacies that have led the energy policy debate astray:
Fallacy One: There is a ‘green’ energy transition
Fallacy Two: Energy is like other commodities
Fallacy Three: Energy efficiency will bring nett reductions
Fallacy Four: Renewables are cheaper than fossil fuels
Fallacy Five: You can legislate around the laws of thermodynamics
Fallacy Six: The UK has shown world-leading decarbonisation
It goes on to look at the strategic importance of motive power and the futility of battery electric vehicles, the threat of Chinese dominance, and then spells out thermodynamically and economically competent alternative approaches to a future of clean and abundant energy for all.