British industry asks government to rethink climate policy

Some newsbytes from Dr. Benny Peiser at the GWPF

At Last: UK Industry Demands Government Rethink On Unilateral Climate Policy

CBI logoThe Confederation of British Industry (CBI) confirmed today that it will ask government to rethink conflicts of interest between low carbon and industrial policies. The CBIs position for action on this situation is that government should seek agreement from all EU members to commit to the same carbon reductions and price increases. —The Manufacturer, 6 June 2011

The EU’s climate and energy policies are threatening the survival of the European producers of non-ferrous metals like aluminium, copper, zinc and nickel, says Robert Jan Jeekel, Director Energy & Climate Change of Eurometaux, the European Metals Association. The EU’s ‘unilateral policies’ are driving up electricity prices for European producers compared to their international competitors, he says. ‘As a result, factories are closing. This could spell the end of the production of aluminum and other non-ferrous metals in the EU.’ –Karl Beckman, European Energy Review, 6 June 2011

European airlines have warned of a damaging trade war with the US, Russia and China if Brussels pushes ahead with plans to include carriers in the emissions trading scheme next year in a move that will put fares up by €40 and cost the industry €1.1bn (£980m). –Dan Milmo, The Guardian, 5 June 2011

As green industries begin to experience “subsidy-sunset” – they are driven by subsidy, not market, conditions – the “peak” of renewable energy from wind and solar may have been reached. The fact that significant and vocal sections of the public are also speaking up and campaigning may also be another sign that the commitment to renewable energy has peaked. –Stephen Murgatroyd, Troy Media, 4 June 2011

It is the greens, not the opponents of wind farms, who are the true heirs of the 19th-century Luddites, standing in the way of an energy policy that would benefit us all – and protect our landscape. –Philip Johnson, The Daily Telegraph, 6 June 2011

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Leon Brozyna
June 7, 2011 4:59 am

Another name for the green movement … the anti-industrial revolution.

Scottish Sceptic
June 7, 2011 5:10 am

Strange as I was just blogging saying: “Carbon taxes are meeting fierce opposition as the airy fairy politics hits the reality of economic ruin.” And I was just rereading it wondering how I could justify that “feeling” and along comes this article.
Thanks!

Pull My Finger
June 7, 2011 5:10 am

Unfortunately Western Civilization seems hell bent upon Cultural and National Suicide.

Nigel Brereton
June 7, 2011 5:13 am

At long last the bubble bursts!

John Marshall
June 7, 2011 5:17 am

Perhaps the CBI would do better to get some better idea of what is actually happening to the planet not the lies shouted by the alarmists. If our government gets its way we will be back in the 19th century cold and hungry.
If we could scrap plans for all future wind farms and leave the EU we would not have a balance of payments problem.
The EU has directed that we close all coal fired power stations that do not have CCS technology (as yet completely unproved). None have. We are also directed to close some of our nuclear stations due to fears of as yet to be found and probably non existent problems. All this through the smoke and mirrors theory of GHG and climate change. Our government does not have any scientists as members so science knowledge is zero. They rely on economists like Lord Stern to help make science policy. So we get statements like-‘We must stop Climate Change’. Complete idiocy.

Jack Savage
June 7, 2011 5:26 am

Probably too little and too late. But better late than never.
(Sometimes cliches are the quickest way of expressing a sentiment!)

Alistair
June 7, 2011 5:32 am

1. The UK PM’s father-in-law reportedly earns £2.5 million/year from his windmills.
2. The wife of the deputy PM works for a Spanish windmill maker.
3. The wife of the Leader of the Opposition is a lawyer for a nuclear company.
4. Ex PM G. Brown’s brother is a publicist for a nuclear company subsidiary.
5. The number of regional politicians who, or their relatives, are Directors of green energy companies is too high to count.
6. Follow the money.

June 7, 2011 5:42 am

Like everything else it is too little, too late. The economies of Europe are a shambles and closing the barn door now is pointless. The horses have long since bolted. The question remains whether North America will be spared the madness that has wrecked the old world.

Richard S Courtney
June 7, 2011 5:49 am

CBI: Welcome to the party. But you are a bit late.
Richard

Bloke down the pub
June 7, 2011 5:50 am

When pollsters ask people for their opinion of ‘green ‘ energy, most are strongly in favour until they realise how much it is hitting them in the pocket.

Olen
June 7, 2011 5:56 am

The EU is not living up to its purpose of prosperity and security since you can have neither if your broke and can produce nothing of any worth.

GPlant
June 7, 2011 6:09 am

No, No, keep it up, EU.
In a terribly selfish way I find myself favoring the continued destruction of industry and investment in energy sources that turn off when you need them. In Europe.
Living here in the US 1) I see a trade advantage for us in the competitive market, and 2) hope that our leaders will see what happens in the EU and wisely shun the foolishness by not bringing it here. Well, any more than they already have.
I am a medieval recreationist, and enjoy recreating armor and clothing from the middle ages. It seems that the EU is also on the same track, endeavoring to transform the entire economy of Europe into a medieval economy. I can see that I am just an amateur!
GPlant

Mycroft
June 7, 2011 6:14 am

Lets hope this is the start of the wheels falling off this particular climate policy,clearly the Greens won’t be happy until we have no Industrial capacity what so ever,and we all have to walk everywhere and our farmers plough the land with arse bone of Zebra.
All goods will be grown at home, and we barter for everything, Big trouble ahead i fear.

roger
June 7, 2011 6:23 am

And in the letters section of the Daily Telegraph, just above the article by Philip Johnson, the correspondents call into question whether reports that an early spring in parts of the country were of any significance and generally poo-poo the AGW hysteria and greenies in general.
A very refreshing nod to reality from a paper which was once a reliable source of unbiased general information, although it does lean to the right!
Meanwhile, here in southern Scotland, reports by the Met Office via the BBC of the warmest spring UK wide, leave us perplexed, as our heating cuts in on a daily basis, and garden plants, including the leaves on whole stands of trees, wither from the windburn effect of relentless cold, rain bearing winds.

Sal Minella
June 7, 2011 6:49 am

LENR and CANR will save us right at the brink. Just have faith and don’t hold your breath.

Robertvdl
June 7, 2011 6:51 am

R.I.P. Europe
I know ,I’m living here. Just a matter of time.

Roger Longstaff
June 7, 2011 6:55 am

About bloody time!

Scottish Sceptic
June 7, 2011 6:56 am

I remember a film in which a Japanese navel commander is heard to say something along the lines of “America is too strong economically for us to defeat”. History shows that the most economically sound countries (or perhaps those most savy enough to steel everyone else’s wealth if you have a different view) are usually the victors in war.
And the key was specifically manufacturing industry!
Obviously, we’ve not had a major war between two comparable modern economies in a while, so we don’t know if that relationship still holds, but there’s no reason to think that it will not. Perhaps the “modern” war will be on the internet but somehow I doubt that except in sci-fi fantasy. Perhaps the next major world war will be over so quick due to intensive nuclear bombing that it won’t matter how good your supply lines or manufacturing base because it will all be gone anyway … but I doubt that as well.
More than likely we are already in the posturing for WWIII. China is already hovering up various rare metal reserves and more than willing to help the west destroy its own industry via “greenwash” policies.
So, having a viable economy is probably MORE IMPORTANT than a massive army, navy or airforce for a country’s defence!
Perhaps it will never happen, but having seen the madness of countries marching like economic lemmings toward the carbon cliff, and can see how easily those same gullible politicians could march us all toward the WWIII cliff … and lead the charge to jump over it!

Shevva
June 7, 2011 7:04 am

Well being a UK citizen at least I’ll have a front row seat when our economy collapses under such draconian rules that our lord and masters at the EU set out and then our puppy polititions thought they’d go one better (Which they’ve now been out done by Germany) and agree to 80% cuts by 2020(?). It’s a race to the bottom between Europe and Oz, it’s neck and neck at the moment but I think the Ozzy’s are going to get there quicker if there govermwnt decides to push through taxing people breathing before we here in the UK can divert all the money to wind farms, it takes time to put all your energy needs into wind and then realise to late they don’t work. (I always thought wind farms where like trying to heat a house with 60w bulb’s, sure you can do it but what idiot would, oh wait…)
sarc I’m thinking about re-stocking the nuke bunker at the bottom of my garden. (It came with the house, although it’s a bit dated). /sarc

Scottish Sceptic
June 7, 2011 7:09 am

GPlant says: June 7, 2011 at 6:09 am
I am a medieval recreationist, and enjoy recreating armor and clothing from the middle ages.
Oh I do hate these modernists! What on earth is wrong with the Mesolithic or indeed the Mesolithic-neolithic revolution? How can you compare the mind numbing boredom of running around in hot armour with the endless hours of delight creating fire from nothing more than rubbing two sticks together?

Keitho
Editor
June 7, 2011 7:23 am

And now Scottish Gas has announced a 19% increase in the gas price and a 10% increase in the electricity price. These will affect 5m homes in the UK and who knows how much industry will become uncompetitive.
No doubt the subsidies for “renewables” are insufficient and need some further augmentation from the end user.

charles nelson
June 7, 2011 8:12 am

back in the day we used to call it ‘control or command economics’. where a central committee would come up with five years plans…or even scarier; Great Leaps Forward…
In totalitarian states these had mixed success…early crude attempts at reform often resulted in famine but in the case of the soviet union’s predominance in space technology, that was due entirely to the limitless budget and resources provided by the state.
In the US the explosive growth of the microprocessor had its roots in the millions spend on R&D for the nasa apollo project.
So who is to say what outcomes might arise from this renewable energy lark
what new technology or innovation that will lower our power consumption…and save us money. After all the ‘space race’ gave us teflon frypans…think about that every time you fry an egg.

Mustafa
June 7, 2011 8:25 am

GPlant says: June 7, 2011 at 6:09 am
Living here in the US 1) I see a trade advantage for us in the competitive market, and 2) hope that our leaders will see what happens in the EU and wisely shun the foolishness by not bringing it here. Well, any more than they already have.
May I remind you that we have California leading the way. We do don’t need Europe to show us the way.

Interstellar Bill
June 7, 2011 8:26 am

Pull My Finger said:
“Unfortunately Western Civilization seems hell bent upon Cultural and National Suicide.”
It’s not ‘Western civilization’ that is bent upon suicide, but the liberalism of its unaccountable elites. See the excellent 1963 book by Revel ‘The Suicide of the West’. That phrase is the very definition of liberalism.

Tenuc
June 7, 2011 8:30 am

Now that the ‘green economic bubble’ seems to have burst in the UK, and France has turned down the renewal of Kyoto, looks like the CBI are quietly dropping support for sustainable energy and want to go back to business as usual.
No surprise here!