Britain is Leading the World on Net Zero, But No One is Following

From THE DAILY SCEPTIC

by Will Jones

Britain is leading the world on Net Zero, but no one is following, leaving Britain alone in committing green suicide, says Jeremy Warner in the Telegraph. Here’s an excerpt.

In China and much of the rest of the ‘developing world’, Net Zero targets appear to mean nothing at all beyond their usefulness in undermining the West. Economic growth is routinely prioritised over climate change goals.

Similarly in the U.S., which pays lip service to Net Zero while simultaneously celebrating its position as the world’s largest oil producer; big tax breaks for fracking go hand in hand with the hundreds of billions the Biden administration is pouring into the green energy transition.

Even holier-than-thou little Norway, which aims to be carbon neutral by 2030, seeks to extend the life of its North Sea oil and gas reserves long into the future with big ongoing incentives to invest.

In a bid to revive economic growth, Christopher Luxon’s new centre-Right government in New Zealand is meanwhile in wholesale retreat from the environmental commitments of his saintly predecessor, Jacinda Ardern. 

Only in the U.K. does the torch of Net Zero still burn strong, with the newly installed Labour Government determined to double down on emission targets whatever the costs. Even Brussels demonstrates at least a modicum of common sense on these matters.

Britain isn’t ‘world leading’ in much these days, but when it comes to climate change we aim to be well ahead of the pack, with some of the most demanding regulatory requirements on the planet. 

“Over the top, lads,” shouts the Energy Secretary, Ed Miliband with all the righteous self-belief of a cross-carrying crusader, only to look behind and find that nobody is following. There are few first-mover advantages in this game, only the certainty of being mown down in the charge.

Since entering office little more than a month ago, the new Government has further toughened up what was already an exceptionally challenging timetable for the transition to clean energy. In so doing, it has effectively signed the North Sea oil and gas sector’s death warrant, putting tens of thousands of jobs at risk, undermining a once lucrative source of tax revenue and potentially opening up another giant hole in the balance of payments.

Worth reading in full.

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Petermiller
August 10, 2024 2:36 am

His Cluelessness Ed Milliband is an eco-bigot, a man totally immune to logic, with no practical knowledge of technology or science.

Sadly, the UK economy and its citizens are going to pay a terrible price for voting in a political party, whose mantra for new policies has always been, “Does it work in theory?” and never, “Does it work in practice?”

In the UK, we don’t need to be sent food parcels yet, but will need them by the end of the decade.

Bryan A
Reply to  Petermiller
August 10, 2024 8:34 am

How about simply stating…
If it works, fix it until it doesn’t

Peter Barrett
Reply to  Petermiller
August 10, 2024 11:24 am

We didn’t vote them in, they were the last turd to flush.

Iain W
Reply to  Petermiller
August 10, 2024 9:12 pm

Similar idiocy in Australia with Bowen the energy minister. Going down the same path with high energy costs and eventual brown and blackouts. Even more ridiculous as Australia has ample coal, gas, Uranium, Thorium, etc.

Reply to  Petermiller
August 11, 2024 5:36 pm

The misguided, brainwashed UK elites, with still upper lip, are mindlessly “leading” the long suffering UK people to even greater impoverishment into a very deep pit, from which the UK cannot be rescued.

The UK will NEVER attain the Holy Grail of Nut Zero.
The UK just does not have the resources and national cohesion to do so.

Bill Toland
August 10, 2024 2:39 am

The British government is proud that Britain is the first lemming to jump off the cliff. Once we go splat at the bottom of the cliff, all other countries are sure to follow.

August 10, 2024 2:40 am

Electric vehicle penetration exceeds 50% in China for the first time

https://carnewschina.com/2024/08/07/chinese-new-energy-vehicle-car-sales-50-84-july-preliminary-figures-show/

Analysis: China’s CO2 falls 1% in Q2 2024 in first quarterly drop since Covid-19
https://www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-chinas-co2-falls-1-in-q2-2024-in-first-quarterly-drop-since-covid-19/

China to meet its 2030 renewable energy target by end of this year: state-owned researcher
https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3268707/china-meet-its-2030-renewable-energy-target-end-year-state-owned-researcher

So much for the big bad china guy, guess you have to look for another bogeyman soon, because even India is building renewables at lightning speed.

Public EV charging stations increase 9-fold in India amid robust adoption
https://auto.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/industry/public-ev-charging-stations-increase-9-fold-in-india-amid-robust-adoption/112391952

Maybe some small country in Africa will do, because the rest of Africa is also going renewable.

And South America? We don’t even mention these herectics here anymore, aren’t we? 😀

Britain is lagging, and it’s hurting itself for doing so. At least the current government is starting to build some wind energy.

And while I’m at it:

The Cleantech Revolution: It’s exponential, disruptive, and now

https://rmi.org/wp-content/uploads/dlm_uploads/2024/07/RMI-Cleantech-Revolution-pdf-1.pdf

The Rise of Batteries in Six Charts and Not Too Many Numbers
https://rmi.org/the-rise-of-batteries-in-six-charts-and-not-too-many-numbers/

strativarius
Reply to  MyUsername
August 10, 2024 2:46 am

Obviously there has been an error….

Britain is Leading the World on Net Zero, But Only That Username is Following.

Reply to  MyUsername
August 10, 2024 2:59 am

As David Hume remarked, miracles always happen in far away countries and distant times….

All we can say for sure is that it ain’t happening in the UK, and has no prospect of happening.

Reply to  MyUsername
August 10, 2024 3:07 am

Let’s look at those links

1.. “according to”.. yap yap… by your own rules, inadmissible
2… Carbonbrief says….. lol.. by your own rules, inadmissible
3…“A state-owned research body saysby your own rules, inadmissible
4… “A report said... blah blah.. by your own rules, inadmissible
5 and 6 are both massively FAKED research from the same 3 NON-scientists at RMI… by your own rules, inadmissible

Poor fungal.. You have tried and FAILED ABSOLUTELY !! Again, and again.

Reply to  bnice2000
August 10, 2024 3:36 am

Top tier comment, and you wonder why I don’t answer to them.

Reply to  MyUsername
August 10, 2024 3:41 am

Poor muppet, you spent all the other thread trying desperately to discount BBC reports because they had “scientists said” comments…

Talk about an OWN GOAL, and a complete failure. !!

No attempted feeble squirming will help you… just make you look incredibly STUPID !

Reply to  bnice2000
August 10, 2024 3:47 am

What are you talking about?

Reply to  MyUsername
August 10, 2024 3:52 am

Maybe it was fungal that was saying that everything the BBC published was LIES.

Impossible to tell the idiots apart.

Reply to  bnice2000
August 10, 2024 4:00 am

I’m once again asking: Are you OK?

Reply to  MyUsername
August 10, 2024 12:32 pm

Mental capacity several magnitudes above yours, little child. !

Reply to  MyUsername
August 10, 2024 1:12 pm

You are in the same hole as TFN, down shovel lad.

Bill Toland
Reply to  MyUsername
August 10, 2024 3:08 am

A few points about your post.

Electric vehicles do not make up 50% of new car sales in China. The 50% figure you quote includes hybrids.

The alleged fall in co2 emissions comes from carbonbrief which is a climate alarmist organisation which spreads discredited misinformation about everything. Anything which comes from that source has zero credibility.

China’s 2030 renewable energy target was set low so that it was easy to meet. The energy produced from solar and wind power in China is not even keeping pace with the increase in energy demand in China.

The cost of batteries has fallen due to improvements in production technology but this process is now effectively over. Most of the cost of batteries now comes from the cost of raw materials. The price of the raw materials which make up batteries can only rise in future due to the increased demand for them. This means that battery costs will increase in the future, not decline.

Reply to  Bill Toland
August 10, 2024 3:22 am

When China first set their 20% target, they were already at that point because of hydro.

In China, solar and wind are a very minor bit-player when it comes to energy.

China-Energy-consumption
Reply to  bnice2000
August 10, 2024 3:40 am

Hold on to your dear graph, and never update it in the next years. It will only make you cry.

Reply to  MyUsername
August 10, 2024 3:54 am

From eye strain to see the wind and solar ??

Data is data, muppet.

Fantasy is NOT data.

Did you know that COAL generation in China climbed at twice the rate of solar last year.

And so far this year, coal imports are surging

China’s coal imports surge in first half, driven by strong Australian trade – Global Times

China’s 2024 coal imports to reach new record high, industry group says – MINING.COM

This follows on from a surge in new coal plant approvals in 2022

China’s new coal plant approvals surge in 2022, highest since 2015, new research shows – ABC News

So don’t concern yourself, little child… there will be PLENTY of CO2 emissions to continue to feed the world for many decades to come.

And there is absolutely NOTHING your constant whinging can do about it 🙂

Reply to  Bill Toland
August 10, 2024 3:34 am

-Plug-in hybrid, that are commonly counted towards electric cars.

-So I guess as much credibility as articles from heartland institute

As a result of the strong capacity growth – and despite poor wind conditions – solar and wind covered 52% of electricity demand growth in the first half of 2024 and 71% since March.

-Any source for the battery claim? Because “tech-advancement” is over was an argument for years now – and they still improved.
What about other battery types outside Li-ion – many of which have now been delivered for testing and are going into mass-production in the next years. If not already used in storage or BEVs.

Increased demand leads to more R&D and improved economies of scale.

strativarius
Reply to  MyUsername
August 10, 2024 3:46 am

And yet demand for EVs is tanking because most fleets and companies have already bought in, and an EV is a very expensive toy.

Suzuki bosses commit to the future of internal combustion engines
Toyota Claims Its New Combustion Engines Are a Game-Changer 
European carmakers bet on a future with e-fuel vehicles 
Japanese car makers committed to producing internal-combustion engines
Mercedes Is Walking Back Its All-EV Future to Invest in ‘High-Tech Combustion

Maybe they didn’t get your message?

Reply to  strativarius
August 10, 2024 4:21 am

I read the other day where Nissan says they have a new ICE engine that weighs about 80 pounds and produces 400 horsepower.

strativarius
Reply to  Tom Abbott
August 10, 2024 5:17 am

Genuine useful R&D but not R&D that That Username would like.

Bill Toland
Reply to  MyUsername
August 10, 2024 3:47 am

Thank you for admitting that wind and solar power is failing to keep pace with energy demand in China.

The fall in the cost of batteries over the last decade was driven entirely by improvements in manufacturing efficiency. However, raw materials now make up 76% of the cost of batteries. Since demand for the raw materials used in batteries is increasing with greater numbers of electric cars, the price of these raw materials will only rise in the future. This guarantees that the cost of batteries will rise in the future, not fall. https://elements.visualcapitalist.com/breaking-down-the-cost-of-an-ev-battery-cell/
https://www.cnbc.com/2022/08/28/ev-makers-face-cash-squeeze-amid-soaring-battery-production-costs.html

Reply to  Bill Toland
August 10, 2024 3:57 am

With over 50% they kept pace better than all other sources. With a rising share.

Again what about other battery types?

The other article is from 2022 – battery prices have fallen since.

https://about.bnef.com/blog/lithium-ion-battery-pack-prices-hit-record-low-of-139-kwh/

Continued investment in R&D, manufacturing process improvements, and capacity expansion across the supply chain will help improve battery technology and reduce costs over the next decade. BloombergNEF expects next-generation technologies, such as silicon and lithium metal anodes, solid-state electrolytes, new cathode material, and new cell manufacturing processes to play an important role in enabling further price reductions.

strativarius
Reply to  MyUsername
August 10, 2024 4:10 am

Suzuki bosses commit to the future of internal combustion engines
Toyota Claims Its New Combustion Engines Are a Game-Changer 
European carmakers bet on a future with e-fuel vehicles 
Japanese car makers committed to producing internal-combustion engines
Mercedes Is Walking Back Its All-EV Future to Invest in ‘High-Tech Combustion

Now why would they do that?

“”Ford’s electric vehicle unit reported that losses soared in the first quarter to $1.3 billion, or $132,000 for each of the 10,000 vehicles it sold in the first three months of the year

the losses include hundreds of millions being spent on research and development of the next generation of EVs for Ford. Those investments are years away from paying off.

And that means this is not the end of the losses in the unit – Ford said it expects Model e will have EBIT losses of $5 billion for the full year.
https://edition.cnn.com/2024/04/24/business/ford-earnings-ev-losses/index.html

That’s where the taxpayer and those handsome government subsidies come in…

“”Ford agrees to $9.2 billion US government loan””
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/06/22/business/ford-department-of-energy-loan/index.html

And that will be written off in a trice.

Bill Toland
Reply to  MyUsername
August 10, 2024 4:17 am

Thank you for admitting that carbonbrief has zero credibility.

Plug-in hybrids are not usually regarded as electric cars. This is why they will be banned in the UK along with petrol and diesel cars.

You keep confirming the uselessness of wind and solar power.

Since raw materials make up 76% of the cost of ev batteries, any further improvement in manufacturing efficiency cannot have much effect on the price of batteries.

Reply to  Bill Toland
August 10, 2024 5:29 am

Im not so sure about hybrids getting banned in the future which is still a good few years away. A lot might and will happen in the meantime. My guess is hybrids will actually become the newly sold standard general purpose vehicle for individual non commercial transport in 2030. Standard old ICEs will stay on the road until they break and cant be fixed anymore..

Reply to  Bill Toland
August 10, 2024 4:06 am

Not only that, but wind and solar will only last 10-15 years max.

Newly installed coal plants will still be providing in 40-50+ years time.

Editor
Reply to  MyUsername
August 10, 2024 2:59 pm

An energy transition to renewables requires well over 100% of all new demand to be met by renewables. At 52% it means that absolute growth in non-renewables is effectively the same as absolute growth in renewables. That’s not a transition.

Reply to  Bill Toland
August 10, 2024 5:20 am

Clearly it is best to simultaniously spread disinformation via official channels while at the same time accuse the opposition of doing it and claim the government has to step in to safeguard the parameters.
If we are ALL in our own bubble the centre ground is abandoned because the Truth is claimed by the extremes.
For me it is very simple: leave the door open to any kind of information even if it turns out wrong. And do not accuse people willynilly of spreading disinformation. And certaintly do not censor outside of specific harm content. The trouble is that the laws about hate speech no longer make any logical sense. It includes ‘ might be perceived or experienced as harmful’. Anything goes..
I wonder if i can make a case against the BBC for spreading misinformation and feeling distressed about climate alarmism they put out which goes against my human rights and directs hate towards people like me..

Reply to  Bill Toland
August 10, 2024 7:35 am

He doesn’t care — he’s immune to facts. But the facts do need to be stated.

Reply to  Bill Toland
August 10, 2024 1:14 pm

And it may be that those EV sales figures include motorcycles which are catching fire at an alarming rate causing more motorcycles to be purchased in a never ending circular cycle.

Editor
Reply to  Bill Toland
August 10, 2024 2:54 pm

The price of coal is starting to go up again. If that trend continues, it will push up the price of wind and solar renewables. Why? Well, all wind turbines and all solar panels are made using coal-fired power. You can’t make wind turbines using power from wind turbines, and you can’t make solar panels using power from solar panels.

Disclosure: I have a financial interest because I have invested in coal producers again (I rode the last big coal price wave). As far as I am concerned the greens can just go jump, and the sooner the better.

Reply to  MyUsername
August 10, 2024 3:27 am

EV chargers in India .. about 1 EV charger for every 140 EVs.

ROFLMAO !! Good luck with that.

Reply to  bnice2000
August 10, 2024 7:51 am

Anyone who knows a little about how electricity distribution is done in Mumbai will instantly understand that adding massive numbers of 400A services to charge battery cars is impossible — they would probably have to scrap the entire existing infrastructure and start over from ground zero.

Reply to  karlomonte
August 10, 2024 1:31 pm

And of course, any EV in India is powered by COAL !!!!

Reply to  MyUsername
August 10, 2024 3:49 am

Glad you like EVs so much.

Maybe once you reach driving age and get a licence, you can buy a really cheap one..

.. and enjoys all the perks…. 😉

South Korean Government Calls Emergency Meeting After Mercedes EV Fire Almost Burns Down A Building – AutoSpies Auto News

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWvI1daNils

Reply to  bnice2000
August 10, 2024 4:24 am

I read the other day where they are having about 3,000 electric bike fires in China per year.

Reply to  MyUsername
August 10, 2024 7:38 am

The question Lusername will never answer:

Does he own his own battery car yet?

Reply to  MyUsername
August 10, 2024 8:22 am

Griff never changes

Reply to  Pat from Kerbob
August 10, 2024 7:26 pm

Same strange mental issues, different handle.

The boomer trolls at least knew calculators and simple arithmetic existed.

These new generations really need to get such old school stuff banned …..

Bryan A
Reply to  MyUsername
August 10, 2024 8:43 am

Most of those Chinese EVs are either cheaply made or prone to immolation whether charging or not. Many of them are single occupant electric scooters (like a vespa) that they call bikes (400,000,000 plug in “Bikes”) and are experiencing over 21,000 fire events yearly

They spontaneously combust when charging in the peoples apartments
They spontaneously combust when parked on the side of the road
They spontaneously combust when being ridden down the road
They spontaneously combust while going up in elevators
Unfortunately for the Chinese People, China makes things Cheaply

Mr.
Reply to  MyUsername
August 10, 2024 10:35 am

India increasing EV charging stations?

All India is doing is increasing the installations of coal-fired power stations to supply the EV charging stations.

Kinda defeats the purpose of going EV, doesn’t it?

The peak power demand in the country stood at 243.27 GW in January 2024.
The coal plants registered a PLF of 73.7% for the first nine-months period in FY23 compared to 68.5% in FY22 for the same period. 
Thermal power plant load is estimated to improve by 63% in FY24, fuelled by strong demand growth

https://www.ibef.org/industry/power-sector-india

Editor
Reply to  Mr.
August 10, 2024 3:08 pm

Actually, I think there could be merit in having coal-fired power for EVs in cities. This has nothing to do with CO2 of course. ICEs do produce some pollution in cities, even though it has been greatly reduced over the years. With well-managed coal-fired power for city EVs, what little pollution there is can be released well away from major population centres.

Sparta Nova 4
Reply to  Mike Jonas
August 12, 2024 12:49 pm

Air and sound polution.

auto
Reply to  Sparta Nova 4
August 12, 2024 1:14 pm

Ahhh – not hearing the EV coming …
Look Right.
Look Left
Look Right again!

Auto

Reply to  MyUsername
August 11, 2024 1:06 am

There has only been one serious attempt in the world to do a net-zero demonstration project. Francis Menton gives an update on the 2023 results, from an unimpeachable source, the operator.

https://www.manhattancontrarian.com/blog/2024-8-10-the-zero-emissions-grid-demonstration-project-follies

This kind of project is the critical experiment in the net zero project. If you cannot run a grid on wind and solar plus storage, then the whole thing falls to bits. No amount of conversion to heat pumps and EVs is going to help, unless you have net zero for the power generation they require. But all the evidence is that net zero in generation is impossible.

The UKs net zero project is also going to fail. They can’t build enough wind turbines in the North Sea. If they could, they could not provide enough storage to make them usable as the sole source (with solar!) of power. They are not going to be able to make everyone buy EVs and heat pumps. If they could, they could not power them all without totally replacing the local power networks which are way too small to deliver the power they would require.

The end result, by the way, of a UK conversion from gas boilers to heat pumps would not be what you expect. The electricity will continue to be generated mainly by gas, UK gas boilers are by law all condensing now. Their efficiency is around 90%. The effect of the conversion will be that the gas will be burned to generate electricity which is then used to drive the heat pumps. With transmission losses. The result will be to convert a system of 90% efficiency to one with no more than 50%. It will actually increase, not reduce, both gas consumption and emissions.

The UK would do far better to continue to burn the gas where all its heat is used to heat the homes. More efficient, less emissions, much lower cost.

The alternative to this scenario, which seems at the moment more likely because of the Government’s refusal to address the issue of storage, is that demand will rise but gas plant adequate to supply it will not be installed. And the result will be blackouts. The first pieces suggesting that people buy generators have started to appear in the mainstream press. Wait for a flood of them when the blackouts start.

posa
Reply to  MyUsername
August 11, 2024 12:49 pm

The backbone of Chinese Energy policy is coal and nuclear both of which can be sourced domestically. The reality is that the backbone of China’s electric power generation comes from fossil fuel plants which comprised 67% of output in 2023. Wind and solar comprise a mere 15% of the output mix in 2023, relegating “green tech” to something of an afterthought.

COAL FIRED UNITS
Approved                                           405
Constructing                                       289
                                                                      694
 
Operating                                                                   3168
 
Total                                                                                                   3862
 
 
US COAL: 408

******

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1a4biyQQ92xn1R0ptwXtmp3GKQtm6HnBr7P2vXptXA9k/edit?gid=1077637314#gid=1077637314
(source: Global Energy Monitor)

US Nuclear Units- 94
China- Under Construction 23
           Operating                55

Phil Rae
August 10, 2024 2:43 am

The tragic ignorance and stupidity of our ruling class is clear to see…..but the MSM and those making a fortune from this nonsense are all cheering it on! Fools😢

strativarius
Reply to  Phil Rae
August 10, 2024 2:54 am

“”ignorance and stupidity””

In the case of Herr Miliband it’s sheer bloody mindedness.

strativarius
August 10, 2024 2:44 am

Miliband is quite, quite mad. And he gets it from his Marxian father, Ralph (formerly… Adolphe).

“”[Adolphe] fled Belgium with his father in 1940 and came to England. He was sixteen when he arrived in England, A year after he arrived he was writing this in his diary:

” ‘The Englishman is a rabid nationalist. They are perhaps the most nationalist people in the world . . . you sometimes want them almost to lose (the war) to show them how things are. They have the greatest contempt for the Continent . . . To lose their empire would be the worst possible humiliation.’ (ibid)”
https://libertarianism.uk/2013/10/02/ralph-miliband-and-how-he-bit-the-english-hand-that-fed-him/

Talk about biting the hand, eh.

And so it is with Edstone. He is completely scientifically illiterate. The Tories thought about Energy Performance Certificates [for housing] and saw the light. Edstone, however, hasn’t

“”Telegraph Money has previously spoken to EPC assessors who revealed how installing ultra-efficient heat pumps could actually lower a property’s score – this is precisely the bizarre kinds of outcomes Mr Gove was warning about.

Which?, the normally restrained consumer champion, recently branded EPCs “inaccurate” and “misleading”. It found evidence of widespread errors that confused just about everyone.

Yet Ed Miliband, the energy and net zero secretary, is determined to reinstate the deadline for landlords, this time in 2030.””
https://uk.news.yahoo.com/ed-miliband-must-ditch-ludicrous-050000296.html

And just for laughs….

“”Pretty pylons can add character to England’s industrial landscape””
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/article/2024/aug/09/pretty-pylons-can-add-character-to-england-industrial-landscape

Two-tier’s government is a complete disaster. See you on the other side.

August 10, 2024 2:54 am

Yes, its lunacy.

A country that does 1% of global emissions proposes to simultaneously

  • wreck its electricity supply, by moving it to wind and solar (solar, at these latitudes!), and
  • increase demand by moving everyone to EVs and heat pumps for home heating.

And both major political parties agree that this is a necessary to save the planet from the heating caused by CO2 emissions. The other 99% maybe? And the media keep on talking about how this is necessary because extreme weather in the UK, which of course is (a) not happening and (b) will not be affected if the UK’s emissions rise or fall.

strativarius
Reply to  michel
August 10, 2024 2:57 am

It’s an elitist hatred for ordinary people.

Mr.
Reply to  michel
August 10, 2024 10:44 am

So who are these public policy muppets intent on impressing with their kamakazi net-zero plans?

The AGW loons, the UN, the WEF or all of the above?

While the real casualties of the lunacy will be the ordinary, working, tax-paying UK families.

Surely there is some kind of provision for charges of treason in the OK statutes to apply to this?

August 10, 2024 3:44 am

“Britain is leading the world on Net Zero, but no one is following, leaving Britain alone in committing green suicide..”

Some US states are following the UK in green suicide.

strativarius
Reply to  Joseph Zorzin
August 10, 2024 3:56 am

California could/might/may etc be sunk soon. But will it be by earthquake or net zero?

atticman
Reply to  strativarius
August 10, 2024 4:22 am

Could one lead to the other…?

strativarius
Reply to  atticman
August 10, 2024 4:44 am

Climate change causes plate tectonics!

Reply to  strativarius
August 10, 2024 9:06 am

And all this time I was thinking that plate tectonics causes climate change.

Bryan A
Reply to  strativarius
August 10, 2024 9:13 am

The “Quake Threat” is ever looming just over the horizon for CA and the west coast. Fortunately though, unlike Tornadoes or Hurricanes, there is no Earthquake season.
We see a couple dozen 3s and 4s daily. We see 2s in the hundreds weekly. We see 5s yearly.
Since 1800 (224 years) there has been exactly 16 major quakes ranging from mag6.4 up to mag7.9

7.9 Jan. 9, 1857 Fort Tejon Two killed; 220-mile surface scar
7.8 April 18, 1906 San Francisco Possibly 3,000 killed; 225,000 displaced
7.4 Mar. 26, 1872 Owens Valley 27 kille​d; three aftershocks of magnitude >6
7.4 Nov. 8, 1980 W. of Eureka* Injured 6; $2 million in damage
7.3 July 21, 1952 Kern County 12 killed; 3 magnitude >6 aftershocks in 5 days
7.3 June 28, 1992 Landers One killed; 400 injured; $9.1 million in damage
7.2 Jan. 22, 1923 Mendocino* Damaged homes in several towns
7.2 April 25, 1992 Cape Mendocino 356 injuries; $48.3 million in damage
7.1 Nov. 4, 1927 SW of Lompoc* No major injuries; slight damage in 2 counties
7.1 Oct. 16, 1999 Ludlow Minimal damage due to remote location
7.1 July 5, 2019 Ridgecrest/Trona Preceded by M6.4 quake; no fatalities
7.0 May 18, 1940 El Centro 9 killed; $6 million in damage
6.9 Oct. 17, 1989 Bay Area 63 killed; 3,753 hurt; up to $10 billion in damage
6.7 Jan. 17, 1994 Northridge 57 killed; 9,000 hurt, up to $40 billion in damage
6.6 Feb. 9, 1971 San Fernando 65 killed; 2,000 injured; $505 million in damage​
6.4 March 10, 1933 SE of Long Beach 115 killed; led to new building codes for schools

A major happens on average once every15 years

Reply to  Joseph Zorzin
August 10, 2024 4:34 am

All U.S. States are putting their electrical grids in jeopardy by adding windmills and solar to the system. Some more at risk than others, but all at risk. The System Operators for all these U.S. grids have already put out warnings of potential blackouts in the future and cite the reduction in conventional electric generation (the closing of coal-fired powerplants primarily) as the cause..

August 10, 2024 4:54 am

What I find weird about the whole NetZero push is that none of the advocates can explain how a trace gas like CO2 can control weather/climate.

strativarius
Reply to  Nelson
August 10, 2024 5:09 am

They can explain how it can [be used] to control whole populations. And that is really what this is about; micro, no, the nanomanagement of how people live.

Reply to  Nelson
August 10, 2024 5:38 am

What I find weird about the whole Net Zero push is that I’ve never heard a power engineer advocating it.

strativarius
Reply to  quelgeek
August 10, 2024 5:53 am

There aren’t many of those in the media, politics etc. You might find them in danger of cancellation on campus – if they don’t follow the narratives.

Ed Zuiderwijk
Reply to  Nelson
August 10, 2024 6:45 am

They do not even understand that that is a valid question.

Anthony Banton
Reply to  Nelson
August 10, 2024 10:26 am

But then again, said “trace gas” is also “greening the world”

Funny how it can’t do one thing because it is such a tiny quantity but is able to do another very visible thing. Eh?

https://wattsupwiththat.com/2024/08/02/new-study-widespread-increase-in-plant-transpiration-driven-by-increasing-co2-concentration/#comments

The rising CO2 trend over the last 30 years (1990-2020) has been the primary driver of planetary greening, or increases in Leaf Area Index (LAI).”

Seems that if denizens here are OK with the process then the fact that CO2 is a “trace gas” isn’t considered.

Reply to  Anthony Banton
August 10, 2024 12:38 pm

OMG the total ignorance on display again.

NO evidence of CO2 affecting climate whatsoever.

CO2 is an ESSENTIAL BUILDING BLOCK OF ALL LIFE ON EARTH.

… and is currently at low levels compared to plant needs.

Reply to  Anthony Banton
August 10, 2024 5:57 pm

Are you denying the effects on plants, banton, which can be directly measured?

Or are you grasping at straws to keep the trendology lies alive?

Sparta Nova 4
Reply to  Nelson
August 12, 2024 12:51 pm

But, but, but, CO2 is the “control knob.” Don’t you remember your programming?

August 10, 2024 5:06 am

The UK is leading the non EU europeans into a direction aimed at doing even better than Germany in terms of Green Policies. And at exactly the same time that the Germans are reconsidering the whole green package. Obviously Starmer/Labour didnt get that ‘reality check’. No, hell bent on catastrophy rd

strativarius
Reply to  ballynally
August 10, 2024 6:27 am

They’re in Blairland…

We believe it’s the right thing to do
We’re doing it in good faith etc

And at our colossal expense financial and living standard.

August 10, 2024 5:27 am

‘…big tax breaks for fracking..’

More evidence the cited article from the Telegraph was nonsense.

August 10, 2024 6:02 am

Worth reading in full because the paywalled article actually has something new? How about the part I bolded in the 2nd sentence quoted from original article (quote below)? That is the only thing I want more information about because I suspect it is a 100% lie. And I doubt it is in any way enlarged upon but one could always hope.

Similarly in the U.S., which pays lip service to Net Zero while simultaneously celebrating its position as the world’s largest oil producer; big tax breaks for fracking go hand in hand with the hundreds of billions the Biden administration is pouring into the green energy transition.

August 10, 2024 6:20 am

Only in the U.K. does the torch of Net Zero still burn strong,

Nope. Australia is the leader in this race to nowhere. UK has to lean on Fance to get its current proportion of supply from weather dependent generators. Australia is an isolated grid and achieving 35% penetration with WDGs including hydro. South Australia leans on the other states but is achieving 70% from its WDGs.

Australia trades iron ore, thermal coal, meet coal, bauxite and other minerals with China for solar panels, wind turbines, and all the other stuff needed for a working grid based on the weather. So has a better chance than the UK of pulling off NetZero.

Ed Zuiderwijk
August 10, 2024 6:37 am

The tragedy of Britain is that while every generation and every branche of human enterprise has its clowns and charlatans, other countries treat those as a farce while the British ruling classes take them serious. So you have professors and experts in the land of Shakespeare claiming that grammar is not important and that it is too difficult for Joe Bloggs anyway and they are celebrated as visionaries. And there are economists who think it is a great idea to have your steel made in China where they do it better, sorry, cheaper because of slave labour pay.

Miliband is such a celebrated fool who has convinced the other fools that you can run an economy with windmills and sunshine. He will impoverish all of us.

August 10, 2024 7:53 am

From the above article’s first sentence:
“Britain is leading the world on Net Zero . . .”

What no mention, even in the following text, of Germany with its Energiewende plan to eliminate use of fossil fuels?

Sic transit gloria.

August 10, 2024 9:28 am

Yes the UK may well show us all the path to economic and social oblivion. But will the rest of us pay attention to the reality of this idiotic policy or will we continue to pretend that, just like socialism, we only need to keep trying net zero till we get it right?

Curious George
Reply to  Andy Pattullo
August 10, 2024 10:40 am

Boldly leading where no one wants to go is a hallmark of socialism.

1saveenergy
August 10, 2024 9:50 am

““Over the top, lads,” shouts the Energy Secretary, Ed Miliband with all the righteous self-belief of a cross-carrying crusader, only to look behind and find that nobody is following.”

Not true, Miniprick (like most ‘glorious leaders’) boldly leads from behind, from his comfortable millionaire lifestyle.

August 10, 2024 10:03 am

In training now for our Net Zero World!

IMG_4565
Bob
August 10, 2024 1:51 pm

This proves what I have been saying, it is government that is the problem. We must demand that government stop this insanity. Fire up all fossil fuel and nuclear generators, build new fossil fuel and nuclear generators, remove wind and solar from the grid, get busy building ICE vehicles and upgrade and protect the grid from all this madness.

Editor
August 10, 2024 2:43 pm

The government “has effectively signed the North Sea oil and gas sector’s death warrant, putting tens of thousands of jobs at risk”.

Incorrect. This puts many millions of jobs at risk. That’s because the energy delivered by the oil and gas industry creates jobs.

The equations for renewables (green energy) and fossil fuels (oil, gas and coal) have a remarkable anti-symmetry: Every job in green energy destroys 2-3 jobs in the rest of society (from a study by Madrid Uni, but it’s obvious anyway). Every job in fossil fuels creates many jobs in the rest of society, probably a lot more than 2-3 (I’m not aware of any study, but it’s obvious too).

The anti-symmetry goes a bit further: Once the fossil fuel industry has its production up, if it could then produce the same amount with less people it would actually create even more jobs.

observa
August 11, 2024 5:15 am
Sparta Nova 4
August 12, 2024 12:42 pm

You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him rock and roll.