AIBU to think that the Tories are utterly wicked to drop net zero?

[Upsizer]

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/sep/19/rishi-sunak-planning-drop-net-zero-policies-pre-election-challenge-labour

I think this is genuinely wicked but I guess it was inevitable with the easiness of drumming up a culture war over environmental issues to win votes. Environment is the new Brexit.

Fighting climate change is going to cost all of us thousands of pounds. So we won’t do it - to get votes.

Our children will live on an island suffering extremes of heat and fighting off refugees from uninhabitable parts of the world.

But it will save us some cash I guess.

AIBU to think this is wicked?

Wicked? I don't know. Stupid? Definitely. Stupid stupid stupid shortsighted too clever to be wise little man 😡.

The majority of the electorate now acknowledges the gravity of climate change and wants something to be done, so I don't even know who he's trying to impress. Oh wait, of course I do. The polluting multinationals on whose boards he's hoping to get a lucrative seat when we vote this shower of turds out. So yes, actually, wicked.

It’s all complete smoke and mirrors the public are poorer they can’t be bothered to think about net zero when money is so tight. Plus we all know the uk emissions mean nothing to the global situation UlEZ is bullshit tax and grab electric cars are awful heat pumps crap it’s all nonsense and no one cares

If you don’t know what you are talking about, it better to stay quiet.

UK is not the 5th largest economy in the world. In your dreams maybe it is. But not in reality.

And if you include the carbon emissions we offshore, UK accounts for 1.4% of global emissions.

Learn some facts before you make a fool of yourself.

Unfortunately the majority of the electorate have bought into the climate emergency religion but very few actually understand what the reality is or what net zero means.

Oh Jesus. Just because ‘we’re not that bad’ then we shouldn’t do anything. I’m absolutely dumbfounded that anyone would not take this seriously. But then again the world is full of selfish people who don’t give a shit about anyone else or anyone else’s future, just that they can get cheap flights, cheap food and cheap clothes. Fuck the planet. Christ almighty.

Do what? What exactly does it mean for the environment if you remove 1% of emissions from the total?

What you actually mean is that we should virtue signal. After all, who cares about results. Real numbers.

Honestly this "1%" thing isn't true. We are significant consumers of goods, produced using energy and the production creates CO2 emissions. It just happens that they are largely imported because we have bugger-all manufacturing any more, so that production happens in other countries eg China. But it is OUR CONSUMPTION, our appetites, which cause it to happen. We are not powerless to impact this globally and we have a really huge role to play.

It's 6th now, overtaken by India. Why so rud, @Wsmi?
Plus, 30% of emissions come from countries that individually are responsible for 1%. So if we all do nothing because "it's only 1%", then it won't work.

*rude

You’re talking bullshit with your 1% and you know it hence your reaction. The UK is in the G7 so whether it’s 5 or 6 doesn’t matter.

What matters is that it’s responsible for an amount of consumption not commiserate with 1% of pollution. If I have a cat and sent it next door to shit in their garden, then showed people my garden and said my cat doesn’t shit and my neighbour was dirty, you’d think I was a nutter.

Iloveshoes whereas you, let me guess, are receiving your dubious information from rags like the Telegraph and Mail, drip fed by shills from the oil industry? 🙄 Or have you gone full YouTube conspiracy theorist?

Thanks, but I prefer to trust the 99% of global scientists who agree that we are facing potentially catastrophic climate change, endorsed by organisations like the IPCC and the UN.

Oh wait, don't tell me it's all a leftist conspiracy right? Something something Bill Gates...15 minute cities, wake up sheeple etc etc....🤡

The data doesn’t become untrue just because you say it does. You can invent your own facts to suit your story, even if it makes you look silly.

Anyway, the target is being dropped so great news.

Like anyone really gave a shiny shite about Russell Brand for more than nanosecond, don't be so daft

Net zero carbon is impossible to reach without a bit of numbers fiddling or, if you happen to be Iceland and living on top of active volcanos with unlimited geothermal energy (which although natural still emits CO2 but isn’t counted)

The goal should be a realistic pre1700s level (as in pre Industrial Revolution). The planet can handle a bit of CO2 emissions, just not the crazy high amounts we had back in the 1950s.

We have cut CO2 incredibly over the years- 45% was the last thing I read on that I think. I think if we get down to 10% of the peak, we have done enough.

Obviously it’s not great if the tories do this to say the least, but to be honest either way it’s not going to make the slightest bit of difference to life on this island. It’s not like mother nature is going to say ooh look the UK has been good I won’t bother warming her up as much.

I actually give up. People are genuinely thick.

The 1% is true. It includes the carbon footprint of everything we import.

Here is another inconvenient fact.

China has emitted more carbon in the last 8 years than the UK has since the Industrial Revolution.

So what difference to the climate does net 0 target in the UK make? None whatsoever.

Your bamboo toothbrushes will not save the planet.

@wsmi the net zero target is not being dropped.
And the UK is 5th/6th biggest economy.
You're not even getting these facts right.

Well I'm relieved. I try to live a relatively eco friendly life but the greener energy alternatives just aren't good enough or affordable enough yet.

Most of the UK housing stock isn't suitable for air souce heat pumps or electric heating. Electric cars are improving bur aren't great for long journeys. Insisting all rental properties reach energy efficient levels that aren't realistically achievable would cause chaos in the rental markets.

Hopefully the alternatives will continue to improve and make net zero realistic for the future. We're not there yet though.

Of course if I disagree with you I must be a daily mail reading conspiracy theorist. Fairly typical response from people of your ilk talking down to the stupid people.
Actually I think the vast majority of people accept there is climate change but many people (including scientists) dispute the pace of change and the impact of net zero. Climate catastophication is now a religion to be followed by all.
If you don't agree that we will all be wiped off the face of the earth in our children's lifetime then you are a climate change denier.

@IslaWinds, Net Zero is not Absolute Zero...

If we stopped all carbon emissions other than breathing would the climate stop changing?

I can guess how you voted by your statement

We should be leading the world in adapting to climate change and finding new ways to reduce carbon. Not this. Not this, you stupid, vain, short-sighted individual as you desperately chase the selfish vote of the bigots.