Why the EU’s climate alarmism is
both mistaken and dangerous
Cool Thinking on Climate Change
Roger Helmer MEP
In Cool Thinking on Climate
Change Roger Helmer, backed up by substantial evidence, shows that the
EU’s climate alarmism is both
mistaken and dangerous.
Evidence is quite clearly emerging that man is not having the impact on the
climate that the EU climate alarmists claim. They have failed to note that
throughout Earth’s history temperatures have exceeded today’s levels. There
have been warm periods followed by cyclical cooling, as there will be
again.
Ignoring the doubts, the European Commission proposes to forge ahead with
eyewateringly expensive initiatives designed to mitigate climate change. Key
elements of this package include the extension of the Emissions Trading System
(known internationally as “Cap’n’Trade”); the Clean Development Mechanism
(CDM, an international extension of ETS); a framework for carbon capture and
storage (which is not yet operational on an industrial scale); strict
renewables targets; and a directive on CO2 emissions from cars.
The estimated cost of these programmes is €73 billion a year
across the EU by 2020. In the UK, it will cost £9 billion a
year by 2020. It is expected to force a million more households into fuel
poverty. These policies are likely to raise average domestic fuel bills by up
to £200 a year, while the total economic cost would average
around £600 per family.
So why is the EU pursuing the climate issue with such vigour? Partly it is
being used to win support from the ‘green’ lobby as part of the EU’s civil
society initiatives to try and gain legitimacy via its favoured NGOs rather
than through democratic means such as referenda.
Climate alarmism is also an excuse for yet more power-grabs. The whole issue
is being used by the EU to take more power, not only over the environment and
energy, but also over other areas ranging from immigration to foreign
policy.
The simple truth is that the back-bone of Britain’s energy policy needs to be
coal and nuclear energy, not the fantasy of renewable energy as pushed for by
the European
Union. Otherwise Britain will face an energy crisis with the very real
prospect of the lights going out.
Honorary President: The Rt Hon. the Baroness Thatcher of
Kesteven LG, OM, FRS Vice-President: The Rt Hon. the Lord Lamont of Lerwick,
Chairman: Barry Legg Director: Robert Oulds MA, Head of
Research: Dr Helen Szamuely, Washington D.C.
Representative: John O'Sullivan CBE Founder Chairman: Lord Harris of High Cross,
Former Chairmen: Dr Brian Hindley, Dr Martin Holmes &
Professor Kenneth Minogue