21 Sept 2023

UK Prime Minister on climate change targets - NOT amateur radio

Yesterday, the UK Prime Minister announced that some climate change targets were being pushed back 5 years. With high interest rates and high cost of living costs, many are struggling. However, I think this is a backward step. It is true that some technologies are not yet there. Storage of renewable energy and cheaper (non-lithium) batteries for electric cars come to mind. As far as I know there was nothing on home insulation that would reduce costs with any fuels.

If the UK is to lead in renewable energy, this needs serious investment, not pandering to Tory backbenchers and fossil fuel companies.

Before this is likely to be a serious issue, I shall be dead. However my children and their children will suffer the consequences. Better renewable energy storage, solid state batteries and better ranges on cheaper electric cars are all likely. Carbon capture may help.

Overall, I am disappointed. There is so much more that can be done. Make no mistake, this really is an existential threat to the whole human race. We ignore this at our peril.

Hopefully, technology will help and there will be a mass transition away from fossil fuels, but this is far from certain.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

2030 was just not doable anyway. There is very little infrastructure in place to support electric cars and there just isn't enough juice to go around if 2/3rds of the country had converted over, now they have bomb blasted all coal driven power stations with little or no thought what supports the countrys ailing supply at peak times, when there is no wind. Never mind think up stupid heat pumps to keep us warm that in half the housing stock they are just not suitable, more expensive and again are electric driven.

Maybe try lemon power?

73 Steve

PE4BAS, Bas said...

The technology is there. But as always in de end it is all about money. 73, Bas