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Not Zero: How an Irrational Target Will Impoverish You, Help China
'Bravely challenging the Establishment consensus … forensically argued' - Mail on Sunday
The British government has embarked on an ambitious and legally-binding climate change reduce the country's greenhouse gas emissions to Net Zero by 2050. The Net Zero policy was subject to almost no parliamentary or public scrutiny, and is universally approved by our political class. But what will its consequences be?
Ross Clark argues that it is a terrible mistake, an impractical hostage to fortune which will have massive downsides. Achieving the target is predicated on the rapid development of technologies that are either non-existent, highly speculative or untested. Clark shows that efforts to achieve the target will inevitably result in a huge hit to living standards, which will clobber the poorest hardest, and gift a massive geopolitical advantage to hostile superpowers such as China and Russia. The unrealistic and rigid timetable it imposes could also result in our committing to technologies which turn out to be ineffective, all while distracting ourselves from the far more important objective of adaptation.
This hard-hitting polemic provides a timely critique of a potentially devastating political consensus which could hobble Britain's economy, cost billions and not even be effective.
The British government has embarked on an ambitious and legally-binding climate change reduce the country's greenhouse gas emissions to Net Zero by 2050. The Net Zero policy was subject to almost no parliamentary or public scrutiny, and is universally approved by our political class. But what will its consequences be?
Ross Clark argues that it is a terrible mistake, an impractical hostage to fortune which will have massive downsides. Achieving the target is predicated on the rapid development of technologies that are either non-existent, highly speculative or untested. Clark shows that efforts to achieve the target will inevitably result in a huge hit to living standards, which will clobber the poorest hardest, and gift a massive geopolitical advantage to hostile superpowers such as China and Russia. The unrealistic and rigid timetable it imposes could also result in our committing to technologies which turn out to be ineffective, all while distracting ourselves from the far more important objective of adaptation.
This hard-hitting polemic provides a timely critique of a potentially devastating political consensus which could hobble Britain's economy, cost billions and not even be effective.
330 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 2, 2023
24 people are currently reading
163 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
April 11, 2023
I really enjoyed reading this book though at the same time it's grim reading. The UK governments seemingly unique decision to make net zero by 2050 a legal target has increasingly looked like folly to me for a while and this book confirms the worst fears of this. Get rid of the target, take the pressure off and better decisions are likely to result!
July 5, 2024
Well written and well researched, essential reading for everyone, regardless of your position on climate change.
February 9, 2023
This book puts technical detail to prove how unachievable Net Zero is and what is costing the Nation to achieve basically Zero. Every politician needs to read it and get a grip to stop any further nonsense please 🙏
February 11, 2024
An informative read.
Ross Clarke rambles a little but the message is clear the Net Zero target of 2050 that the UK has self imposed within its legislation, has led to the government focusing on the wrong things. These in tern will increase UK's dependance on the rest of the world and create further energy and food scarcity.
Unfortunately, as the UK government does with a lot of things, their climate policies are very much driven by manipulation of statistics, fear and scare mongering. Rather than hard facts and science.
I found this an interesting read. That regardless of your views on climate change, I think one could learn something from this.
Has definitely sparked a bit of an interest for me. A subject which I will hopefully read into more.
Ross Clarke rambles a little but the message is clear the Net Zero target of 2050 that the UK has self imposed within its legislation, has led to the government focusing on the wrong things. These in tern will increase UK's dependance on the rest of the world and create further energy and food scarcity.
Unfortunately, as the UK government does with a lot of things, their climate policies are very much driven by manipulation of statistics, fear and scare mongering. Rather than hard facts and science.
I found this an interesting read. That regardless of your views on climate change, I think one could learn something from this.
Has definitely sparked a bit of an interest for me. A subject which I will hopefully read into more.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 18, 2023
A very clear and concise antidote to the hysteria surrounding anthropomorphic climate change. It also dismantles the bizarre decision by the UK Government to make a legal obligation to reach ‘Net Zero’ by 2050 without a strategy for achieving this goal. The only thing that will be achieved is that the government of the day will be perpetually inundated with legal actions taken by environmental groups whenever they think the government is taking a step in contravention to this legal obligation. Ultimately, economic necessity will trump this obligation and it will, like almost every other country, revert to be an aspiration rather than a promise. Recommended
March 30, 2023
An excellent dismantling of the crazy policies our politicians are inflicting on us. The author demonstrates that the people who have recommended and made these decisions have absolutely no idea how much they will cost, no idea of whether they will work or the technologies they are relying on will deliver and worst of all he shows how many of the measures that they have already put in place are actually increasing the amount of CO2 we pump into the atmosphere instead of reducing it. If you care about your future please read this book.
June 13, 2023
The book is quite a read and I recommend it to everyone. As a sustainability expert I believe most of the chapters have more or less valid points except the one of agriculture and vegan food which was not convincing. Also, I took one star out because as usual, the author did not mention anything about the single absolute measure which all can take to help the planet: reproduce less people!
June 27, 2023
Should be recommended reading for schools.
Should be recommended reading for schools and all educational establishments.
Should also be recommended to Guardian readers, MP's and Local Government Officials.
Should be recommended reading for schools and all educational establishments.
Should also be recommended to Guardian readers, MP's and Local Government Officials.
October 29, 2023
Required reading for politicians
Written by someone who understands math and physics.
However, leaves unstated how politicians and activists can continue to lie to their public’s about “net zero by…” and get re-elected.
Written by someone who understands math and physics.
However, leaves unstated how politicians and activists can continue to lie to their public’s about “net zero by…” and get re-elected.
April 25, 2023
If you read only one book this year, make it this one…
Blows apart the dash for net zero that all parties are pushing for and joins the dots linking climate change with the whole great reset scam…
Blows apart the dash for net zero that all parties are pushing for and joins the dots linking climate change with the whole great reset scam…
June 17, 2023
Everyone should read this excellent book, especially politicians, journalists and Greta Thunberg.
January 3, 2025
Made me think and question some of the alarmism around climate change
March 2, 2025
Mandatory reading for anyone concerned about energy independence and the future of our country/planet.
July 20, 2023
Timely advice for victims of groupthink
Policy should be driven by unmassaged data and a realistic approach to technical feasibility and risk management. This book promotes that approach and offers good advice to policy-makers
Policy should be driven by unmassaged data and a realistic approach to technical feasibility and risk management. This book promotes that approach and offers good advice to policy-makers
January 1, 2025
Some interesting bits, but generally wouldn't make the top of my recommendations list.
A book written by a journalist who specialises in criticising the government policy, not a specialist in the area (and it would take a fair few to properly cover all the areas discussed).
I'm probably not the target audience but I'm not sure who is.
The writing was repetitive at times and would benefit from further editing.
A book written by a journalist who specialises in criticising the government policy, not a specialist in the area (and it would take a fair few to properly cover all the areas discussed).
I'm probably not the target audience but I'm not sure who is.
The writing was repetitive at times and would benefit from further editing.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews