Net Zero Policies: Are We Paying the Price for Empty Promises

Until recently, I was a firm believer in the Net Zero narrative—we need to de-carbonize to preserve our way of life. That was until I conducted some research of my own. It became evident that no single country could make a difference on its own; it would require the collective effort of all nations.

What I discovered left me feeling betrayed, first by the Labour government and, for the past 14 years, by the Conservative government. I began to question how the senior leadership of both parties could have gotten it so wrong. Were they simply incompetent, or were their motives questionable?

One of the first things I researched was the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. This is a good question to ask any green activist: do they know the answer? The percentage of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is estimated to be 0.042%—a tiny amount. It is estimated to have increased by only 0.014% over the last 200 years due to human activity. This is a shockingly small increase considering that nitrogen makes up 78%, oxygen 21%, and even argon 0.93%.

Next, I looked at the UK's impact compared to other countries. At the height of coal-fired power station use in the UK during the 1960s and 70s, Britain had 50 coal-fired power stations. In 2024 alone, China began building coal-fired power plants equivalent to 94 medium-sized power plants, and they currently have 3,092 coal-fired power plants.

I then examined the financial cost to us. The average price per kilowatt-hour (kWh) in the UK was £0.36 in the second half of 2024, compared to €0.289 in Europe and $0.165 in the US. Why are the British public paying so much for their energy, leading many into fuel poverty, when it makes no significant difference to the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere?

It is estimated that we are paying up to 40% more for our electricity due to the Net Zero energy policy. This is because of the subsidies we pay to green energy producers, the high costs when the wind doesn't blow, and the money we pay when there is too much wind and the wind turbines have to be shut down—costs that are all reflected in our bills.

If the government truly wanted to reduce global carbon emissions, they should encourage major carbon-producing countries to decarbonize by imposing tariffs on goods produced using fossil fuels. Of course, they won't do that—it could cause huge economic problems, requires courage, and isn't an attractive soundbite. It's easier to impose the burden on the British people. How committed are they, really?

Disclaimer: While this article aligns with the principles outlined in Reform UK's 'Contract with the People,' the views expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official policy positions of Reform UK.