The policy of achieving Net Zero, which aims to erase Britons’ collective carbon footprint, has been widely supported by the public and the media for many years. However, according to Andrew Montford, the head of a Net Zero watchdog, this support is superficial and relies on people not fully understanding the extent of the changes that will be required in their lives as Britain transitions to a Net Zero future.
Montford believes that people will soon realize the difficulties that lie ahead. For example, he discusses how the ability to fly off on summer holidays will be reserved for the wealthy in a Net Zero world. He also highlights the government’s plan to have all new cars be electric by 2030, which could lead to a significant decrease in car ownership. However, the grid infrastructure is not prepared to handle the increased demand for power that will come with a surge in electric vehicles.
Montford’s organization, Net Zero Watch, challenges the government’s Net Zero policies. He argues that the UK’s carbon emissions are minimal compared to countries like China, and therefore, any efforts made by the UK will have little impact on global emissions. He questions why Britain has positioned itself as a leader on Net Zero, suggesting that political motivations and funding of climate science in the UK have played a role.
In recent years, some journalists have started to challenge the concept of Net Zero and climate change. However, Montford explains that in the past, journalists self-censored on these topics due to pressure from complaints filed with the press regulator, IMPRESS. This limited the scope of public debate and prevented alternate viewpoints from being discussed.
Despite polling indicating public support for Net Zero policies, Montford argues that this support would wane if people were made aware of the potential costs associated with such policies. He suggests that people prioritize other areas, such as healthcare and leisure activities, over decarbonization efforts. Montford characterizes current support for Net Zero as virtue signaling and argues that people’s real priorities lie elsewhere.