In the De Broeikas section, climate reporter Jeroen Kraan writes every week about what strikes him. This week: the need for climate policy is underlined time and time again, but we are there and look at it. Why?
People sometimes ask me if life as a climate reporter is not all dull misery. Fortunately I don’t experience that, but some weeks are better than others. For example, it is a less fun week if you have to bring the news that the Atlantic Gulf Stream may stop faster than we thought earlier.
That would have huge consequences worldwide. Reports about the collapsed golf current often deal with the Elfstedenwinters that would meet the Netherlands, but more important are the heat, desert formation and drought on different parts of the globe, with large food shortages as a very conceivable consequence. If we continue to emit the current foot, we can reach this tipping point around the year 2060.
Why does the world not intervene when we see things like this approaching us, a colleague then asked me. He wanted to know if we had already answered that question in an article.
It made me quiet for a moment. For almost four years I have been writing about the immense complexity of the energy transition, the clashing economic interests, the required behavioral change. Now I was asked if I wanted to answer this bizarre complex question in seven hundred words. I asked my colleague if I could also take a whole book for it.
Yet later in the week I felt that the answer might not be that complicated at all. That started with a message from Reuters news agency, in which European automakers state that it is “no longer feasible” to achieve legal EU emissions goals.
For a moment I wondered if I had ended up in a time machine. After a lot of lobby, the automakers had already managed that the CO2 goals were pushed back before 2025? But no, this turned out to be about the goal to only sell emissions -free cars in 2035.
The 2035 goal was proposed by the European Commission in 2021 and included in the law two years later. But the foreman of the ACEA branch association, also director of Mercedes-Benz, therefore thinks that even with a fourteen year of start-up time it will not be possible to make a full switch to electric cars.
In the meantime, more than half of the cars sold have a plug in China. The prices of electric cars are falling so fast that there are now also plug models among the cheapest new cars in the Netherlands. It is obvious that in ten years you have to be crazy to buy a brand new petrol car, but the European manufacturers hope to keep this fossil alive for longer.
To lend a hand, the outgoing cabinet takes another 1.6 billion euros to extend the excise tax credit to gasoline drivers. This inverted quarter of Kok (Wikipedia-Link for the Z readers gene) was once created due to a sudden price increase during the energy crisis. But that is no longer an issue. Now a very expensive way remains to slow down the rise of the electric car a little.
But it can always be crazier. On the other side of the ocean, President Donald Trump ordered that the construction of a wind farm at sea is being stopped, while it has already been completed for 80 percent. Trump, whose windmill hatred seems to have been fueled by the construction of turbines in addition to his Scottish golf resort, relies on unclear threats of national security.
While the American tech giants are investing hundreds of billions in energy-slurping factories that generate text and pictures, the Trump government is waging war against renewable energy. As a result, the many new data centers will be even more dependent on gas or even coal.
And then Trump has also engaged five climate skeptics to write a report that contradicts established climate science, for example by labeling CO2 as harmless plant food. The broddel work is almost funny, were it not for the fact that this report will soon form the basis for the large -scale abolition of climate policy.
To come back to that complicated question: why is the world watching passively while the climate change is racing at us? I fear that an important part of the answer is: because we don’t feel like doing anything about it.
In The Section The Greenhouse , Climate Reporter Jeroen Kraan Writes Weekly about what he notices. This week: The Necessity of Climate Policy is underlined time and again, but we stand by and Watch. Why?
People Sometimes Ask Me If Life As A Climate Reporter is Nothing But Dull Misery. Fortunately, I Don’t Experience It That Way, But Some Week Are Better Than Others. For example, it is a less fun week if you have to bring the news that the Atlantic Gulf Stream May Stop Faster Than We Previously Thought.
That would have gigantic consequences worldwide. In Reports about the collapsed gulf stream, it is of about the eleven-city Winters that the Netherlands would like face, But More Important Are the Heat, Desertification and Drought in Different Parts of the Globe, with Major Food Shortages. If we continuously to emit at the current rate, we can reach this tipping point around the year 2060.
Why Doesn’t the World Intervene when we see these children of things come our way, a creameague then asked me. He wanted to know if we had ever answer that question in an article.
I Was Silent for A Moment. I have leg writing about the immense complexity of the energy transition, the conflicting economic interests, the necessary behavioral change for almost four years now. Now I was asked if I wanted to Answer this bizarrely complex Question in Seven Hundred Words. I Asked My Colleague If I Could also Take Out An Entire Book for It.
Yet later in the week I was struck by the feeling that the answer might not be that complicated at all. It starts with a report from the press agency reuters , in which European automakers state that it is “no longer feasible” to meet legal eu emission targets.
For a moment I Wonde IF I had landed in a time machine. After much lobbying, the automakers had Already managed to postpone the CO2 targets for 2025? But no, this turned out to be about the goal of only selling emission-free cars in 2035.
The 2035 Target was proposed by the European Commission in 2021 and incorporated Into Law Two Years later. But The Leader of Industry Association ACEA, also Director of Mercedes-Benz, Thinks that equally with fourteen years of lead time it will not be possible to make a complete switch to electric cars.
Meanwhile, in China, more than half of the cars sold already have a plug. The Prices of Electric Cars Are Falling So Quickly That There Are Now also Plug-In Models Among The Cheapest New Cars in the Netherlands. It is obvious that in ten years you would have to be crazy to buy a brand new gasoline car, but European manufacturers still hope to keep this fossil alive for longer.
To Lend A Hand, The Outgoing Cabinet is Allocating Another 1.6 Billion Euros to Extend the Excise Duty Discount for Gasoline Drivers. This Reverse Quarter of Kok (Wikipedia Link for the Gen Z Readers) was Once Created because of a Sudden Price Increase Duration the Energy Crisis. But that is no longer the case. Now There Remains A Very Exensive Way to Slow Down the Rise of the Electric Car A Little Bit.
But it can always be crazier. On the other side of the ocean, President Donald Trump Has Ordered the Construction of An Offshore Wind Farm to Be Stopped, While It is Already 80 percent Completed. Trump, Whose Hatred of Windmills Seems To Have Been Sparked by the Construction of Turbines Next to his Scottish Golf Resort, is Invoking Vague Threats to National Security.
While American Tech Giants Are Investing Hundreds of Billions in Energy-Guzzling Factories That Generate Text And Images, The Trump Administration is War on Renewable Energy. As a result, the many new data centers will be even more dependent on gas or even coal.
And then Trump also Hired Five Climate Skeptics to Write A Report That Contradicts Established Climate Science, By, For Example, Labeling CO2 AS Harmless Plant Food. The Hack Job is Almost Funny, Were It Not That This Report Will Soon Form for the Large-Scale Abolition of Climate Policy.
To return to that complicated question: Why is the world passively watching while climate change is Rushing Towards US? I fear that an important part of the answer is: because we don’t feel like doing anything about it.