On the Brink of Triumph, Green Faces Its Nemesis

The global energy shortage is making Green look like a failure, laments the New York Times, even as politicians meet to enshrine it. “Some governments across the continent now fear that higher heating bills this winter could bolster populists in upcoming national elections in several countries. Hungary has claimed that rising gas prices are linked to the European Union’s climate ambitions, which its prime minister, Viktor Orban, decried as ‘utopian fantasy.’ Poland, a major coal producer that has never been a fan of the European Commission’s emissions-reductions targets, has pressed Brussels to change or delay some of its proposed measures.” But it’s not Green’s fault. In reality, the conjunction of global energy shortages and the shutdown of oil and gas supplies have been due to bad luck. “Global demand for gas rose sharply just as winds in Northern Europe (where there is significant wind power) dropped off and gas reserves ran low during a long, lockdown winter.” The failure of wind power itself may be caused by climate change, a phenomenon called global stilling. “Industry experts are warning that climate change may have caused wind speeds in Europe to plummet this year in news that threatens to drive energy prices even higher.”-- More...