Concerns about the environment appear to be pushed to the back burner as Europe faces a worsening energy crisis. The crisis as a result of NATO’s sanctions war with Russia. Russia formerly supplied 40% of the natural gas imports to the EU along with a large portion of European oil needs.
As a result of the crisis, Europe is using much more coal, which is increasing levels of air pollution and CO2 emissions.
Emissions related to shipping oil and gas are way up as pipelines are replaced with fleets of overseas tankers and LNG carriers. In the case of LNG, much of it is coming from China, but its ultimate origin is Russia. Europe ends up burning Russian gas but at 10 times the price and higher carbon emissions.
The crisis is only going to get worse as winter weather arrives. Even with the extra coal, firewood, and hyper-expensive LNG imports, cold homes and rolling blackouts are looming.
The Annalena Baerbock, German minister and green party leader, has been leading the charge for a self-imposed embargo on energy imports from Russia. She makes it clear that winning the war in Ukraine trumps everything else:
Yes, ironically German environmentalists are driving the country towards cold, dark homes and sooty cities.
Firewood and coal can only partially replace the huge hole left by the lack of clean Russian gas.
I would not be surprised to see a large number of Germans heading south for the winter. It may be cheaper to rent a place in southern Spain than to heat their homes in Germany.
Critprogs never consider the consequences of their virtue tantrums. They just flit from virtue signal to signal.
Children throwing tantrums.
They believe all change is “progress”. The basic difference with conservatives is that the latter advocates reasoned change. Consider the consequences, be measured.
“Democratic Socialism” is no different.
“We want it and we want it now!”
“The people flooding in here illegally are fleeing it, it doesn’t work.”
“They did it wrong! The US interfered! We’ll do it right!”
The mindset goes all the way back to at least Marx. It doesn’t work because it defies human nature. Which means it will never work. It’s not sciencey, it’s emotional.
As far as it takes. Bureaucracrats are incapable of admitting they are wrong or changing course. They cling to their beliefs with a religiosity, a fervor, a zealotry that makes the Taliban pale in comparison. They don’t think they are right, they KNOW they are right.
The model does not yet exist where humans will sacrifice now to counter some threat in the future they cannot see, and where the benefits will accrue not to them, but to future progeny.
Yes, everyone works for their own self interests. Literally everyone. Environmentalists are not altruistic, they believe a clean habitat is in their self interest.
Carlin’s quote is contradictory. “Environmentalists don’t give a ■■■■ about the planet,” and they want “a clean place to live; their own habitat.” Did Carlin think environmentalists lived on another planet?
