Wanted: Global Leadership with Sound Economics for all 8 Billion people
Looking for energy sanity when we need it.
In the current political setting, it is very hard to find a rational energy thinker. Most political voices are now stuck with decades old thinking and disproved social theories. In fact, anyone who has changed their minds about the important issues of the day is said to lack principle. All things energy and environmental seem like the classic example of that principle or lack thereof.
Our global leaders can’t seem to bring themselves to forget about “saving the planet” long enough to make a practical political plan for their individual countries and its people, complete with energy and economic development in the same sentence with environment.
That said, I feel compelled to recognize the importance of Gernany’s Robert Habeck. He is unflinchingly addressing German energy problems head on.
Hopefully, his rational energy thinking is contagious, especially in the EU.
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“By most accounts Mr Habeck has done well. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February placed Germany in a dilemma. Decades of misguided policy had hooked Europe’s biggest economy on Russian fossil fuels. Pipelines from Siberia supplied 55% of its natural gas. But with a mix of charm, money and dealmaking, Mr Habeck has helped shield Germany from potential blackmail by trimming gas use and finding new suppliers. Enhancing his reputation for pragmatism (some would say lack of principle), the vice-chancellor muted his Green beliefs to reignite mothballed coal-fired power stations. A similar nose-holding green light may also keep Germany’s last three nuclear power plants open. They were to close in December as part of a longstanding plan to scrap nuclear power. Polls show even a majority of Green voters realise that, right now, that would be stupid.”
http://espresso.economist.com/90da3608667e990227e76560921e5fa7
Weekend profile: Robert Habeck, Germany’s energy hero from TheEconomist
As a chemist, I admired APS as a sound and conservative voice for many years.
A new low point has now been reached in the debasement of our scientific and cultural institutions.