Labour Considering Net Zero By 2030

By Paul Homewood

h/t Robin Guenier

In the race to the bottom, Labour are now seriously considering net zero emissions by 2030:

Labour is pledging to invest billions of pounds in electric car production and offshore wind farms to accelerate the "green industrial revolution".

A future Labour government would take equity stakes in car producers in return for a £3bn capital investment in new electric models and machinery.

Thirty-seven publicly-owned wind farms will be built, with the profits used to regenerate deprived coastal areas.

Delegates will also debate the pace of decarbonisation at the conference.

Earlier this year, Parliament approved a law requiring the UK to bring all greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050, a stricter target compared with the previous one of at least an 80% reduction from 1990 levels.

But the Momentum campaign group is leading calls at conference for Labour to adopt an even more ambitious timetable, with the aim of reaching zero net emissions by 2030.

Shadow business secretary Rebecca Long Bailey said she would be willing to support the more ambitious target if there was a "credible plan with trade unions and industry", and a "just transition" that did not adversely affect workers.

She told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: "Provided we have a plan, I am happy to work as quickly as possible. I know we have got to act faster and we’ve got to push people to do that."

Some unions, including the GMB, are concerned this is too ambitious and want guarantees that it will not lead to massive job losses in the automotive, energy and industrial sectors.

Firms will be able to bid for funding over two years to bring new models to market, in return for the government taking an equity stake in their business.

A further £2.3bn will be set aside to build three battery plants to supply electric cars. The plants are earmarked for South Wales, Stoke and Swindon – the latter potentially on the site of the Honda factory due to close in 2021.

Labour has already signalled this week it would spend £3.6bn on new electric charging infrastructure and introduce 2.5 million interest free loans to spur the take-up of electric models.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-49804455

Idiots like Long-Bailey (qualifications – solicitor) seem to think you can cut emissions to nothing just by issuing a few directives and nationalising everything in sight.

As for the plan to throw billions at EVs, I seem to recall we have been down the road of state owned car plants before, and that did not work out to well!