By Gerardo Del Caz
(Opinion) Carbon dioxide is a fundamental natural gas involved in biological processes such as photosynthesis or ocean pH balance.
Demonizing a chemical element and basing political action on it is typical of ignoramuses and implies subordinating industrial policy, employment, and the prosperity of societies to slogans and cheap maximalism with no scientific basis.
If today’s politics is characterized by anything, it is by simplifying complex issues to progressively – never better said – turn these questions into slogans first and then into unquestionable axes of political action.
For years, the so-called “left” has been pursuing the demonization of economic activity under the cover of the climate change hypothesis.
Let us not deceive ourselves; politicians aim not to preserve the planet Earth or that the crabs of the Mississippi River continue to live in their natural habitat.
The aim is that, under the premise of environmental warning and using fear and collective interest, the population can accept that the political class assumes powers of regulation and control over economic activity and the way of life of individuals.
All this through, among many other things, the domination of energy sources to favor a certain economic and social model in which there will be less and less freedom and space for individual initiative.
Carbon dioxide is a perfect excuse and target since it is one of the gases generated in the combustion processes of fossil fuels.
Therefore, it is associated with society’s most basic energy transformation processes, from individual transport by automobile, airplanes, or electricity generation.
When, with supine ignorance, people talk about “decarbonizing the economy” or mention “carbon neutrality”, they are aiming to reduce and eliminate CO2 emissions, automatically assuming that these are responsible for a hypothetical environmental problem and that, through a royal decree and legislative roller coaster, these environmental damages can be avoided simply by putting an end to emissions of this gas.
The reality is much more complicated and requires much more knowledge to issue simple, empty messages with dangerous consequences.
First of all, CO2 is a fundamental gas for life on Earth.
The carbon cycle and photosynthesis are based on this gas and its transformation into oxygen.
Without CO2, there could be no life on our planet.
The presence of CO2 in the Earth’s atmosphere is approximately 390 parts per million or 0.039% of the total gases that make up the Earth’s atmosphere; without it, there would be no plants, no food, and no humans.
How can this gas be called an “enemy”? Is it simple ignorance?
The answer is that the fear of CO2 and the environmental alarm give rise to the acceptance and approval of regulations and restrictions that have clear repercussions on people’s lives and that certain policies that curtail individual economic capacity and freedom are considered desirable.
The farce of the left on decarbonization and the urgent and ruthless attack against emissions fall by themselves when it is observed that Spain is only responsible for 0.58% of CO2 emissions by industrial activity in the world compared to countries like China (30%), United States (14%) or India (10%) that, or will not implement any measures or, if they do, will be minimal and without compromising its economy and, always, unlike Spain, defending their interests and those of its economy.
When a farmer in Palencia is required to “decarbonize his economic activity” as if he were guilty of something for providing for his family as best he can, what is ignored or omitted is that he will be forced to pay up to 60% more in energy products, to have to give up diesel, to have to get rid of his production assets and, for example, to have to buy new vehicles with some “green” or colorful label that will be more expensive and will involve unaffordable investments.
For our compatriot farmer, decarbonization will mean an additional investment compromising his economic viability.
Who will be able to afford it?
Of course, large landowners, large companies, and investment funds will progressively eliminate family farming from the production landscape.
And while the crowds at socialist rallies ignorantly applaud this measure, do you think, readers, that in Morocco, Algeria, or other countries competing in agricultural products, their farmers are being forced to “decarbonize”?
Does this matter to Spanish politicians who ask to decarbonize everything except their official cars or the Falcons in which they attend party meetings?
In Spain, out of ignorance, bad faith, and cowardice, legislation has been passed that harms our economic activity and the weakest.
Amid the escalation of electricity prices, amidst cheers and riots, the demolition of the cooling towers of the thermal power plant in Andorra, Teruel, or the forthcoming closure of Carboneras, Almeria, was celebrated like the Taliban in front of the Buddhas of Bamiyan.
Those who applauded it are probably unaware that, while electricity was paid at more than €200/MWh, already depreciated power plants that produced electricity at up to €35/MWh were eliminated, eliminating installed capacity, accentuating a shortage and a precariousness in the system from which only the large production companies benefit.
In this green and CO2-free strategy, they see a way to reduce supply and raise the price of electricity.
Indeed, between hollow slogans and the background noise of applause at political parties’ rallies, all feeling that they are defenders of Mother Earth, there is no mention of the terrible consequences, the costs to be borne, or the loss of economic competitiveness.
And when someone dares to say that the emperor is naked, that the so-called “decarbonization policy” will only generate precariousness and unemployment and will harm the weakest, or that he does care about the farmers of Palencia and that Spain and its agriculture can compete with products from Morocco, that person will be mercilessly singled out and accused precisely of not wanting to save the Earth or the crabs of the Mississippi.
Being on the supposedly high moral level of the left and being very concerned about the planet has plunged us into an energy precariousness that can be seen in the electricity prices, to the delight of the electric companies.
Is it possible to conceive of rulers and legislators who lead their country to energy precariousness?
Can anyone imagine that a government, instead of favoring the energy supply, eliminates it by giving more power to the generating companies?
In Spain, yes, clearly. And all with the excuse of decarbonization.
When you next hear a politician talk about how bad emissions are, ask yourself what it will cost you and our country.
With information from LGI