The third paragraph I take to be tongue in cheek; the 'advisers' have done none of these things; it's all about ideology, ignorance and religion; chicken entrails.

And, why do most people claiming to know everything still confuse carbon dioxide with carbon!

None of the smartarses will have to take responsibility when the results of their ideology and stupidity occur some time in the future. Climate change is not 'crap', as Tony Abbott announced. The real crap comes from the arrogantly stupid people who think they can 'fix' it by ruining the economy and our lives.

Some energy may be free! But the cost of collecting it, astronomical!
Wind turbines, e.g., have to turn for 30 years just to offset the caron created in their construction. Moreover, they're intermittent with averaged peak supply averaging just 15%?

Solar voltaic come with mountains of toxic waste much of which is already in our oceans and for centuries, making wild fish stocks unavailable due to their toxicity. (Mercury, lead, arsenic and cadmium, just to name some. Moreover, only available during daylight hours. Meaning, needing very expensive backups that blow energy price through the proverbial roof. Can anyone believe, steel smelting using huge arc furnances could make affordable steel if power prices topped 50 cents plus PKWH!?

No, not possible or on, or any local manufacture or processing. Can see under such outcomes everything being outsourced offshore. The only solution with a snowflakes chance in hell of avoiding that outcome is the nuclear option. As MSR thorium with power prices as low as 1 cent PKWH. And carbon free to boot! See LFTR in five minutes.

Coal like the steam driven coal-fired trains of yesteryear have had their day! Besides coal and gas prices have made coal and gas the most unaffordable options and any party clinging to them as an option likely to spend years in the political wilderness! Nor is virtually sitting hands or wringing them, bewailing our circumstances while benefiting from the robes of office, on! Governments are elected to solve problems not bewail them because the only real and viable solution is politically unpalatable!

Don't just do something, stand there!
Alan B.

Over one in two global jobs in the wind and solar industry are in China, with less than one half of 1 per cent in Australia.

China controls the manufacturing supply of 80 per cent of the solar panels imported into Australia.

The International Energy Agency announced that it estimates that China will control 95 per cent of all solar manufacturing by 2025.

Net zero will dramatically increase the offshoring of Australian jobs and industry to China. So much so, in fact, that it is a clear and present danger to our energy and national security.

Net zero will dramatically increase the offshoring of Australian jobs and industry to China.

No confusion ttbn. Carbon dioxide is the gaseous form of carbon and produced by burning hydro-carbons in the presence of oxygen. This then creates the carbon dioxide, i.e., CO2.

CO2 is a natural fertilizer that promotes plant growth, which is called the greenhouse effect, given it in turn pumps more moisture into the atmosphere which in turn traps more heat. CO2 on its own traps infrared radiant heat and holds it just metres above ground level.

We can extract it and combine it with hydrogen to create endlessly sustainable liquid fuels, lubricants, fertilizers and plastics. See LFTR in five minutes.

Many of these manmade alternative plastics as strong as steel and can be made to look like real wood of every type. Lots of jobs and wealth creating opportunities here. MSR thorium (nuclear power) is the vital and only key!
Alan B.

Net Zero = Stone Age

You have put all the crucial questions Geoff- good article.

I am an energy and emissions analyst; my website is: cleanenergymodelling.com

I'll posit a few essential actions and in future write an article outlining the answers, which entail radical change to 'western' lifestyles:

- No red meat
- No cars as we know them. E-bicycles and e-scooters need to be ubiquitous; 'kei' EV's - (2 seater 1.5 by 3m) would be biggest personal transport
- Electrify all transport
- Flights to become a 10 yearly, economy class thing if at all
- smaller electrified insulated dwellings with PV and batteries

Yes a carbon tax is needed. On top of that, flights, car licensing and red meats need to be taxed according to the deaths (climate and other) they cause now and in the future.

All these taxes need to be spent on decarbonizing our lifestyle, such as:
- Providing free electric public transport
- Subsidies for electrifying and insulating homes
- Downsizing the huge McMansions - cutting them in half to make two homes
- Green housing developments - with trees, locals shops and low rise units instead of 'grey sprawl'