David Vance SubstackRead More
Did you see that the European Commission has issued its latest decree; work from home, drive less, fly less, and “urgently” accelerate the rollout of renewables. The reason given by them is “prolonged energy crisis” triggered by theconflict in the Gulf. In other words, after years of sanctimonious lecturing about climate leadership, the EU now admits its energy strategy is so fragile that a flare-up thousands of kilometres away can plunge the continent into panic.
This is the inevitable result of European ideological incompetence. For over a decade the clowns in the Commission have obsessed over net-zero targets, shutting coal plants, demonising nuclear power. This has made Europe dangerously dependent on imported gas and intermittent wind and solar. The Energy infrastructure it has been manoeuvring into situ is too fragile and now we all see it!
When Russia turned off the taps, Brussels pivoted to LNG from America and Qatar. Now Gulf instability partly threatens that lifeline and the Commission’s response is to tell citizens to stay indoors and cancel their holidays. How pathetic is that?
The economic absurdity at the heart of this is what I find really staggering. Aviation, road freight, tourism and manufacturing—sectors that employ millions—face yet another round of self-inflicted pain. Small businesses already hammered by record energy prices will be told to dim the lights and hope the wind blows. It’s almost as if they want to commit economic suicide!
Just take a moment to look at Germany. It’s Net Zero compliant Energy policy has produced some of the highest electricity costs in the developed world and an embarrassing reliance on coal restarts when the sun refuses to shine. Germany’s coal phase-out targets aim for a complete exit by 2038, with the possibility of accelerating to 2035 based on progress reviews in 2026, 2029, and 2032. That is when the lights will go out.
Their hypocrisy is grotesque. EC President Ursula von der Leyen and her colleagues jet between climate summits, protected by motorcades and private flights, while lecturing the rest of us about “behaviour change.” and the need to stay at home. Their risible Green Deal was sold to us as a growth strategy; it has proven to do the opposite enforced by remote-working edicts and travel guilt.
Europe does not lack energy resources but it lacks the political courage to choose reliable, affordable power over ideological purity. Renewables may be part of the overall energy mix, but they cannot and will never be the whole answer. The Gulf crisis has absolutely exposed an energy policy that is dictated by ideology rather than engineering or economics. Until Brussels stops treating its citizens as guilty consumers who must be rationed, Europe will remain hostage to every distant conflict and every cloudy day.
The Commission’s latest plea is not a plan. It is an admission of absolute failure.
