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In the UK we like to pretend to not emit CO2 by closing down our own steel production, and importing it instead. https://www.theguardian.com/business/2024/jan/

In the UK we like to pretend to not emit CO2 by closing down our own steel production, and importing it instead. https://www.theguardian.com/business/2024/jan/18/tata-steel-to-shut-down-port-talbot-blast-furnaces-3000-jobs-at-risk https://www.theguardian.com/business/2024/jan/18/tata-steel-...

parski 3y ago
This is how we will get to net zero and it's so sad.
christkv 3y ago
This represents a long term critical security risk for Europe as a whole.
pjc50 3y ago
Steel is not magic. People don't get this excited over UK copper and lead production. The UK was a steel leader due to easily accessible iron resources, which are greatly depleted now. It is worth considering the environmental footprint of our trading partners, but note that they are rapidly improving as well as renewables come down the cost curve.
- okeuro49 3y ago
  Countries like China are just building more coal power stations, while the UK trashes its small remaining industry, pretending to save CO2. https://energyandcleanair.org/publication/chinas-new-coal-power-spree-continues-as-more-provinces-jump-on-the-bandwagon/ https://energyandcleanair.org/publication/chinas-new-coal-po...
  - pjc50 3y ago
    China also installed 200GW of solar. https://www.euronews.com/green/2023/12/29/europe-us-china-where-installed-the-most-wind-and-solar-power-in-2023 https://www.euronews.com/green/2023/12/29/europe-us-china-wh... ; the cost curve is turning and there are central directives from the country to use a minimum quota of renewable energy in production. The UK industry is just uneconomic, it's not a green issue.
weberer 3y ago
Yeah, its the same with most manufacturing in western countries. Then politicians can pat themselves on the back for "doing something to fight climate change" when they probably just lead to a net increase in emissions. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/15/World_fossil_carbon_dioxide_emissions_six_top_countries_and_confederations.png https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/15/World_fo...
Cthulhu_ 3y ago
Same with plastic recycling, if it's packaged up and exported you get the tickbox. It's a great example of Goodheart's Law being applied, focusing on the local metric (reduced emissions in our neck of the woods! Look at us meeting the Paris agreement!) without solving or even exacerbating the underlying problem (steel production in countries with less carbon emission rules, added emissions due to shipping, and big ships use really shitty bunker fuel anyway)

parski 3y ago

This is how we will get to net zero and it's so sad.

christkv 3y ago

This represents a long term critical security risk for Europe as a whole.

pjc50 3y ago

Steel is not magic. People don't get this excited over UK copper and lead production. The UK was a steel leader due to easily accessible iron resources, which are greatly depleted now. It is worth considering the environmental footprint of our trading partners, but note that they are rapidly improving as well as renewables come down the cost curve.

okeuro49 3y ago
Countries like China are just building more coal power stations, while the UK trashes its small remaining industry, pretending to save CO2. https://energyandcleanair.org/publication/chinas-new-coal-power-spree-continues-as-more-provinces-jump-on-the-bandwagon/ https://energyandcleanair.org/publication/chinas-new-coal-po...
- pjc50 3y ago
  China also installed 200GW of solar. https://www.euronews.com/green/2023/12/29/europe-us-china-where-installed-the-most-wind-and-solar-power-in-2023 https://www.euronews.com/green/2023/12/29/europe-us-china-wh... ; the cost curve is turning and there are central directives from the country to use a minimum quota of renewable energy in production. The UK industry is just uneconomic, it's not a green issue.

weberer 3y ago

Yeah, its the same with most manufacturing in western countries. Then politicians can pat themselves on the back for "doing something to fight climate change" when they probably just lead to a net increase in emissions. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/15/World_fossil_carbon_dioxide_emissions_six_top_countries_and_confederations.png https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/15/World_fo...

Cthulhu_ 3y ago

Same with plastic recycling, if it's packaged up and exported you get the tickbox. It's a great example of Goodheart's Law being applied, focusing on the local metric (reduced emissions in our neck of the woods! Look at us meeting the Paris agreement!) without solving or even exacerbating the underlying problem (steel production in countries with less carbon emission rules, added emissions due to shipping, and big ships use really shitty bunker fuel anyway)