Blair says current net zero policies 'doomed to fail'

[Social Media]

 

Former Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair has called for a sweeping reassessment of current climate change strategies, warning that the global push for net zero emissions has taken an "irrational" turn. In a bold critique of prevailing green policies, Blair argued that the current approach, which asks citizens in developed countries to make significant lifestyle and financial sacrifices, is unlikely to succeed and risks undermining public support for climate action altogether.

 

 

Blair delivered his remarks in a foreword to a new report by the Tony Blair Institute, his own think tank, which advocates for a more realistic and economically sustainable climate policy. He warned that the effort to phase out fossil fuels rapidly is "doomed to fail," citing what he called “inconvenient facts” — a pointed nod to Al Gore’s famed description of climate change as an “inconvenient truth.”

 

 

“Political leaders by and large know that the debate has become irrational. But they’re terrified of saying so, for fear of being accused of being ‘climate deniers’,” Blair stated, expressing frustration that necessary debate on the practicality of current green policies is being silenced.

 

Highlighting the global energy outlook, Blair noted that airline travel is set to double in the next two decades, while urbanisation will fuel a 40 percent increase in demand for steel and a 50 percent rise for cement. Meanwhile, emissions from countries such as China, India, and those in Southeast Asia are projected to make up two-thirds of global carbon output by the end of this decade. Notably, China’s increase in emissions last year alone exceeded the entire carbon dioxide output of the UK.

 

“In developed countries, voters feel they’re being asked to make financial sacrifices and changes in lifestyle when they know that their impact on global emissions is minimal,” Blair said. “Whatever the historical responsibility of the developed world for climate change, those with even a cursory knowledge of the facts understand that in the future the major sources of pollution will come principally from the developing world.”

 

The former Labour leader’s comments make him the most senior figure in the party to challenge its current climate stance. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has made net zero a cornerstone of his platform, pledging that 95 percent of the UK’s electricity will come from green sources by 2030. The party also supports ending new North Sea oil and gas exploration licences by the same year — a move that has drawn resistance from unions.

 

By contrast, the current government has signaled a less rigid approach. The prime minister has backed the expansion of Heathrow Airport with a third runway and delayed the ban on sales of hybrid vehicles beyond 2030.

 

Blair acknowledged that climate activism has been successful in bringing environmental issues into mainstream political discourse. However, he cautioned that the pressure has resulted in policies that are “distorting the debate into a quest for a climate platform that is unrealistic and therefore unworkable.”

 

Advocating for a more pragmatic route, Blair said efforts should focus on making green technologies affordable and scalable so that consumers are not driven toward cheaper, more polluting alternatives. He placed particular emphasis on the importance of carbon capture and storage — a technology that traps and stores carbon dioxide from fossil fuel use — calling it central to any viable strategy.

 

“The disdain for this technology in favour of the purist solution of stopping fossil-fuel production is totally misguided,” he wrote. Though Labour has promised £22 billion for research into carbon capture, it is not expected to be widely operational until the 2030s.

 

In Blair’s view, only by shifting toward evidence-based, economically feasible climate solutions can governments maintain public trust and effectively combat global emissions.

 

  Adpated by ASEAN Now from The Times  2025-05-01

 

 

[ukrules]

All that new demand for electricity and no way to produce it.

They really dropped the ball by abandoning nuclear energy. Absolute muppets, all of them.

They should have been pumping billions (every year) into research and development to make them smaller, more modular and safer by using different fuels.

[Presnock]

totally agree with Mr. Blair on this issue.  To totally replace oil-based fuels for vehicles with electric vehicles when many places are already having rolling blackouts due to high use of the currrent electrity available.  I saw one report that said if one is building an electric vehicle manuracturing plant, first they needed to build an electricity generating plant in that area.  with global temperatures reportedly rising at an alarming rate, a/c will be required by many folks making the situation even worse. IMHO anyway.

[BritManToo]

1 hour ago, Presnock said:

with global temperatures reportedly rising at an alarming rate, a/c will be required by many folks making the situation even worse. IMHO anyway.

I see the reports, but don't feel the 'rise', so dismiss the reports as more alarmist nonsense.

Same for sea level rises, I see the reports, but notice the "top dogs" buying beachfront property.

 

Tony Blair actually suggesting something sensible ...... has the world gone completely mad!

[sammieuk1]

What will Ed Miliband do next to make energy bills higher'.. send some chicken feed to Iranian pig farmers probably🤔

[blaze master]

1 hour ago, ukrules said:

All that new demand for electricity and no way to produce it.

They really dropped the ball by abandoning nuclear energy. Absolute muppets, all of them.

They should have been pumping billions (every year) into research and development to make them smaller, more modular and safer by using different fuels.

 

Great comment. Imagine if the billions was trillions. Maybe divert some money from killing ourselves. 

 

 

[Harrisfan]

2 hours ago, Social Media said:

Notably, China’s increase in emissions last year alone exceeded the entire carbon dioxide output of the UK.

Yes they dont care. Dumb lefty voters in the west keep voting left. Truly sad.

[KhunLA]

Do people still listen to that lowlife.   The mouthpiece of big oil, stating giving up fossil fuel is a mistake.

 

Shock, surprise, dismay ... 

 

... "Funding

 

Blair gave the reserves of his former business to provide the seed funding for his new Institute. On 21 July 2018, it was reported by The Telegraph that Blair had signed a deal worth £9,000,000 with Saudi Arabia." ... - wiki / Tony Blair

[johng]

18 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

Do people still listen to that lowlife.   The mouthpiece of big oil, stating giving up fossil fuel is a mistake.

On this issue I think he is right...in spite of him being a lowlife WEF scumbag..A too rapid move away from cheap reliable fosil fuel is a mistake  especially when countries like India,China and Russia just carry on as usual  "western" countries will just be more dependent on products produced there  IMHO

[BritManToo]

26 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

Do people still listen to that lowlife.   The mouthpiece of big oil, stating giving up fossil fuel is a mistake.

I think the story is more about the hatred between Blair and Miliband than anything else.

[KhunLA]

Blair is part of the problem, pushing the fake 'climate change' BS, when that was the in thing.  Now big oil funds him, so what ever benefits him.

 

He's right, need to produce more energy, and fossil fuel makes that easy.   After his climate change policies help create the problem.

 

... "Environmental record

Blair criticised other governments for not doing enough to solve global climate change. In a 1997 visit to the United States, he made a comment on "great industrialised nations" that fail to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Again in 2003, Blair went before the United States Congress and said that climate change "cannot be ignored", insisting "we need to go beyond even Kyoto."

 

Blair and his party promised a 20% reduction in carbon dioxide. The Labour Party also claimed that by 2010 10% of the energy would come from renewable resources; however, it only reached 7% by that point.

 

In 2000, Blair "flagged up" 100 million euros for green policies and urged environmentalists and businesses to work together." ...  -wiki / Tony Blair

 

Cutting nuclear instead of advancing it.  Pushing alternative, like solar in a country known for crappy weather 

 

Cut in nuclear and the failed solar, not picking up the slack.  Back to fossil fuels.  Unless you still believe the MMCC/GW BS.    

 

... "Low-carbon low

The UK’s windfarms also had a challenging year in 2021, with generation falling by an estimated 15% – despite rising capacity – as a result of the lowest average windspeeds in a decade.

 

Reduced sunshine hours and below-average rainfall caused 9% and 26% drops in solar and hydro generation, respectively, with the reported capacity of both sources barely changing.

 

In combination with the decline in nuclear output, this means the UK’s low-carbon electricity generation saw its largest ever one-year fall of 17TWh, shown in the chart below." ...

 

 

 

Source for graphs:   https://www.carbonbrief.org/analysis-uk-nuclear-output-falls-to-lowest-level-since-1982/

 

[Bkk Brian]

It's not just Blair but the government's own leaked report.

 

Racing through Net Zero plans 'could wipe 10 per cent off the GDP and crash Britain's economy', leaked documents show

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14517501/Net-Zero-plans-wipe-10-cent-GDP-leaked-docs.html

[newbee2022]

4 hours ago, Social Media said:

 

Former Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair has called for a sweeping reassessment of current climate change strategies, warning that the global push for net zero emissions has taken an "irrational" turn. In a bold critique of prevailing green policies, Blair argued that the current approach, which asks citizens in developed countries to make significant lifestyle and financial sacrifices, is unlikely to succeed and risks undermining public support for climate action altogether.

 

 

Blair delivered his remarks in a foreword to a new report by the Tony Blair Institute, his own think tank, which advocates for a more realistic and economically sustainable climate policy. He warned that the effort to phase out fossil fuels rapidly is "doomed to fail," citing what he called “inconvenient facts” — a pointed nod to Al Gore’s famed description of climate change as an “inconvenient truth.”

 

 

“Political leaders by and large know that the debate has become irrational. But they’re terrified of saying so, for fear of being accused of being ‘climate deniers’,” Blair stated, expressing frustration that necessary debate on the practicality of current green policies is being silenced.

 

Highlighting the global energy outlook, Blair noted that airline travel is set to double in the next two decades, while urbanisation will fuel a 40 percent increase in demand for steel and a 50 percent rise for cement. Meanwhile, emissions from countries such as China, India, and those in Southeast Asia are projected to make up two-thirds of global carbon output by the end of this decade. Notably, China’s increase in emissions last year alone exceeded the entire carbon dioxide output of the UK.

 

“In developed countries, voters feel they’re being asked to make financial sacrifices and changes in lifestyle when they know that their impact on global emissions is minimal,” Blair said. “Whatever the historical responsibility of the developed world for climate change, those with even a cursory knowledge of the facts understand that in the future the major sources of pollution will come principally from the developing world.”

 

The former Labour leader’s comments make him the most senior figure in the party to challenge its current climate stance. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has made net zero a cornerstone of his platform, pledging that 95 percent of the UK’s electricity will come from green sources by 2030. The party also supports ending new North Sea oil and gas exploration licences by the same year — a move that has drawn resistance from unions.

 

By contrast, the current government has signaled a less rigid approach. The prime minister has backed the expansion of Heathrow Airport with a third runway and delayed the ban on sales of hybrid vehicles beyond 2030.

 

Blair acknowledged that climate activism has been successful in bringing environmental issues into mainstream political discourse. However, he cautioned that the pressure has resulted in policies that are “distorting the debate into a quest for a climate platform that is unrealistic and therefore unworkable.”

 

Advocating for a more pragmatic route, Blair said efforts should focus on making green technologies affordable and scalable so that consumers are not driven toward cheaper, more polluting alternatives. He placed particular emphasis on the importance of carbon capture and storage — a technology that traps and stores carbon dioxide from fossil fuel use — calling it central to any viable strategy.

 

“The disdain for this technology in favour of the purist solution of stopping fossil-fuel production is totally misguided,” he wrote. Though Labour has promised £22 billion for research into carbon capture, it is not expected to be widely operational until the 2030s.

 

In Blair’s view, only by shifting toward evidence-based, economically feasible climate solutions can governments maintain public trust and effectively combat global emissions.

 

  Adpated by ASEAN Now from The Times  2025-05-01

 

 

It's a surprising dumb statement.

Who could foresee what will be in the next 2 decades?

Did anybody expect to have a Smartphone 20 years ago?

So, either he needed attention or was highly paid for that nonsense.

[Woke to Sounds]

Tones should get on a call with Mister Chilly Con Carne up in Canada soon and preach.

 

Elites might have to go with the hard kill now that the soft approach doesn't seem to be working.

[Watawattana]

4 hours ago, Social Media said:

 

Former Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair has called for a sweeping reassessment of current climate change strategies, warning that the global push for net zero emissions has taken an "irrational" turn. In a bold critique of prevailing green policies, Blair argued that the current approach, which asks citizens in developed countries to make significant lifestyle and financial sacrifices, is unlikely to succeed and risks undermining public support for climate action altogether.

 

 

Blair delivered his remarks in a foreword to a new report by the Tony Blair Institute, his own think tank, which advocates for a more realistic and economically sustainable climate policy. He warned that the effort to phase out fossil fuels rapidly is "doomed to fail," citing what he called “inconvenient facts” — a pointed nod to Al Gore’s famed description of climate change as an “inconvenient truth.”

 

 

“Political leaders by and large know that the debate has become irrational. But they’re terrified of saying so, for fear of being accused of being ‘climate deniers’,” Blair stated, expressing frustration that necessary debate on the practicality of current green policies is being silenced.

 

Highlighting the global energy outlook, Blair noted that airline travel is set to double in the next two decades, while urbanisation will fuel a 40 percent increase in demand for steel and a 50 percent rise for cement. Meanwhile, emissions from countries such as China, India, and those in Southeast Asia are projected to make up two-thirds of global carbon output by the end of this decade. Notably, China’s increase in emissions last year alone exceeded the entire carbon dioxide output of the UK.

 

“In developed countries, voters feel they’re being asked to make financial sacrifices and changes in lifestyle when they know that their impact on global emissions is minimal,” Blair said. “Whatever the historical responsibility of the developed world for climate change, those with even a cursory knowledge of the facts understand that in the future the major sources of pollution will come principally from the developing world.”

 

The former Labour leader’s comments make him the most senior figure in the party to challenge its current climate stance. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has made net zero a cornerstone of his platform, pledging that 95 percent of the UK’s electricity will come from green sources by 2030. The party also supports ending new North Sea oil and gas exploration licences by the same year — a move that has drawn resistance from unions.

 

By contrast, the current government has signaled a less rigid approach. The prime minister has backed the expansion of Heathrow Airport with a third runway and delayed the ban on sales of hybrid vehicles beyond 2030.

 

Blair acknowledged that climate activism has been successful in bringing environmental issues into mainstream political discourse. However, he cautioned that the pressure has resulted in policies that are “distorting the debate into a quest for a climate platform that is unrealistic and therefore unworkable.”

 

Advocating for a more pragmatic route, Blair said efforts should focus on making green technologies affordable and scalable so that consumers are not driven toward cheaper, more polluting alternatives. He placed particular emphasis on the importance of carbon capture and storage — a technology that traps and stores carbon dioxide from fossil fuel use — calling it central to any viable strategy.

 

“The disdain for this technology in favour of the purist solution of stopping fossil-fuel production is totally misguided,” he wrote. Though Labour has promised £22 billion for research into carbon capture, it is not expected to be widely operational until the 2030s.

 

In Blair’s view, only by shifting toward evidence-based, economically feasible climate solutions can governments maintain public trust and effectively combat global emissions.

 

  Adpated by ASEAN Now from The Times  2025-05-01

 

 

 

Blair says current net zero policies 'doomed to fail'

 

Just like your search for Iraqi WMD then Tony?

[Presnock]

2 hours ago, BritManToo said:

I see the reports, but don't feel the 'rise', so dismiss the reports as more alarmist nonsense.

Same for sea level rises, I see the reports, but notice the "top dogs" buying beachfront property.

 

Tony Blair actually suggesting something sensible ...... has the world gone completely mad!

suggest you do some reading other than on this forum.  Worldwide temperatures are being reported daily/weekly monthly and yearly at record highs recently.  In addition, check the numbers of people buying Miami beachfront property - few and far between.l  Even here in Bangkok, recently the resovoirs for drinking water have now been inundated by seawater as the rise has reached here.  It is not necessary for all to realize that this is happening, if you are old no problem as you will be gone before the deluge but if you are young I hope you remember your coments against these facts of life.  Normally I would say IMHO I believe this but I have been reading the temperatures increasing around the world, seeing the weather patterns change more drastically than normal.  It would be great for my kids and friennds if this were something that is not happening but unfortunately it is.

[BritManToo]

27 minutes ago, Presnock said:

suggest you do some reading other than on this forum.  Worldwide temperatures are being reported daily/weekly monthly and yearly at record highs recently.  In addition, check the numbers of people buying Miami beachfront property - few and far between.l  Even here in Bangkok, recently the resovoirs for drinking water have now been inundated by seawater as the rise has reached here.  It is not necessary for all to realize that this is happening, if you are old no problem as you will be gone before the deluge but if you are young I hope you remember your coments against these facts of life.  Normally I would say IMHO I believe this but I have been reading the temperatures increasing around the world, seeing the weather patterns change more drastically than normal.  It would be great for my kids and friennds if this were something that is not happening but unfortunately it is.

Funny how this stuff never happens where I live.

Was more concerned about grid failure in Spain (more net zero madness).

Currently, it's been my coolest year in Chiang Mai out of the past 15 years.

 

Off topic,

Florida has always had Hurricane problems, was it in the 1920s where the big one took out all their train track? Tampa Bay 1921, Labour Day 1935, etc.

Nothing to do with climate change, the hurricanes have always made it unlivable.

Back in the sailing days, only pirates and indians were prepared to live there.

It's just one big snake and alligator infested swamp!

 

Labour Day https://www.loc.gov/item/2021670725/

[Moonlover]

12 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Funny how this stuff never happens where I live.

 

Florida has always had Hurricane problems, was it in the 1920s where the big one took out all their train track? Tampa Bay 1921, Labour Day 1935, etc.

Nothing to do with climate change, the hurricanes have always made it unlivable.

Back in the sailing days, only pirates and indians were prepared to live there.

It's just one big snake and alligator infested swamp!

 

Labour Day https://www.loc.gov/item/2021670725/

Ask Google AI about hurricanes and this is what you'll read:

 

'Yes, studies indicate that hurricanes are becoming stronger and more intense due to climate change. Warmer ocean temperatures and rising sea levels are contributing to these trends, leading to more powerful winds, heavier rainfall, and increased storm surges'.

 

Just because you don't feel the effects of climate change where you live, it doesn't mean it isn't happening. 

[newbee2022]

17 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Funny how this stuff never happens where I live.

Was more concerned about grid failure in Spain (more net zero madness).

Currently, it's been my coolest year in Chiang Mai out of the past 15 years.

 

Off topic,

Florida has always had Hurricane problems, was it in the 1920s where the big one took out all their train track? Tampa Bay 1921, Labour Day 1935, etc.

Nothing to do with climate change, the hurricanes have always made it unlivable.

Back in the sailing days, only pirates and indians were prepared to live there.

It's just one big snake and alligator infested swamp!

 

Labour Day https://www.loc.gov/item/2021670725/

I'm sure you're joking? Take off your Alu-Hat and face the reality of climate change, even if you believe in a flat earth🤣

[Presnock]

21 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Funny how this stuff never happens where I live.

Was more concerned about grid failure in Spain (more net zero madness).

Currently, it's been my coolest year in Chiang Mai out of the past 15 years.

 

Off topic,

Florida has always had Hurricane problems, was it in the 1920s where the big one took out all their train track? Tampa Bay 1921, Labour Day 1935, etc.

Nothing to do with climate change, the hurricanes have always made it unlivable.

Back in the sailing days, only pirates and indians were prepared to live there.

It's just one big snake and alligator infested swamp!

 

Labour Day https://www.loc.gov/item/2021670725/

while I didn't link you, I checked myself and saw that there are many scientific surveys done on the temperature changes especially the last two years - since there are so many reports, just google "temperature changes in the world" and then you can see the different reports from varied agencies.  

 

48 minutes ago, newbee2022 said:

It's a surprising dumb statement.

Who could foresee what will be in the next 2 decades?

Did anybody expect to have a Smartphone 20 years ago?

So, either he needed attention or was highly paid for that nonsense.

If any doubt about temperature change and the effects, just google "worldwide temperature change"  too many different reports to link just one.

[Yagoda]

25 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Florida has always had Hurricane problems, was it in the 1920s where the big one took out all their train track? Tampa Bay 1921, Labour Day 1935, etc.

Nothing to do with climate change, the hurricanes have always made it unlivable.

Back in the sailing days, only pirates and indians were prepared to live there.

It's just one big snake and alligator infested swamp!

Climate change doesnt make storms worse. More people living where there are storms do

[Thingamabob]

Reports suggest that Blair has retracted most of his earlier statement which is confusing. Either way, the fact is Britain has huge reserves of oil, gas and coal which, unlike Norway and now the USA, the UK is refusing to utilize due to net zero. Completely daft.

[newbee2022]

59 minutes ago, Presnock said:

while I didn't link you, I checked myself and saw that there are many scientific surveys done on the temperature changes especially the last two years - since there are so many reports, just google "temperature changes in the world" and then you can see the different reports from varied agencies.  

 

If any doubt about temperature change and the effects, just google "worldwide temperature change"  too many different reports to link just one.

I gave up to teach or correct people's statements or comments here on AN. There is a percentage of population you can't reach anymore. 

Accept that. 🤗

You're right in what you want to express. But it's not the right forum?

[shackleton]

The UK has resources on its doorstep oil gas ect 

But Red Ed Miliband wants the people of the UK to pay more for his net Zero project 

China and India plus  other countries  could not give a  dam they are the worst polluters  but continue with coal and other resources of power 

[biggles45]

If Britain was to slowly sink under the sea it would reduce the world output by <2%. China would easily replace this in the next 12 months.! 

[emptypockets]

2 hours ago, Moonlover said:

Ask Google AI about hurricanes and this is what you'll read:

 

'Yes, studies indicate that hurricanes are becoming stronger and more intense due to climate change. Warmer ocean temperatures and rising sea levels are contributing to these trends, leading to more powerful winds, heavier rainfall, and increased storm surges'.

 

Just because you don't feel the effects of climate change where you live, it doesn't mean it isn't happening. 

Except storms are not getting more frequent or more intense. Quite the opposite in fact.

[johng]

3 hours ago, Moonlover said:

Ask Google AI about hurricanes and this is what you'll read:

 

Google has been programed to promote the "excepted narrative"

as well as inserting "fact checks"   if you manage to stray off the beaten track.

🤮

[Moonlover]

32 minutes ago, emptypockets said:

Yes, studies indicate that hurricanes are becoming stronger and more intense due to climate change. Warmer ocean temperatures and rising sea levels are contributing to these trends, leading to more powerful winds, heavier rainfall, and increased storm surges'.

 

 

32 minutes ago, emptypockets said:

Except storms are not getting more frequent or more intense. Quite the opposite in fact.

Firstly the article did NOT say they they were becoming more frequent, but it does say they ARE becoming more intense and there are plenty of other references to that effect. Here's just one below. I'd would tend toward the science rather than an anonymous poster.

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-42251921

[Presnock]

49 minutes ago, emptypockets said:

Except storms are not getting more frequent or more intense. Quite the opposite in fact.

and your source is what?  a faulty memory or lack of reading/listening to world news?

 

12 minutes ago, Moonlover said:

 

Firstly the article did NOT say they they were becoming more frequent, but it does say they ARE becoming more intense and there are plenty of other references to that effect. Here's just one below. I'd would tend toward the science rather than an anonymous poster.

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-42251921

Yes,  and what is making the oceans that much warmer - arctic melting faster each year, less and less sea ice to reflect the sunlight too.

[Moonlover]

35 minutes ago, johng said:

 

Google has been programed to promote the "excepted narrative"

as well as inserting "fact checks"   if you manage to stray off the beaten track.

🤮

Oh does it? 🥱