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European politicians have capitulated to radical environmentalists and are turning off their most reliable and least expensive energy sources to supposedly “stop climate change.” Rather than increase the production of their own oil, coal, and natural gas, they are increasingly trying to run their societies on wind and solar power. In the case of Germany, even nuclear power plants are being shut down.
The result was predictable: soaring energy costs, jobs lost, power shortages, and increasing dependence on imports from Russia, who, quite sensibly, see this as an incredible export opportunity. As a result of the war in Ukraine, European elites are starting to recognize that their dependence on Putin for critical resources was a strategic mistake that must be corrected as soon as possible. But rather than advocating an expansion of domestic conventional energy production, Europe’s “progressive” intelligentsia says that all this shows that we must move even faster away from fossil fuels.
To help listeners understand why this makes no sense and what North America must do to avoid Europe’s fate, we have invited economist and policy expert Robert Lyman to be on our program this week.
Bob spent 37 years in the Canadian public service as an economist and policy advisor and served as a Canadian diplomat with postings in Caracas, Venezuela, and Washington, D.C.
In the late 1980s, Bob was the Senior Director of Energy Policy when climate change issues first arose and was the first federal co-chair of the Federal-Provincial Committee on Climate Change. He was also the Director-General, Environmental Affairs, in Transport Canada from 2002 to 2006. Since then, Bob has been a consultant on energy, transportation, and environmental policy issues. He is the International Climate Science Coalition – Canada Economics/Policy Advisor and a Director.
References relevant to this show:
- “Canada is the Best Source for American Oil Imports,” by Dr. Jay Lehr and Tom Harris, America Out Loud
- Learn more about Bob Lyman on the International Climate Science Coalition – Canada website