The Paris climate change agreement is worthless. Politicians can’t possibly honour it unless we stop developing all new fossil fuel reserves
Do they understand what they have signed? Plainly they do not. Governments such as ours, now ratifying the Paris agreement on climate change, haven’t the faintest idea what it means – either that or they have no intention of honouring it.
For the first time we can see the numbers on which the agreement depends, and their logic is inescapable. Governments can either meet their international commitments or allow the prospecting and development of new fossil fuel reserves. They cannot do both.
Related: Existing coal, oil and gas fields will blow carbon budget – study
There are tax breaks for North Sea oil and gas companies, and fracking, but not of course for renewables
Related: Shale gas ban ‘would cement decline of UK manufacturing’