G7 Summit: Friends of Science Urges Rejection of Net Zero Goals

G7 Leaders Urged to Move Away From Net Zero

During the recent G7 summit held in Kananaskis, Alberta, a group known as Friends of Science Society has called on global leaders to rethink their commitment to Net Zero and climate-aligned financing initiatives. This request comes in light of a pressing report by Vaclav Smil, a noted energy expert, whose new book, "2050: Pourquoi un monde sans carbone est presque impossible," argues that achieving such ambitious targets is not only unrealistic but nearly impossible.

Robert Lyman, a retired energy economist with 27 years of experience in the Canadian government, has echoed similar sentiments in two newly released reports aimed at scrutinizing Prime Minister Mark Carney's vision for Canada as an energy superpower. Lyman warns that the push for aggressive climate policies is not only jeopardizing economic stability but also could lead to broader societal consequences such as deindustrialization, poverty, and famine. His analysis delves into the feasibility of reaching these lofty goals and casts doubt on the viability of heavy investments into carbon reduction initiatives.

In a related findings report, Lyman challenges the idea that targeting a 2-degree Celsius rise—or even a 1.5-degree target as established by the Paris Agreement—will yield any form of climate safety. According to him and several experts, these arbitrary climate targets stem not from scientific analysis but rather political agendas, making them both unnecessary and financially burdensome.

The report from Friends of Science also highlights the dire implications of the proposed Climate-Aligned Finance Act (CAFA), which aims to mandate alignment with Net Zero targets in various financial institutions and businesses. The group contends that such regulations would put these entities at risk of acting fraudulently, as true compliance is unattainable, given the continued reliance on fossil fuels for the foreseeable future.

One major point of contention revolves around the ambitious offshore wind project dubbed "Wind West," proposed by Premier Tim Houston of Nova Scotia. This plan aims to create a massive 66-Gigawatt wind farm and is touted as capable of fulfilling 27% of Canada’s electrical needs. However, Lyman warns that such a move could lead to economic disaster and potential national blackouts, as demonstrated by recent incidents in Spain and Portugal where grid instability caused extensive outages due to over-re reliance on renewable energy sources.

Additionally, while carbon capture and storage (CCS) initiatives have received recent support from Carney and Energy Minister Tim Hodgson, Lyman’s earlier analyses caution against the financial burdens these projects impose on taxpayers. Friends of Science highlights that government-backed proposals to adopt CCS to reach Net Zero are equally unrealistic and rooted in misjudgments about energy economics.

Friends of Science contends that the relentless push towards Net Zero only serves to mask broader issues, such as forcing corporations and consumers alike into markets for carbon credits and unsustainable “Nature-based Climate Solutions.” They draw attention to analysts' warnings about managing carbon accounting, framing it as a potential pet project of economic exploitation akin to financial scandals.

Through its campaign, Friends of Science Society is advocating for a reexamination of climate policies at the G7 level, asserting that real progress toward global security and prosperity depends on a return to conventional energy practices instead of chasing unattainable goals. They emphasize that despite the urgency of climate discussions, the underlying economic implications for citizens cannot be overlooked.

As an independent group gathering insights from the scientific community, Friends of Science has operated for over two decades, advocating that the sun plays a significant role in climate changes rather than focusing solely on carbon emissions. They suggest that for meaningful discussions and policies, facts rooted in science must guide energy decisions moving forward.

The G7 leaders must weigh the advice coming from experts like Lyman and the Friends of Science Society seriously, acknowledging that their strategies could significantly influence not only Canada’s economic trajectory but the well-being of societies worldwide as they navigate energy challenges in a changing climate.