It’s that most wonderful time of year again, when the world’s movers and shakers (concerned environmentalists, all) fly their carbon-spewing jets to the resort town of Davos, Switzerland, for the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum.
This year’s WEF theme is, “Cooperation in a Fragmented World,” and the anxiety of the organizers about realizing their dream of global governance (aka “public-private cooperation” within “a new global system”) is palpable. The WEF claims the “unprecedented backdrop” of this year’s gathering includes:
- “a climate crisis spiralling out of control”
- “a growing global economic crisis”
- “a cost-of-living crisis”
- “Food Crises”
among other perilous conditions. But fear not, poor countries! The WEF views these calamities as opportunities to press toward the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals!
Addressing the Current Energy and Food Crises in the context of a New System for Energy, Climate and Nature
. . . . While a global energy transition is under way, further action is needed to reduce carbon emissions and mitigate the effects of climate change. Critical measures to accelerate energy transition include decoupling economic growth from energy consumption, particularly in emerging economies, mainstreaming breakthrough technological innovations and addressing equity. Rather than using the ongoing crisis as a pretext to forego policies that support the transition to more sustainable energy sources, this moment should be utilized to develop more ambitious, comprehensive, and sustainable infrastructure investment plans that helps [sic] the world to meet the 2030 targets.
(Emphasis added.)
Translation? The developed economies achieved their prosperity the old-fashioned way, using coal, oil, and natural gas (and more on natural gas in a future post). However, you – “emerging economies” – you must “decoupl[e]” from those effective-but-dirty engines of progress so we can satisfy our green energy fantasies by 2030. (And if you prefer your hypocrisy in a more personalized format, be sure to catch Al Gore (D- Carbon Offsets) at the 1/17 panel discussion entitled, “Decarbonization: An Insurmountable Challenge?”; or noted yachtsman and tax-avoider John Kerry speaking that same day on “Philanthropy: A Catalyst for Protecting Our Planet.”)
Amazing. As a White House chief of staff once infamously said: “You never want a serious crisis to go to waste.”
This year’s WEF meeting runs from January 16 through 20.