Thread by @ASI

🌳 We’re off — Barriers to a Green Revolution at #CPC21

😊 Free market environmentalism can lead to a greener, freer, more prosperous society for future generations.

🗣 @AusHCUK, @CSkidmoreUK, @Con_Tomlinson, and @DrRussTucker

@AusHCUK says the key first barrier to a green revolution is the over reliance on state-based solutions — it depends on countless individual investors and billions of consumers.

Governments can set a framework but state-based, top-down solutions won’t make a difference.

@AusHCUK says Australia’s ambition is to reach net zero “as soon as we can, preferably by 2050” — by developing the technologies to enable the transition. Just announcing a target doesn’t make it a reality.

@CSkidmoreUK: It’s easy to amend the act to change the targets but he has “reservations” about 2050 — China will continue to increase emissions and build coal fired power plants.

Skidmore notes the danger of “Not in my term of office (NIMTOOs)”.

There’s a need for less national targets by 2050 and more focus on shorter term targets and on individual targets for technologies. The risk is

Nuclear: There’s a surge in demand that can’t be met with wind and solar. The single biggest need is to have a coherent nuclear strategy, including reactors of all sizes.

@DrRussTucker: There will be 10 billion people and 70% higher demand in meat by 2050 while 18% of emissions comes from animal agriculture.

Cultivated meat could be a key part of the solution with Ivy Farms to develop their first “urban farm” by 2023.

There’s a need for appropriate regulation from the Food Standards Authority.

The U.K. is falling behind. Cultivated meat is already legal in Singapore.

@AusHCUK says that trade is part of the solution to green challenges not part of the problem. Global shipping and freight can be carbon neutral.

@morgandelmeier: NZ lamb is more efficient then Welsh lamb so produces fewer emissions.

@CSkidmoreUK: Germany’s abandonment of nuclear energy was a “retrograde step” that has led to more dependence on coal.

@Con_Tomlinson: The current approach to Net Zero is focused on the wrong technologies. Renewable energy isn’t the solution because of the heavy costs of batteries: £2.9 trillion.

@Con_Tomlinson: a border adjusted carbon tax would be made revenue neutral by reducing other taxes, thereby helping reducing carbon emissions without increasing costs to consumers.

@DrRussTucker: if the UK doesn’t improve the regulatory process for cultivated meat then innovators will look elsewhere like Singapore and the US.

There’s a lack of framework and expertise to enable these new technologies.

It takes time to get regulatory approval 18m-3yrs.

@morgandelmeier asks why not stop eating meat?

@DrRussTucker: “People love meat.” I’m from a family of butches.

It’s about giving consumers choice to decide which product they would like to buy including cultivated meat.

@CSkidmoreUK calls for “Freedom to Innovate Bill” to address issues around nuclear, cultivated meat, gene editing and other innovate ways to solve environmental challenges.

@AusHCUK calls for sharing knowledge and techniques in the run-up to COP26 to achieve Net Zero.

@CSkidmoreUK says it’s a failure to not include all groups in COP26 conference including nuclear and other non-renewables.