Imagine a Birkenstock stamping on a human face, forever
The problem with having a plan to beat climate change is what will happen when those who wish to plan get ahold of the ability to do so:
Homeowners are being forced to tear out air conditioning from their private properties under climate laws, despite rising temperatures.
Council planning officers ordered residents to remove air-con units over fears they produce too much carbon dioxide, stating they should only be used as a “last resort”.
The net zero clampdown is part of building regulations that state “active cooling” should only ever be allowed when all other means of “passive cooling”, such as opening windows or using fans, have been exhausted.
“Allowed” eh? Presumably the Englishman’s home is no longer his castle. We must have permissions, ask to be allowed, to do even the simplest of things.
In one of a string of cases uncovered by The Telegraph, a resident living in North London was forced to “permanently remove” two air-con units from the back of their home.
Planning inspectors working for Camden council said there was “no justification” for the air-con units and that they failed to comply with the local authority’s so-called “cooling hierarchy”.
In a free and liberal society the only justification required is “because I wish to” and that is that. But climate change has led to every jobsworth, clipboard wielder and busybody having a veto over our choices: imagine a Lanyard wrapped around humanity’s throat, forever.
We’ve long pointed out that the economic analyses of what to do about climate change - Stern, Nordhaus, all the serious people - insist that we should not have a detailed plan nor an emissions target. Rather, define a price for emissions and leave the market to sort the rest out. This is based upon the efficiency argument. It’s a more efficient manner of reducing emissions than having every jobsworth, clipboard wielder and busybody gurning over their slide rule as they try to plan humanity.
But, obviously, there is also that civil liberty - heck, basic civilisation - argument. As soon as we have a plan then every jobsworth etc etc will be piling in to try and get their own bonnetbee included in the plan. Thus having to rip out extant air conditioning - presumably on the grounds that if it remains not enough shriving will be done in the summer heat and Gaia will not be appeased.
We’re doing this beating climate change thing the wrong way - as we’ve been insisting for a couple of decades now. It’s not too late to change course you know. Define the social cost of emissions, enact it as a carbon tax and abolish all and every other law on the subject.
Seriously, the lanyard from the local council comes around and insists you rip out the A/C? Obviously this is being done the wrong way currently.
Tim Worstall
The Birkenstock line comes from a blogger way back when. We wish we could recall who - an American living and writing in Britain, Scott something. But at this distance of a quarter century, sorry, accurate assignation is not possible.