Tony Blair’s intervention into the Net Zero debate suggesting present policies were wrong has put the cat amongst the pigeons before he did a sharp about turn. He had warned that energy secretary Ed Miliband’s eco policies and their push towards renewable energy were wrong. He claimed voters “feel they’re being asked to make financial sacrifices and changes in lifestyle when they know the impact of global emissions is minimal”.
He called for more investment in carbon capture, to allow fossil fuels to continue to be used, a greater use of technology including artificial intelligence, and a rollout of nuclear power. The environment secretary Steve Reed admitted that the criticisms of net zero policies were “valid and important”.
At present the largest greenhouse gas emitters (China, the USA, India, the EU, the Russian Federation, Brazil) account for 63 per cent of global emissions in 2023. By contrast, the 45 least developed countries accounted for only 3 per cent. The G20, the world’s largest 20 economies (Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the Um, the USA and the EU) are responsible for about 77 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions.
To avert the worst impacts of climate change, global temperature increase needs to be limited to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. Currently, the Earth is already about 1.2°C warmer than it was in the late 1800s, and emissions continue to rise. Emissions need to be reduced by 45% by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050.
At the moment commitments made by governments fall far short of what is required to reach the 2050 target.
The Paris Climate Change Net Zero agreement, signed on 22 April 2016, has fittingly an earthy Taurus Sun. Mercury is also in Taurus in a get-it-together Grand Trine to Jupiter in Virgo trine Pluto though unfortunately that is formed into a Kite by Jupiter opposition Neptune suggesting an overly optimistic approach. The Jupiter opposition Neptune squares onto a tricky Mars Saturn in Sagittarius which adds to a tendency to attract running setbacks and major obstacles.
By 2050 tr Neptune will be nearing the end of Taurus with Uranus in the final decan of Virgo with Pluto just into Pisces. The Solar Arc Saturn will be conjunct the Paris Pluto, tr Pluto square the Mars; tr Neptune conjunct the SA Uranus and tr Uranus conjunct the North Node – stuck, frustrated, anxious and a key turning point. Not that it will wait till 2050 to be obvious since much will transpire before then.
Tony Blair, 6 May 1953 6.10 am Edinburgh, Scotland, has struggled to remain relevant in the UK after the Iraq debacle, despite setting up various seemingly influential organisations with a global outreach – Tony Blair Associates, Faith Foundation, Sports Foundation and Tony Blair Institute.
At the moment he is struggling to break free of past constraints and with tr Uranus moving across his Jupiter this June and thence onto his Mars and Ascendant in 2026 and beyond he will be stepping out ever more boldly keen to show his independence no matter how many feathers he ruffles. At the same time he looks aggravated with his Progressed Mars square his Neptune exactly now and square his Saturn in 2026/27 – which may be connected to his irritation about how the Labour Government is handling matters. His relationship with Keir Starmer, never easy at the best of times with an impatient composite Moon Saturn opposition Mars is moving into stormy seas as tr Uranus square the composite Pluto from this July into 2026 and tr Pluto continues to square the composite Neptune until this December.
Ed Milliband, in charge of Net Zero, 24 December 1969 2pm London, is not looking upbeat ahead with tr Neptune square his Capricorn Sun from early this June into 2026 where tr Saturn joins in to square his Sun; tr Pluto is square his Saturn for a discouraging slog through this year; with more woes in 2026/27. Not going according to his plan.
The post Net Zero – not a chance says Tony Blair first appeared on Astroinform with Marjorie Orr – Star4cast.
