The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast – 375. Sacrificing the Poor to NOT Save the Planet | Robert Bryce

Intro

In this episode of “The Jordan B. Peterson Podcast,” Jordan Peterson interviews author and journalist Robert Bryce about the impact of climate concerns on the developing world. They discuss how the push for renewable energy and the neglect of reliable and affordable electricity is sacrificing the poor and hindering their progress. Bryce shares insights on Germany’s failed energy policies, the importance of nuclear energy, the challenges of wind power, and the need for a realistic and humanistic approach to energy.

Main Takeaways

Sacrificing the Poor for Climate Concerns

• The attempt to impose climate concerns on the developing world is a colonialist endeavor.
• Leftists are sacrificing the poor to their planetary concerns, which is a nightmare.
• The World Bank and other lending institutions are refusing to fund hydrocarbon projects in developing countries.
• Electricity is the key to a better life for everyone, everywhere on the planet.
• Burning hydrocarbons in the developing world is criminal levels of stupidity.

The Failure of Germany’s Energy Policies

• Germany has had catastrophic energy and environment policies, resulting in expensive and unreliable energy provision.
• Germany’s energy policies have led to de-industrialization and increased pollution.
• Germany is expanding a Lignite mine which emits more CO2 per kilowatt hour than any other form of power generation.
• Germany’s move to LNG is pricing out developing countries from importing liquefied natural gas, causing them to expand their coal-fired capacity.
• Canadian policies have made the export of Canadian fossil fuel resources impossible, preventing Germany from importing liquid natural gas from Canada.

The Importance of Nuclear Energy

• Natural gas to nuclear is the best “no regrets policy” for reducing emissions and bringing more people out of the dark and into the light.
• Climate NGOs should be pro-nuclear if they are serious about reducing CO2 emissions.
• Standardized production of small modular nuclear reactors is a promising way to bring down costs and distribute systems without building an immense amount of high transmission wires.
• Ex-energy’s high-temperature gas reactor is among the most interesting SMRs, and they recently did a deal with Dow to deploy four of them.
• The Nuclear Regulatory Commission in the US is a big roadblock to speeding up the regulatory regime for nuclear energy.

The Challenges of Renewable Energy

• Wind turbines are unreliable, harmful to wildlife, and have negative impacts on rural communities.
• The focus on carbon dioxide reduction has led to a neglect of preserving landscapes and wildlife.
• The rush to replace hydrocarbon-based electricity with renewable energy fails to understand the invisible supply chain complexities and may lead to reliability problems in the electric grid.
• Tax credits are driving the deployment of wind turbines and solar energy.
• The alt energy industry relies heavily on Chinese supply chains for critical rare earth elements, posing strategic vulnerabilities.

The Impact on the Poor and Developing Countries

• Expensive energy is the enemy of the poor.
• The transition to nuclear energy should be considered to combat carbon dioxide output, but the green movement is not on board.
• The green movement’s fundamental narrative is a delusional lie with a malevolent twist.
• Almost half of the world’s population lives in electricity poverty, consuming 1,200 kilowatt hours or less per capita per year.
• The Biden administration’s focus on climate change neglects other public health crises, such as opioid overdoses.

Summary

Sacrificing the Poor for Climate Concerns

Robert Bryce highlights the detrimental impact of imposing climate concerns on the developing world, calling it a colonialist endeavor. Leftists sacrificing the poor to their planetary concerns is a nightmare, as it hinders the access to electricity, which is crucial for a better life. The refusal of lending institutions to fund hydrocarbon projects in developing countries further exacerbates the problem.

The Failure of Germany’s Energy Policies

Germany’s catastrophic energy and environment policies have resulted in expensive and unreliable energy provision. The expansion of a Lignite mine emitting high levels of CO2 per kilowatt hour and the shift to LNG pricing out developing countries from importing natural gas are detrimental. Canadian policies preventing the export of fossil fuel resources also hinder Germany’s access to affordable energy.

The Importance of Nuclear Energy

Natural gas to nuclear energy is considered a “no regrets policy” for reducing emissions and bringing reliable electricity to more people. Bryce emphasizes the need for climate NGOs to support nuclear energy if they are serious about reducing CO2 emissions. Standardized production of small modular nuclear reactors and the potential of high-temperature gas reactors offer promising solutions.

The Challenges of Renewable Energy

Renewable energy, such as wind turbines, faces challenges in terms of reliability, wildlife impact, and negative consequences for rural communities. The rush to replace hydrocarbon-based electricity without considering supply chain complexities may lead to reliability problems in the electric grid. Tax credits drive the deployment of wind and solar energy, while the industry’s heavy reliance on Chinese supply chains poses strategic vulnerabilities.

The Impact on the Poor and Developing Countries

The high cost of energy is detrimental to the poor, hindering poverty alleviation efforts. The transition to nuclear energy as a solution for reducing carbon dioxide output is not embraced by the green movement. The focus on climate change neglects other public health crises affecting the poor, such as opioid overdoses. Almost half of the world’s population lives in electricity poverty, emphasizing the urgent need for accessible and affordable energy.

Conclusion

It is crucial to prioritize reliable and affordable energy provision to improve the lives of the poor and promote global development. Sacrificing the poor on the altar of climate concerns is fundamentally wrong. The push for renewable energy should be balanced with a realistic and humanistic approach that considers the needs of developing countries and the importance of nuclear energy. By addressing these issues, we can work towards a future where energy is accessible to all and contributes to a better world.