Net Zero Watch
Background
Net Zero Watch (NZW) is a campaign group launched and managed by the Global Warming Policy Forum (GWPF) that claims to “scrutinise” the UK government’s net zero emissions plans and provide a “clear view of the reality of climate and energy policies”.1“Who We Are,” Net Zero Watch. Archived October 11, 2021. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/JIFzv
The GWPF is the UK’s most prominent climate science denial group, with its associated “Foundation” having been founded by former chancellor Nigel Lawson with the purpose of combating what it describes as “extremely damaging and harmful policies” designed to mitigate climate change.2“Ed Miliband clashes with Lord Lawson on global warming,” BBC News, December 6, 2009. Archived August 17, 2015 Archive link: https://archive.ph/47R7w/again?url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8398103.stm.
According to its website, NZW’s three “key campaigning issues” are “consistent climate and international policies”, “achievable and cost-effective solutions”, and “balanced and open debate”.3Who We Are,” Net Zero Watch. Archived October 11, 2021. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/JIFzv The campaign’s website features factsheets from the GWPF, as well as a link to sign up to the GWPF’s newsletter.4“Factsheets,” Net Zero Watch. Archived October 11, 2021. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/71kJl
In a post announcing the launch of Net Zero Watch, Director Benny Peiser wrote that one of the central concerns of NZW was the 2021 energy crisis in the UK, writing that gas prices were “going through the roof” while “our domestic shale gas resources [sit] untapped under an absurd government ban”.5Benny Peiser. “Welcome to Net Zero Watch,” Net Zero Watch. Archived October 11, 2021. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/waLwc
Peiser added that Net Zero Watch will “challenge the wild claims of green activists and policy advisers about this venerable and benign technology, which has brought US gas prices down to a small fraction of those here”.
The group is currently based at 55 Tufton Street in Westminster, an address it shares with the GWPF and several right-wing, libertarian thinktanks.
The campaign was launched on 11 October, 2021.6Benny Peiser. “Welcome to Net Zero Watch,” Net Zero Watch. Archived October 11, 2021. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/waLwc
Stance on Climate Change
Net Zero Watch states on its website:
“We all want to see a cleaner and better environment for future generations, but if climate and energy policies are rushed and their costs and implications not fully thought through, they will almost certainly do more harm than good.”7“Who We Are,” Net Zero Watch. Archived October 11, 2021. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/JIFzv
Funding
According to its website, Net Zero Watch is funded by “private donations”. The group also states that in order to “make clear its complete independence, neither it nor the GWPF accept gifts from either energy companies or anyone with a significant interest in an energy company.”8“Who We Are,” Net Zero Watch. Archived October 11, 2021. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/JIFzv
Key People
NZW’s Board of Directors are listed as:9“Board Members,” Net Zero Watch. Archived October 11, 2021. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/a31l8
- Neil Record (Chairman)
- Edward Atkin CBE
- Lord Lawson
- Martin Bralsford
NZW’s officers are listed as:10“Who We Are,” Net Zero Watch. Archived October 11, 2021. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/JIFzv
- Director: Dr Benny Peiser
- Deputy Director: Andrew Montford
- Head of Policy: Harry Wilkinson
- Science Editor: Dr David Whitehouse
- Energy Editor: Dr John Constable
Actions
March 27, 2023
Net Zero Watch welcomed the EU’s decision to roll back its commitment to banning the sale of internal combustion engines (ICE) by 2030 in favour of e-fuels, synthetic hydrocarbons which are energy-intensive to produce using renewable sources.
NZW called on Rishi Sunak to abandon the UK’s planned 2030 ICE car ban, with director Benny Peiser saying:
“Now that the European ban of the sale of combustion engine cars has been overturned, the government will come under growing pressure to follow suit if it wants to avoid destroying the British car industry for good.”11Gareth Roberts. “Combustion engines to be allowed post-2035 after e-fuels deal struck,” Fleet News, March 27, 2023. Archived March 27, 2023. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/HPyG3
January 13, 2023
NZW science editor David Whitehouse wrote that 2022 was a warm year, ranked sixth warmest” but that “anyone thinking about the claims and numbers should also look behind the headlines” that “the past nine years were the warmest recorded”.12David Whitehouse. “Global temperature 2022 – same again,” Net Zero Watch, January 13, 2023. Archived January 25, 2023. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/R5mvx
Whitehouse argued that “the global temperature record in the 21st century spends long periods relatively flat”, and that warming has been most prominent in the arctic. He wrote: “Looking at the distribution of recent warming the dominance of the arctic is obvious. It almost leads one to suggest that the phrase global warming should be replaced by arctic warming!”
December 16, 2022
In an article published on Net Zero Watch’s (NZW) website, NZW science editor Dr David Whitehouse argued that the contribution of human activity to climate change was “uncertain” as we are “living through a period of considerable natural climate variability”, by misrepresenting the findings of a then-recently published scientific study. The authors of the study reacted to Whitehouse’s interpretation of their work by saying “it would be funny if it wasn’t so sad”.
Whitehouse said the authors’ comments were “ridiculous and unfounded,” later adding: “who checks the fact-checkers? They are splitting hairs but have no case. In fact, their own statements only confirm the gist of my review was accurate”.13David Whitehouse. “21st century warming trend change may not be due to greenhouse gasses, leading climate scientists say,” Net Zero Watch, December 16, 2022. Archived April 19, 2023. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/Wlwrt
September 8, 2022
Net Zero Watch published a “factsheet” written by Andrew Montford and Gordon Hughes titled “Fixing the energy price crisis” in which they presented “concrete steps that the Government can take to reduce energy prices in the next two winters”.14Andrew Montford and Gordon Hughes. “Fixing the energy price crisis,” Net Zero Watch, September 8, 2022. Archived January 23, 2023. Archive URL: https://archive.is/CSjfw
The authors proposed reducing the value of Renewables Obligation Certificates “to zero” and “giving a green light to onshore gas in the UK” which they acknowledged “will reduce gas prices somewhat, although the effect will be limited”.
In a section warning against “red herrings” which they claimed “are in essence, pleading by special interests”, Montford and Hughes wrote:
“Most of the ‘low-hanging’ fruit of demand reduction – loft insulation, double glazing etc – has been harvested. Programmes that go further will be very expensive, putting further pressure on households, will take years to deliver, and will often fail to meet expectations.”
They added that “increasing renewables will increase electricity market prices, because it will increase the unit cost of gas-fired power stations, which set market prices”, and claimed that “unlike fossil fuels, there is little hope of renewables ever becoming cheap.”
October 4, 2022
Net Zero Watch published a press release titled “In a bad situation there are no good moves: What the UK should (but will not) do to address the energy crisis”, in which it argued that the “renewable energy obsession of climate policies in the last thirty years are to blame for the current over-exposure to natural gas”.15(Press release.) “In a bad situation there are no good moves: What the UK should (but will not) do to address the energy crisis”, Net Zero Watch, October 4, 2022. Archived January 5, 2023. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/VfHVN
In outlining a roadmap for what the UK “must do”, the release suggested that the government “must admit that the 2050 Net Zero target is now not only unattainable but a positive danger to national well-being” and “should recommit to fossil fuels, giving a clear signal to the UK’s energy companies and to fossil fuel suppliers globally”.
The release also called for “a new fleet of coal fired power stations”, before adding that “public opinion is so confused and poorly informed by low quality journalism in the print and broadcast media, and parliament so ignorant and unrealistic, that we do not expect any foreseeable UK government to have the courage to undertake such actions”.
June 20, 2022
Net Zero Watch published a press release calling on UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson to pause the Government’s net zero policies and spending plans, after a Telegraph article in which the Auditor General, Gareth Davies, highlighted the risk of taxpayers being shortchanged by environmental policies.16(Press Release). “Calls for Boris Johnson to pause Net Zero policies after auditor general warns costs risk spiralling out of control”, Net Zero Watch, June 20, 2022. Archived June 20, 2022. Archive.ph URL: https://archive.ph/X9ulz 17Camilla Turner. “Net-zero plans ‘risk being a waste of taxpayer money’, says spending watchdog”, Telegraph, June 19, 2022. Archived June 19, 2022. Archive.ph URL: https://archive.ph/RzjxW
The press release quoted GWPF Director, Benny Peiser, who said: “We have been warning for years that radical decarbonization policies are out of control, and wildly expensive and regressive […] it is urgent that the Net Zero agenda is put on hold for the duration of the cost of living crisis.”
Conservative MP Craig Mackinlay, chair of the Net Zero Scrutiny Group, said: “The government’s policy of achieving Net Zero at any price and at an arbitrary date has been forensically taken apart as a fruitless ambition by the National Audit Office (NAO).”
April 6, 2022
Net Zero Watch published a press release calling for the UK’s ban on fracking to be lifted in light of a Savanta ComRes poll commissioned by the group.18(Press Release). “Brits support an end to fracking ban”, Net Zero Watch, April 6, 2022. Archived April 6, 2022. Archive.ph URL: https://archive.ph/ZS7zz
The press release quoted Conservative MP Craig Mackinlay, chair of the Net Zero Scrutiny Group, who said: “the government urgently needs to reconsider its stances on Net Zero and the shale gas moratorium.”
October 11, 2021
In a post announcing the launch of the Net Zero Watch campaign, Director Benny Peiser wrote that NZW was “following in the footsteps of the Global Warming Policy Forum” and that the group believed “a political backlash is long overdue”.19Benny Peiser. “Welcome to Net Zero Watch,” Net Zero Watch. Archived October 11, 2021. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/waLwc
Peiser added:
“In essence, we stand at a new crossroads in the climate and energy debate.
“For years, the people of this country have been corralled towards a future that they cannot see and cannot understand. But the energy crisis this winter will reveal what politicians and eco-activists have kept hidden – that in a Net Zero future you will be poorer and colder.”
October 11, 2021
In an appearance on TalkRADIO with host Julia Hartley-Brewer, NZW Head of Policy Harry Wilkinson said that the current government “doesn’t seem to understand” that “people need to stay warm,” and that this is part of the reason for the launch of the NZW campaign. Wilkinson said that net zero had become an “overwhelming” consensus in Westminster with “so little debate, so little scrutiny” and that the campaign would “scrutinise these [net zero] policies” and “work out better alternatives that can deliver the affordability, the reliability that people need”.20“Net Zero Watch is here now to scrutinise these policies, to look at what the impacts will be for your listeners, for everyone, and work out better alternatives that can deliver the affordability and the reliability that people need.”@HarryWilkinsonn tells @JuliaHB1“. Tweet by @NetZeroWatch, October 11, 2021. Retrieved from Twitter.com. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/gjYWL.
Hartley-Brewer said that the “focus now on net zero” has “taken over every other aspect of energy policy, including affordable cheap energy, reliable energy, and secure energy”.
Associated Politicians
Conservative
Related Organisations
Contact & Address
According to its website, Net Zero Watch can be reached at the following address:21“Who We Are,” Net Zero Watch. Archived October 11, 2021. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/JIFzv
55 Tufton Street,
London, SW1P 3QL
44 2073 406066
44 7553 361717
The former URL for the Global Warming Policy Forum, the campaigning wing of the Global Warming Policy Foundation, now re-directs to the Net Zero Watch site. The group’s Twitter and Facebook accounts have also been rebranded as Net Zero Watch.
Social Media
- “Net Zero Watch” on Facebook.
- @NetZeroWatch on Twitter.
Resources
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- 2“Ed Miliband clashes with Lord Lawson on global warming,” BBC News, December 6, 2009. Archived August 17, 2015 Archive link: https://archive.ph/47R7w/again?url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/8398103.stm.
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- 5Benny Peiser. “Welcome to Net Zero Watch,” Net Zero Watch. Archived October 11, 2021. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/waLwc
- 6Benny Peiser. “Welcome to Net Zero Watch,” Net Zero Watch. Archived October 11, 2021. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/waLwc
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- 11Gareth Roberts. “Combustion engines to be allowed post-2035 after e-fuels deal struck,” Fleet News, March 27, 2023. Archived March 27, 2023. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/HPyG3
- 12David Whitehouse. “Global temperature 2022 – same again,” Net Zero Watch, January 13, 2023. Archived January 25, 2023. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/R5mvx
- 13David Whitehouse. “21st century warming trend change may not be due to greenhouse gasses, leading climate scientists say,” Net Zero Watch, December 16, 2022. Archived April 19, 2023. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/Wlwrt
- 14Andrew Montford and Gordon Hughes. “Fixing the energy price crisis,” Net Zero Watch, September 8, 2022. Archived January 23, 2023. Archive URL: https://archive.is/CSjfw
- 15(Press release.) “In a bad situation there are no good moves: What the UK should (but will not) do to address the energy crisis”, Net Zero Watch, October 4, 2022. Archived January 5, 2023. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/VfHVN
- 16(Press Release). “Calls for Boris Johnson to pause Net Zero policies after auditor general warns costs risk spiralling out of control”, Net Zero Watch, June 20, 2022. Archived June 20, 2022. Archive.ph URL: https://archive.ph/X9ulz
- 17Camilla Turner. “Net-zero plans ‘risk being a waste of taxpayer money’, says spending watchdog”, Telegraph, June 19, 2022. Archived June 19, 2022. Archive.ph URL: https://archive.ph/RzjxW
- 18(Press Release). “Brits support an end to fracking ban”, Net Zero Watch, April 6, 2022. Archived April 6, 2022. Archive.ph URL: https://archive.ph/ZS7zz
- 19Benny Peiser. “Welcome to Net Zero Watch,” Net Zero Watch. Archived October 11, 2021. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/waLwc
- 20“Net Zero Watch is here now to scrutinise these policies, to look at what the impacts will be for your listeners, for everyone, and work out better alternatives that can deliver the affordability and the reliability that people need.”@HarryWilkinsonn tells @JuliaHB1“. Tweet by @NetZeroWatch, October 11, 2021. Retrieved from Twitter.com. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/gjYWL.
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