For years, politicians, international bureaucrats, and green activists have pushed the idea that the world could simply "transition" to net-zero carbon emissions, as if overhauling the entire energy system and global economy was as simple as switching light bulbs.
Now, in 2025, the cracks in that fantasy are impossible to ignore. Even the mainstream media is beginning to admit what many of us have known all along: the dream of net zero was never realistic. It was a utopian illusion, driven by ideology, not facts.
From the start, the net-zero narrative has been more about virtue signalling than science or economics. Rich Western nations made bold promises to "lead the way" while ignoring the obvious: the world's biggest emitters—China, India, and the United States—have no intention of gutting their economies for the sake of climate pledges.
In 2023 alone, China accounted for 31.5% of global carbon emissions, followed by the US (13.0%) and India (8.1%). These three countries combined make up over half the planet's emissions. Yet global climate conferences continue to fixate on whether Australia or the UK are doing "enough" to hit arbitrary targets by 2050. It's a farce.
How can a country like Australia—responsible for just over 1% of global emissions—"save the planet" by destroying its own industries while Beijing ramps up coal production?
Australians are now seeing the real cost of chasing net zero. Energy bills have skyrocketed, manufacturing has been hollowed out, and once-reliable baseload power has been replaced with intermittent, taxpayer-subsidised renewables. And what do we have to show for it? Nothing but higher costs and lower reliability.
Thankfully, the tide may be turning. Queensland's new LNP government is scrapping unrealistic renewable energy targets and committing to keep coal-fired power stations running—a rare case of common sense breaking through the climate dogma.
This isn't just about energy policy. It's about economic sovereignty and national security. A country that can't generate affordable, reliable power is a country that cannot compete, cannot grow, and cannot defend itself.
Let's be honest: most of the net-zero movement has been one big con. Governments and corporations haven't really cut emissions—they've just bought carbon credits, outsourced pollution to other countries, or made empty promises based on unproven technologies.
And let's not forget who profits from this game. International climate consultants, green tech lobbyists, and Wall Street investors have made billions pushing "sustainable" solutions—often with your tax dollars. Meanwhile, the average worker pays the price through higher energy costs and lost jobs.
Abandoning net zero isn't the end of responsible environmental stewardship—it's the beginning of realism. Of course, we should aim for cleaner air, better technology, and smart resource management. But we must also reject the ideological madness that says we can shut down the modern world in the name of the climate. Preserving our standard of living and Western industrial civilisation is the first priority.
A rational path forward means:
- Energy security first: Keep coal, gas, and nuclear in the mix.
- No more blind faith in green tech: Let innovation happen, but don't bet the farm on it.
- Protect industry and jobs: Our people come first—not UN targets.
- Push back against climate coercion: National policy should be set in Canberra, not Davos.
Net zero is dead. And it should be. It was always a pipe dream—pushed by elites, funded by taxpayers, and propped up by media hysteria.
The sooner we bury it, the sooner we can get back to building a strong, independent, and prosperous Australia:
https://www.macrobusiness.com.au/2025/04/the-dream-of-net-zero-is-over/