The gas crisis shows how important net zero is

This gas crisis has hit Britain because we rely too much on gas. That’s not a reason to abandon net zero. It’s a reason to do it.

Gas prices are soaring, energy companies are failing. A few people are blaming government environmental policies for that. Their apparent hope is that Boris Johnson proves wobbly on green causes and backs away from net zero.

I think they’re wrong, both about the policy and about the politics.

Start with the policy. The net zero decarbonisation of the UK economy isn’t the cause of the gas price crisis. It’s the solution.

Wholesale gas prices are soaring in Europe for several reasons: higher global demand, lower supply from Russia, and yes, some green-related factors including less electricity generation from renewables (the wind hasn’t been blowing as much as normal) and EU carbon pricing.

This creates a problem for most European countries, but the UK is hit especially hard.