Western “mismanaged” energy shifts are creating instability, policy documents say.

Western governments’ attempts to move away from hydrocarbons have created instability, New policy paper from Evaluation of Macdonald-Laurier Institute (MLI) Efforts by North America and Europe to reduce the use of fossil fuels through decarbonization.

“It turns out that Canada and the United States’ energy conversion policies are ultimately working to undermine North America’s economy, energy and national security,” authors Jack Mints and Ron Wallace said. “The world’s energy shift faces Realpolitik in the east and west,” he wrote. : Why energy security is important. “

Some of the consequences of the Western sale to hydrocarbons cited in the report are market instability, power outages, and ongoing cost increases. Foreign producers, on the other hand, benefit especially in the case of the war between Russia and Ukraine.

“It is becoming fully clear that policies such as those implemented in Germany to achieve the climate-led goal of net zero carbon emissions have brought Europe’s energy security into the hands of Russia.” Says.

The authors argue that energy must be understood as a core strategic issue that goes beyond climate considerations, and Russia is creating the impetus for reassessing current policies.

Federal Minister for Economics of Germany Robert HabeckLast month, in his country, “Over the last two decades, we have noticed an increasing reliance on fossil energy imports from Russia.The Associated Press reported.

“It’s not a good situation.”

Despite pursuing aggressive climate policies, Germany is in the process of increasing its reliance on Russia’s energy with its $ 11 billion Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which doubles Russia’s gas exports to Germany. became.

1,234km offshore pipeline Is ready for use, but Germany has not certified it in the light of recent geopolitical developments and is now essentially abandoned.

Germany to meet that energy demand schedule Not only accelerating the expansion of renewable resources, build Liquefied natural gas terminal Rethink Planned shutdown of coal-fired power plants.

European countries are not the only countries whose independence and security are threatened by excessive reliance on foreign energy sources. The US military plays a major role in continental and global security, and MLI’s papers document the incredible amount of fuel needed to do so.

The US Department of Defense is one of the world’s largest consumers of hydrocarbons. According to data from the 2005 CIA World Factbook, if the Pentagon is a country, it ranks 34th in average daily oil usage.

The US Air Force uses 10% of the US aviation fuel supply and is the largest fuel consumer of the US government.

“Given how deeply U.S. military facilities are woven into fossil fuel use, successive U.S. administrations’ policies to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels are not just about North America’s energy security, but their military. How does it affect power? Therefore, can we argue that policies to significantly reduce fossil production have become military and politically unstable? “The author asks. increase.

The Biden administration is taking steps to prevent the transport and development of hydrocarbons in North America, while at the same time appealing to foreign producers to increase production.

“These conflicting policies provide examples of the complexity and challenges associated with achieving net zero emissions from hydrocarbons, not only in the US and Canadian economies, but globally,” the newspaper said. I am.

In contrast to the western path of climate policy, China and Russia understand the “long-term energy game” and “actively develop access to fossil fuel resources.”

“If the West chooses to succumb to improper transition processes that lead to soaring energy prices and high economic costs, China can advance the Belt and Road Initiative and economic investment across Asia, Africa and Latin America. We continue to increase our economic influence. “

China is already a major player in resources and products for the green economy. The expansion into new markets will make Western countries dependent on foreign sources for alternative energy as well as hydrocarbons, “further increasing global energy insecurity.”

Mints and Wallace conclude:North America and European Union is experiencing false energy consequences Policies that have undermined efforts to maintain western energy security. “