UK joins Europe’s growing ‘greenlash’ with new pro-motorist policies

Published

2 years ago

October 9, 2023

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A protestor holds a placards during the ULEZ Protest. Protesters against Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) expansion brought traffic to a standstill as they demonstrated against the expansion of London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone.

Sopa Images | Lightrocket | Getty Images

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND — Moves by the U.K. government to introduce a series of pro-motorist policies brings Britain into the fold of countries succumbing to a political backlash against Europe’s green agenda.

A so-called “greenlash” has been growing across Europe as the cost of implementing ambitious environmental policies has faced resistance from citizens, prompting some governments to water down their targets.

Britain’s Transport Minister Mark Harper last week announced new concessions for motorists, a move he said would protect drivers from “over-zealous traffic enforcement.”

The measures include limits on councils’ ability to impose speed limits, restrictions on the number of hours a day that car traffic is banned from bus lanes, and a new national system to simplify parking payments.

The decision comes as the ruling Conservative Party seeks to shore up support from voters — many of whom live in rural areas and feel unfairly penalized by green transport policies — ahead of next year’s General Election.

“The Conservative Party is proudly pro-car,” Harper said as the Conservative Party Conference got underway in Manchester, England. “We stand for freedom to travel how you want.”

Seizing on ‘sinister’ green policies

In his speech, Harper called out as “sinister” the idea of 15-minute cities: an urban planning concept where all amenities are accessible within a 15-minute walk or cycle.

Despite being praised for its green credentials and focus on accessibility, the idea was seized upon during the Covid-19 lockdowns by conspiracy theorists who claimed it was part of a plot by governments to control their populations.

“I’m calling time on the misuse of so-called 15-minute cities,” Harper said, noting that local councils should not be able to ration road use, providing no evidence that they currently do so — or, indeed, that they could.

Net zero isn’t something that can be done to people by a political elite.

Claire Coutinho

U.K. Minister for Energy Security and Net Zero

The comments follow an earlier watering down of the U.K.’s green agenda by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

Last month, Sunak delayed a ban on the sale of new gasoline and diesel cars, saying that the move would ease the financial burden on households.

Then, on Wednesday, Sunak announced the cancellation of a section of the U.K.’s long-awaited HS2 high-speed rail network, a public transport infrastructure project intended to better connect major cities with the capital. Instead, he said, the funds would be spent on local transport projects, including greater investment in road networks.

The decision was unveiled under Sunak’s election campaign slogan “Long-term decisions for a brighter future” as he sought to reassert his leadership among more radical Tory factions.

Growing European ‘greenlash’

The moves come amid the rising politicization of green policies across Europe and beyond as citizens struggle with a cost-of-living crisis.

Germany last month passed a watered-down version of a contentious heating law, delaying the phaseout of gas boilers by several years.

In the Netherlands, frustration at plans to cut nitrogen pollution led to a shock poll win for a new farmers’ protest party.

Meantime, the governments of France and Belgium have both called for a pause on the European Union’s green legislative agenda.

In London, a recent decision by Labour Mayor Sadiq Khan to expand the city’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) to all boroughs was met by backlash from those who protest the higher fees involved.

Britain’s recently appointed Minister for Energy Security and Net Zero, Claire Coutinho, reiterated the government’s position last week, saying that the public shouldn’t be forced to go green.

“Net zero isn’t something that can be done to people by a political elite,” she said, accusing the opposition Labour Party — currently ahead in the polls — of strong-arming the public into making greener choices.

“They want to force people to behave in a certain way,” she said. “Their plans are toxic and would collapse popular support for net zero.”

Environment

Chevron sees no signs that U.S. is close to a recession, CEO says

Published

56 mins ago

April 22, 2025

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Chevron sees no signs that U.S. is close to a recession, CEO says

Chevron CEO Mike Wirth: No signs that we're in or close to a recession at this point

Chevron is not seeing signs that the U.S. is close to a recession even as President Donald Trump’s tariffs weigh on expectations for oil demand, CEO Mike Wirth said Tuesday.

“There’s no signs that we see at this point that we are in or close to a recession,” Wirth told CNBC’s “Squawk Box.” “There are signs that growth may be slowing and we have to always be prepared for that.”

The International Monetary Fund on Monday cut its growth outlook for the U.S. this year to 1.8%, down from 2.7% previously.

The oil market is expecting reduced demand as a consequence of Trump’s tariffs and the decision by OPEC+ increase production faster than expected, Wirth said. Chevron isn’t changing its capital spending plans in response to drop in prices, the CEO said.

U.S. crude oil prices have fallen about 11% since Trump announced his tariffs on April 2. West Texas Intermediate was last up about 72 cents at $63.80 per barrel. OPEC and the International Energy Agency have cut their demand outlooks for this year.

Wirth said U.S. onshore oil production in patches like the Permian Basin is likely to pull back if prices hit $60 per barrel. Offshore production likely won’t be affected, he said.

“That’s an area where if we were to be at a $60 price or even lower you’re likely to see activity pull back in this sector and you’ll see the production response over a few months,” Wirth said. “That’s what we should watch, not so much the deep water activity.”

Chevron is not expecting a major direct impact on its business from Trump’s tariffs as energy has largely been exempt from the levies, Wirth said.

“The effects that we feel are likely to be more the macroeconomic effects as they flow through the economy,” Wirth said. “The bigger issues would be what would it mean for growth, and global trade and how does that evolve.”

Executives at oil and gas companies were scathing in their criticism of Trump’s tariffs in an anonymous March survey by the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, warning that steel tariffs were raising their costs and low prices could impact their activity.

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Billionaire battle: Bezos’ $25K Slate EV breaks cover ahead of Tesla earnings call

Published

2 hours ago

April 22, 2025

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Billionaire battle: Bezos' K Slate EV breaks cover ahead of Tesla earnings call

Slate $25,000 EV from Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos

Little is known about super-secretive EV startup Slate, but the fledgling brand is rumored to be backed by Jeff Bezos and determined to shake up the existing electric order with an affordable lineup of compact SUVs and pickups with that golden $25,000 price tag.

Now, at least, we know what it’s gonna look like. The battle of the billionaires is on!

Redditor jonjopop over at the spotted subreddit spotted what looks like an early prototype of an unbranded SUV with bizarre “CryShare” wrap. CryShare, as a concept, seems to combine the functionality of a ride sharing app like Uber or Lyft with the familiar (to parent, anyway) idea that small babies will often sleep better in a moving car than in their own cribs … but that’s not what’s important here.

Instead, focus on the vehicle itself – parked on Abbot Kinney Boulevard in Los Angeles without explanation or fanfare, this is our best look yet at the kind of vehicle(s) Slate is likely to reveal in the coming days.

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Stumbled upon the Bezosmobile [Slate Automotive…idk?] being revealed with an absolutely bizarre marketing campaign
byu/jonjopop inspotted

Other local automotive journalists caught wind of the public unveiling, too – and our friends at The Autopian (Hi, Matt!) sent their own David Tracy out on the streets of LA to check it out. Tracy took the following video and posted it to Instagram.

The Slate breaking cover and causing buzz just ahead of what’s sure to be a painful Q1 earnings call for Tesla is a masterstroke of marketing – especially as doubts surrounding the viability of a “less expensive” Tesla Model Y or Model 3 continue to mount amid the uncertainty of Trump’s tariffs and declining sales of the brand’s more profitable models both at home and abroad.

As with so much involving Slate, however, there is nothing here written in stone – or even cast in cheese. Nothing has been announced, nothing is promised, and for all we know this might have more to do with the affordable Rivian brand launch, a new BYD, or be a viral marketing bit from some local Art Center design student in (relatively) nearby Pasadena. In fact, about the only thing I think we can say about Bezos (?) new Slate project with confidence today is this: Elon could probably use that drink.

SOURCES | IMAGES: Reddit, The Autopian.

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Gold tops $3,500 an ounce as Trump attack on Fed shakes confidence in U.S.

Published

3 hours ago

April 22, 2025

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Gold tops ,500 an ounce as Trump attack on Fed shakes confidence in U.S.

Gold prices rebounded on Tuesday from a near four-week low reached in the previous session, as heightened concerns over the global trade war between the United States and its key trading partners lifted investor appetite for safe-haven assets.

Chris Ratcliffe | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Gold prices rallied Tuesday, hitting a record as President Donald Trump‘s repeated threats against the Federal Reserve’s independence have shaken investors and undermined confidence in the U.S.

Gold futures hit a session high of $3,509.90 per ounce Tuesday, after closing at a record $3,425.30 on Monday. The precious metal was last up 1.1% at $3,463.20. Gold has rallied about 31% since the start of the year and more than 9% since Trump announced sweeping tariffs on April 2.

Trump ratcheted up his public pressure campaign against Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell on Monday, demanding he immediately lower interest rates and attacking him as a “major loser.” Equity markets sold off in response, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average falling more than 970 points.

Gold is viewed as a safe-haven asset in times of economic uncertainty. Central banks around the world have been adding to their gold reserves, supporting the precious metal’s rally this year.

“Gold has continued to serve as an effective hedge amid ongoing trade uncertainty,” analysts led by Mark Haefele, global wealth management chief Investment officer at UBS, told clients in a Tuesday note.

“Despite this strong performance, we see further upside potential,” Haefele said. “We continue to see support from investment demand, ongoing central bank diversification and a volatile macro backdrop.”

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