Temporary Be aware by Kip Hansen — 2 February 2023
Dave Middleton, a frequent contributor right here at WUWT, quotes a report concerning the potential of geothermal power in Texas which is acknowledged to have been produced by the “state’s flagship universities — together with the College of Texas at Austin, Rice College and Texas A&M College — [in collaboration] with the Worldwide Vitality Company “. The precise report might be downloaded right here.
I say “precise report” as a result of when one appears to be like on the authorship of the report, one finds that the report has actually been edited by and attributed to a non-profit advocacy group Undertaking InnerSpace. The 2 editors listed are: Jamie C. Beard, Esq., Founder and Government Director of Undertaking InnerSpace & Dr. Bryant A. Jones, Head of Coverage and Schooling at Undertaking InnerSpace. There isn’t any indication within the full report – none no matter – that the report was produced in collaboration with IEA. One of many many co-authors, Rebecca Schulz, is a “advisor for the World Vitality Outlook group on the Worldwide Vitality Company (IEA)”.
And what’s the IEA — the Worldwide Vitality Company — anyway? It’s a global company accountable for the world’s power? Does it have regulatory powers underneath the United Nations? Not precisely.
Right here’s what IEA itself says:
The IEA was created in 1974 to assist co-ordinate a collective response to main disruptions within the provide of oil. Whereas oil safety stays a key facet of our work, the IEA has developed and expanded considerably since its basis. …. “Taking an all-fuels, all-technology method, the IEA recommends insurance policies that improve the reliability, affordability and sustainability of power.” [ source ]
Translating that into plain, non-policy-geek English:
“The Worldwide Vitality Company (IEA) is a Paris-based autonomous intergovernmental organisation, established in 1974, that gives coverage suggestions, evaluation and information on your complete international power sector, with a current give attention to curbing carbon emissions and reaching international local weather targets, together with the Paris Settlement.”
And, to not put too effective some extent on it, however the IEA was proud to publish a booklet: “Internet Zero by 2050 — A Roadmap for the International Vitality Sector” [ full .pdf here ]. Talking about this report Fatih Birol, the IEA Government Director, mentioned:
“Our Roadmap reveals the precedence actions which are wanted right this moment to make sure the chance of net-zero emissions by 2050 – slim however nonetheless achievable – shouldn’t be misplaced. The dimensions and pace of the efforts demanded by this essential and formidable purpose – our greatest probability of tackling local weather change and limiting international warming to 1.5 °C – make this maybe the best problem humankind has ever confronted.”
Birol can also be chairman of the World Financial Discussion board (Davos) Vitality Advisory Board.
Backside Line:
1. The IEA is not a disinterested group of power analysts advising world leaders about our power choices. They began out making an attempt to dealer power provide disagreements throughout the Nineteen Seventies…however have transitioned right into a full-on, all-aboard advocacy group selling NetZero insurance policies, to each nationwide governments and to the ability brokers at Davos.
2) They do produce actually terrific charts, graphs and information units of power manufacturing, utilization, distribution, and a large and far-reaching portfolio of different power associated subjects. This can be a very worthwhile service. Nonetheless, given their current shift to advocacy, one now wants to contemplate the potential of bias in these charts and graphs.
3) Like many different companies and teams, who’s very names appear to present them authority (which they don’t have) the IEA wields rather more energy than they must have – significantly with the elite that meet at Davos. Alternately, it might be mentioned that Davos wields an excessive amount of energy over the IEA.
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Writer’s Remark:
I like the IEA offered graphs and charts – they’re typically excellent and informative. Their analysts do good work.
I believe that their NetZero enthusiasm is one more case of the go-along-to-get-along, band-wagoning of their prime executives to “common causes”. Much like virtually each skilled group that has issued coverage statements on all the things from international warming to the usage of private pronouns, all with out polling their members.
I may be flawed….
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