In an illuminating piece by Tilak Doshi on Forbes, the economic trajectory of Europe under the weight of its environmental policies is critically analyzed. Doshi paints a stark picture of what he describes as a self-inflicted wound to Europe’s industrial base, driven by stringent regulations and a shift away from reliable energy sources.
Doshi’s analysis starts with Germany, the hub of Europe’s industrial might, which has seen a significant decline in its industrial production since 2017. This decline is attributed to the Energiewende, a policy initiative aimed at transitioning to renewable energy sources but which has resulted in high energy costs and reduced competitiveness in the global market.
Germany’s industrial production peaked in November of 2017, and by the end of last year had fallen to a level last seen in 2006 outside of the global financial recession and Covid-19 years. Its industrial sector contracted by almost 14% in the 6 years ending December 2023.
Energy-intensive trade-oriented industries, involving both among small and medium-sized firms as well as behemoths like BASF, have been worst hit, as high energy prices make vast swathes of Germany’s manufacturing sector uncompetitive. The self-inflicted economic meltdown in the pursuit of ‘net zero’ policy goals goes beyond Germany. Industrial capacity is being decimated across Europe”.
Furthermore, Doshi points out that these economic policies have not just been problematic for industry, but also have broader socio-political repercussions. A growing discontent among European citizens is manifesting, particularly among those most impacted like farmers and small business owners, who are increasingly protesting against what they perceive as burdensome and unrealistic regulatory frameworks.
“Since the summer of 2023, Europe’s Green Deal has been on regulatory pause, as EU governments face a ‘greenlash’ against environmental policies. In the face of energy and cost of living crises, farmers, consumers and trade groups are starting to resent the burdensome costs of sprawling environmental regulations across the continent. Nowhere is this sense of grievance more apparent than in the great European farmer’s revolt, as farmers’ protests escalated across the continent since they first started in the Netherlands in October 2019″.
1. Forbes, what used to be a business oriented publication is now a toilet paper version of AXIOS
2. The Germans - as in the more populous WEST Germany and the BIG Business leadership there, CHOSE Russian Gas as their "green" energy. Germany had Nuclear power that was inexpensive and they CHOSE to shut it down.
Now they, the Germans and their Big Business are reaping what they have sawn all those years ago.
As for German car manufactures, they chose to bet big on Chines consumers, that bet is also now "kaput".
Play stupid games win stupid prizes
Much of eurpose is lost to the throws of creeping communism. The void it leaves is being filled by muslims who will take them over as the years go by. Sad to see.
Communists believe destroying something is a success. If the lumber industry was allowed to harvest and manage the forests properly houses would cost 20% less.