By Jo Nova
Good news — there is one less hyper-complex, pointless, car-hate program in the world
It all flipped so quickly: Only six months ago President Macron was hurling France into a climate changing roadmap of the Octopus kind. The people of France were going to have to buy EVs, work from home, swap the filet mignon for tofu, and take fewer flights overseas. Even large screen televisions were going to have to shrink, to save electrons. And some bureaucrats were enthusiastically even dreaming that they would reach into homes and set the thermostats to max out at 19C (66F) in winter and to only cool to 25C (78F) in summer.
To beat French car owners around the head, the National government legislated car zoning incentives to make life hard for anyone who wanted to drive an old car. The low emission zones started in 2019 and had already spread like a municipal leprosy to every town larger than 150,000 people.
In these ZFEs (zones à faibles émissions), cars were ranked and given a sticker. Crit’Air 0 were the cleanest and Crit’Air 5 were the most “polluting” vehicles. Different rules applied to each sticker class in each town with a soul sapping complexity. In Paris for example, Crit’Air 3 cars (basically diesel cars older than 2011, and petrol cars before 2006) were banned on weekdays. Fines varied from €68 to €750. It was a case of — if you like your car, you can keep it — (locked in the garage, right?)
But cars older than 1997 were seen as such baby killers they were not allowed to have a Crit’Air Sticker at all, so their drivers would be fined if they were caught on any weekday between 8am and 8pm. Obviously, the bans hurt the poor and the rural workers — who drove older cars. They also hurt the tradies, and small businesses that used a van.
The low emission zones were so unpopular, as the BBC even admits, they “turned into something of a lightning rod for Macron’s supporters”. (The wonder is that it took five years?)
Last week the French National Assembly voted 98 to 51 to scrap the zones entirely. The government had tried to dilute the rules, and save the restrictions to Paris and Lyon, but MP’s were having none of it. Evidently, many politicians were afraid of word getting back to voters that they didn’t vote down the low emissions zones. (Go, democracy).
Interestingly, these car zones were so awful that even some members on the far left of French politics, joined the centre right to get rid of them.
Finally, there are hints of life on the far left:
“Green policies should not be imposed on the backs of the working classes” — Clémence Guetté.
Guetté is described in the Wall Street Journal as being “to the left of Bernie Sanders”. The Greens and Socialists though, still voted for the car sticker program to change the weather. They probably like having stickers on their cars to tell everyone how smugly clever they are.
French MPs vote to scrap low-emission zones
BBC
A handful of MPs from Macron’s party joined opposition parties from the right and far right in voting 98-51 to scrap the zones, which have gradually been extended across French cities since 2019.
But it was a personal victory for writer Alexandre Jardin who set up a movement called Les #Gueux (Beggars), arguing that “ecology has turned into a sport for the rich”.
The low-emission zones began with 15 of France’s most polluted cities in 2019 and by the start of this year had been extended to every urban area with a population of more than 150,000, with a ban on cars registered before 1997.
Marine Le Pen condemned the ZFEs as “no-rights zones” during her presidential campaign for National Rally in 2022, and her Communist counterpart warned of a “social bomb”.
The head of the right-wing Republicans in the Assembly, Laurent Wauquiez, talked of “freeing the French from stifling, punitive ecology”, and on the far left, Clémence Guetté said green policies should not be imposed “on the backs of the working classes”.
Green Senator Anne Souyris told BFMTV that “killing [the ZFEs] also means killing hundreds of thousands of people” …
The legislation still has to go through the upper house, though it is expected to. And it doesn’t stop tyrant-municipalities from imposing their own small tourist-deterrent zones. But spread the word in case any of our politicians think this idea is not radioactively awful. They need to know it’s been tried and failed so we don’t have to repeat the experiment.
See also France, Yes Even France, Rethinks Low-Emissions Zones, Wall Street Journal
Car and signs picture created with AI.
The problem with our (english) politicians is that very few are educated sufficiently and not able to read French.
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And I’m not sure the Mayor of London [with his, and its, Ultra Low Emissions Zone – ULEZ] will care.
Even if someone explains it to him.
Unhappily, too many folk have acquiesced, it seems.
A few are still – illegally and wrongly [but popularly] – destroying the ULEZ enforcement cameras.
Some have moved out of London, or scrimped to pay either the daily extortion, or for a compliant car.
Public transport is pretty good, and has probably been improved [about 0.1217%] …
Auto
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It helps deepen the countryside vs city divide opened during Brexit
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I did wonder if I should have bought the large pipe cutter at a show the other week as it looked perfect for quietly cutting down the ULEZ camera poles.
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I suspect it’s only a matter of time before enough is enough. But the longer the repression continues, the farther will the pendulum likely swing the other way when it happens.
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Dave, I suspect you are correct though I can’t believe how much time it takes to matter. I’m starting to feel old and I worry that it is their working plan to rely on attrition.
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Meanwhile those who can, plan on cashing in as much as they can for as long as they can. Fining and (regressively) taxing the poor and the needy. Where is the virtue in that? The whole Climate Religion wraps themselves in flags of virtue, but it’s all “lip stick on a pig.”
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And what about the concept of freedom? Climate Religion is all about conformity and compliance. Or pay an indulgence. TdeF uses the term Police State below. The West used to fight wars against such tyranny, not embrace it. What would Winston think?
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A working person driving a twenty year old petrol/gasoline car is far more “environmentally friendly” than the rich wokester Leftoid virtue signaler who buys a new EV every two years. Think of the saving of CO2 from the manufacturing process and materials used and the recharging process, assuming CO2 was a problem as claimed. (In fact, the only CO2 problem is that we don’t have enough of it.)
At least in France the EVs are mostly nuclear powered rather than coal powered as in most countries and especially immature and ignorant Australia where there is a terror of nuclear power and despite saturation windmills and solar panels coal, gas and diesel are still the dominant electrical power sources. Again, not that it matters as CO2 is not a problem.
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I luv it!! 🙂
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Fortunately Chris Bowen does not read Jo Nova’s blog or he would be aware of another disastrous policy he could introduce. France has nuclear power and did have draconian car rules so in Bo Bo’s very small mind both policies are ridiculously wrong and he will show the world just how wrong.
Two things may eventually help save Australia; Bowen’s mad green schemes being so disastrous that even the dumbest voter will finally see the light or lack of it. The second is the cavalier approach to Australia’s defence by Albanese. While others realise the threat posed by China Albo pretends we are well prepared. The combination of these two incompetents puts Australia in a very parlous position.
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Something to keep an eye out is another insane scheme from Bowen which I mentioned yesterday, “carbon tariffs”.
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I always thought Bowen was just dumb but I am coming to the conclusion that he is deliberately destroying Australia. Meanwhile Albo leaves us defenceless. Are these two working for the Chunese? It certainly looks that way.
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I used to think about Biden’s (or his controllers)actions and wonder if they wanted to destroy the US as a nation , what would they do differently? every action seemed destructive in one way or another.
Albanese/Bowen/Chalmers seem to be on the strategy.
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We need to start a similar net zero ban here and then move to ban Lefties and Righties and go back to having elected representatives in Canberra actually representing us rather than gaining power and then galloping off on their own hobby-horses.
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For some reason, Blackout Bowen sees what’s happening overseas with nuclear, car tariffs, with anything to do with climate change measures, and once it’s proven to be unpopular or inefficient, or expensive and they back pedal… he jumps in and wants to do it.
I can only think he’s using the old ‘that’s not real Socialism’ argument, in that these anti-climate measures ‘aren’t real climate measures’ because they’ve failed.
Or he’s simply mind-numbingly stupid.
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On China, I doubt that Albanese’s position has anything to do with incompetence. More with ideological sympathy.
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Well , if the recent election result is any indicator, ..those dumb voters are not about to see any light and change their minds !
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Shouldn’t there be emissions restricted zones for private aircraft?
ULIARZ
Ultra Low Impact Aircraft Restricted Zones
Can’t they do COPs on Zoom?
Certain recreational support industries that used to require face to, uh … face exchange, are more and more being conducted on-line.
On Zoom they wouldn’t need pants.
Even more energy efficiency.
Also helps stop the spread of COVID.
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When the wokesters fly their private jets they generally pretend that they buy “carbon” (sic) credits, although we already know that such credits are a scam.
And a ULIARZ would also help stop the spread of Leftism.
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Sacre bleu Jo!!. The French invented the metric system – the temps should be 19-25˚C.
[Good point, Ross. Fixed! I am too used to reading the WSJ. – Jo]
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Although metrication was first proposed by the Englishman John Wilkins in 1668.
That predates the French who didn’t adopt their system until 1795.
https://metricviews.uk/2023/03/01/british-contributions-to-the-metric-system/comment-page-1/
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Thanks Sheldon
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The French have had enough of the EU and want FREXIT. And enough of Macron. So has his wife.
The globalists are starting to unravel. And their attempt to use 37 year old man made RAPID warming story as a justification for dismantling democracy.
It seems the ski season was fine. If anything too cold.
The Wuhan flu gave the world a good taste of rampant government control.
And the Gilets Jaune are still there, remembering when they were all forced to buy yellow vests and the Green diesel cars which were immediately declared environmental disasters and they were penalized for obeying the government.
But the good parts of the EU can stay. Shengen zone. But who needs the Euro when no one uses cash anyway? And when two thirds of students in Vienna do not speak German, it’s time to stop migration. And remember the two great battles of Vienna in 1529 and a century later 1623 to stop the muslim Ottoman armies from conquering Christian Europe.
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And Poland’s Presidential election was just won by a Conservative. A big Trump fan. An EU Hack like PM Donald Tusk who has just called ‘a confidence’ vote to try to circumvent new President Karol Nowrocki.
Conservatives are on the rise across Europe and it’s all the establishment can with lawfare do to jail, convict, disable their opposition, following the Democrat Playbook. That includes Marine Le Pen. Gert Wilders. Viktor Orban. And a stolen election in Romania to prevent a Conservative leader. The only common theme is that Conservatives are all labelled as “Far Right”. As in every country run by the extreme Left.
But the EU will soon be a very different place especially when Nigel Farage sweeps the pusillanimous anti BREXIT socialist Climate Change pushing Tories away. (weak as) Personally I am hoping Keir Starmer’s absurd government self implodes. Especially when illegal aliens are excused and any British man or woman can be arrested and jailed for a single anti migrant comment on social media. This is a police state, as we saw with Daniel Andrews in Victoria.
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I use cash, because if you don’t they will have you by the short and curlies. If you don’t “behave” they can just shut your bank account down and then you’re done for. Even happened to Farage. :
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigel_Farage_Coutts_bank_scandal
It happened to the truckies protesting the shots in Canada:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/emergency-bank-measures-finance-committee-1.6360769
Pure digital money will be a nightmare.
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I am not promoting digital money. Trudeau ordered the banks to shut the accounts, digital and cash and regular payments. In law he had not power to do so and the Banks had no reason to obey. But they did! That was the problem. Unless you have piles of cash under the bed, it also runs out fast enough. Especially if the tellers do not dispense cash because your account is frozen and the ATMS also refuse on bank orders. It would pay to carry live chickens for trading.
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Yes I think that’s the reality of it. Cash gives you flexibility and we make sure we have access to some for emergency purposes. Long term I am less hopeful.
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My 24 year old V8 petrol only averages 2lt per 100km more fuel use than my 3 year old diesel Dual cab that has wizz bang technology like DPF, double the amount of gear ratios and other high efficiency turbo deisel motor stuff that costs a small fortune to service. The 24 year old V8 has 4 times the km’s on the odometer, i can service it myself for between $50-$100 and it still runs a clean exhaust pipe.
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LPG conversion would lower emissions further.
The injected systems available before our governments decided gas was not for future transport fuel were efficient, a diesel-gas mixture injected system created a cleaner burn and related lower emissions with significant gain in power and torque resulting from more fuel used than emissions created.
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I had a Mitsubishi Pajero diesel converted to injected diesel-gas system and testing on a dynamometer the vehicle gained 20% power and torque measured at the rear wheels.
The ratio of LPG to Diesel was about 20% LPG.
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Spare us the emissions shyness please Dennis and start spruiking for coal.
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LPG is a very clean fuel, it a pity it seems to be falling out of the mainstream it enjoyed when every cab was an LPG Falcon (LPG and Australian built cars back when dinosaurs roamed the earth)
By clean I am talking about for motor health, lack of sludge etc. CO2 emissions are supposed to be lower also but I dont really care.
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My 27 year old Holden Statesman VS was on of the first Australian cars with a fair bit of computer assisted display, like trip settings, fuel consumption and speed (real time and historic) and lots more. The V6 3.8 litre supercharged engine is quite responsive, even fun when challenged at the lights by youngsters in rice burners, the leg room in this longer car suits my 6 ft 3 inch height. So far, about 260,000 km on the clock.
Average fuel consumption, these days mainly city driving, is 13.8 litres per 100 kilometres. I have always used 98 octane fuel to avoid engine knock.
If some other person, citizen or official, tells me I am offending Nature or their bank balance, I take no notice in this modern world of mildly excessive hate talk against people like me who as individualists are not in tune with pointless orders to obey and be unhappy. Geoff S
p.s. My wife for 61 years has never hit me in the face like Macron’s wife. What goes wrong with pollies with power?
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In France, low emission zones voted out,
Which even some lefties brought about,
A win for liberty,
Where I.C.E.s can drive free,
Though the Greens won’t be happy, no doubt.
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Unlike the frogs to be first in something!
OR sensible.
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Let’s talk about Norway, where 90% of new car purchases are EVs.
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Of course. A country with the population of Melbourne. And infinite energy and fossil fuel cash from North Sea oil. Plus hydroelectricity.
#6 on GDP per capita, $10K per person higher than Switzerland. They used to be very poor, but fossil fuels changed all that. Of the major oil rich countries, on tiny Qatar is higher. Qatar has half the population and 80% of those are foreigners.
So who cares? They are very, very lucky. Like all oil and gas states where residents really don’t need to work. And you do need four wheel drive in their frozen winters, night for two months of the year in the North. And the car needs to pass the Moose test.
I suppose we should have a kangaroo test in Australia?
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Ireland is in the top 5 only because Apple moved their world banking headquarters to Ireland to take advantage of their low tax scheme. The world’s richest company launders all its cash in Ireland. Otherwise the GDP is quite normal. For Switzerland and Licenstein, it’s banking and gold. And Macau is more money laundering through the casinos, the fundamental point of all casinos and racecourses. Except no one admits it.
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Australia has lots of gas too. Norwegian oil and gas producers pay NOK1750/t (AU$250/t) for their CO2 production emissions, through a combination of EU ETS and carbon tax. Imagine the government revenue from that rather than producers getting gas almost for free. Much better mechanism than tariffs….
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Where do you get this stuff? All minerals and gases are taxed by the State governments. Nothing to do with CO2. And our Safeguard Mechanism payments on CO2 are heading for 35%. That’s all aircraft, trucks, smelters, even the MMBW, manufacturers. And this money goes out as ‘agricultural carbon credits’. You are paying them today. Everything is hit except petrol for cars.
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Not prepared to disclose the various substantial subsidies provided for EV usage in Norway? But when they want to drive elsewhere, these subsidies mostly don’t apply, so out comes the SUV…
Also, it now looks like some of the subsidies are to be dropped, because the huge EV subsidies are impacting the money available for road maintenance.
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A Norwegian talking about Norway here: https://fackel.substack.com/p/norways-govt-raises-bus-tickets-virtue
In 2024 and 2025, several counties will have new contracts with public transport companies. The contracts will run for the next ten years.
The cost of the tenders has increased abnormally—up to 60 per cent in some places.
This is the case in Vikre’s own county, Telemark.
‘If you demand zero emissions, you must also pay for it’
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But they may be able to cushion things with the wise investment of the Oil revenues I guess….
https://www.nbim.no/
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Any thinking person would realise how atypical Norway is and think why are EV sales so low in the rest of the world?
When you have a functional oil and gas sovereign wealth fund, healthy subsidies, surplus hydro energy (except “renewables” dysfunctional Germany isn’t sucking them dry, and nuclear neighbours you can afford to have luxury beliefs. That Norway?
Try again Simon , your low level trolling really is a waste of bits and bytes at times.
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One of the few countries with hydroelectric power and part of the bragged about 30% of worldwide so called renewables sources.
Usually wind and solar supporters refer to the 30% but ignore that hydroelectric power stations are most of that, even wood chips or biomass is included fuelling power stations, wind and solar a small segment.
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Our local city used to have “This city smiles” welcoming people.
It changed that to “F off if you’re a second class citizen”.
I don’t care what “class” I’m in, it’s just really nasty. So I no longer go anywhere near that city … just as I don’t go into supermarkets with apartheid pricing.
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“supermarkets with apartheid pricing.” how does that work?
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