When it comes to environmental problems in general and global warming in particular, the general consensus is that ‘something must be done’. Greta Thunberg and Extinction Rebellion have become sensations. But what is worrying about this phenomenon is that the more detached from critical reason their arguments become the more they are acclaimed. Greta, for example, began by arguing that those who put forward alternative views were liars and asserted that she had a special gift for being able to tell when people were lying. Her recent speech at the UN Climate Summit was simply a series of assertions.

Extinction Rebellion seems to be strongly linked to far-left political movements. The left often argues that climate change cannot be solved by markets. And aren’t hasty, to be honest about the trade-offs involved. The IEA's Digital Manager, Darren Grimes, asked the IEA’s Victoria Hewson, Head of Regulatory Affairs, and the IEA's Head of Political Economy, Dr Kristian Niemietz, to join him and discuss the trade-offs and challenges of adopting such a radical carbon-neutral prescription.