Indeed, that's one thing I don't buy from the Consciousness of Sheep guy - the idea that poor oil companies don't want to invest in new production because of mixed messages from governments. I think they're getting a load of private reassurances that the net zero stuff is just PR and won't touch them when it comes down to it. Another de-smog article points out that ministers in charge of net zero 'met with fossil fuel companies and lobbyists over 100 times last year, four times as much as they did external climate scientists, campaigners, and charities'. A Department for Energy Security and Net Zero spokesperson rejected the analysis as 'selective' and that it would be:

'expected for ministers to meet with oil and gas companies – the industry supports around 200,000 jobs, provides the skills needed for the green transition, and will still be needed by the UK even when we reach net zero in 2050' - https://www.desmog.com/2024/05/09/net-zero-ministers-met-oil-and-gas-representatives-twice-a-week-2023/

There you go: net zero doesn't mean actual zero. And they're setting up a nice cosy relationship with policy makers where they can dictate proceedings to their liking. They'll make a big Net Zero: Mission Accomplished fanfare in 2050 and open a new carbon negative coal mine the next day. Who's going to stop them? Not ordinary people if they still depend on cars, cheap food and international supply chains - a situation that isn't showing any signs of changing, and would prob be electoral suicide were any party to be brave/principled/unbought enough to propose altering.

It's a problem!
I