Critics have rightly called the move utter madness. Heat-pump dryers may claim long-term savings, yet many families will encounter higher purchase prices and extended drying times. In Britain’s damp weather, the alternative of air-drying risks towering piles of damp laundry, mildew outbreaks, and hours or even days spent waiting for clothes to dry. A simple chore becomes an exercise in frustration.

This episode reveals the deeper flaws in the Net Zero project. At its core, the agenda demonises carbon dioxide as a pollutant to be eliminated. The science, however, paints CO2 in a far more positive light. It is the fundamental building block of plant life, the invisible gas that fuels photosynthesis and sustains the food chain. Satellite imagery from NASA and other agencies confirms a striking global greening trend over recent decades, with Earth’s vegetated areas expanding by several percent. Crop yields have improved, deserts have retreated in places, and agriculture has gained a powerful ally in higher CO2 concentrations.

The associated warming remains modest and brings its own advantages: extended growing seasons in northern latitudes and a measurable decline in cold-related mortality that far exceeds any rise in heat-related deaths. CO2 is not the existential villain portrayed by activists; it is an essential component of a thriving biosphere.

The genuine obstacle to comfortable modern living is not excess CO2 but insufficient cheap, reliable energy. Britain sits atop significant natural gas reserves and possesses the expertise to expand nuclear power rapidly. Embracing these sources would deliver abundant, affordable electricity, driving down costs for every household. With energy plentiful and inexpensive, consumers could select appliances on the basis of performance, speed and value – whether traditional dryers or advanced models – without government coercion or inflated bills. Innovation would flourish naturally, unburdened by the need for punitive efficiency mandates.

Net Zero does the opposite. It promotes intermittent renewables that raise electricity prices, then imposes restrictions to mask the consequences. The tumble-dryer crackdown is merely the latest symptom: a policy framed as environmental virtue that delivers tangible inconvenience and erodes quality of life for ordinary people.

If the broader public understood CO2’s vital and beneficial role, and if policymakers committed to cheap, reliable energy rather than ideological targets, none of these measures would be required. Families could enjoy the conveniences of the modern age – fast drying, warm homes, abundant food – without apology or sacrifice. It is time to reject the climate orthodoxy that demands endless restrictions and return to pragmatic policies that place human flourishing first.

On another related note before you go…

I recently bumped into a woman who was at my talk for Ashford Reform. She didn’t speak English that well but big ups to her for attending anyway.

To test to see how much she was able to take in from my talk I asked her a simple question: 

CO2, good, or bad? 

She took a moment and replied with a big smile: good! 

Fantastic, I thought.

This is all it really takes, the foundation of it all. If we can convince enough people CO2 is good, net zero fails, the climate cult fails and we will all be able to breathe a sigh of relief and make moves towards enjoying the prosperity of this great nation.

CO2 is good, spread the word!