A remarkable realism is starting to ripple through the global establishment on energy policy.

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Spearheaded by Mark Carney, the Canadian prime minister, the world’s progressives are reluctantly, but increasingly, recognising that their previous attachment to zero emissions at all costs was misplaced. The relentless drive to renewable energy and net zero is reaching the end of the road.

The latest to wake up to the now undeniable evidence that the orthodoxy on environmental policy is no longer serving their national economy and their electorate is Rhun ap Iorwerth, the leader of Plaid Cymru. Wales for a long time has gone further and faster than the rest of the UK on net zero with no rhyme or reason.

Politicians in Wales have fallen into the age-old trap of making themselves feel very important by making very big promises. Promises that they could never keep. Now, either having to deliver these promises in their local authorities, or realising they are on the cusp of power in Cardiff Bay, they are back peddling.

They now realise it doesn’t make sense for Wales. If the UK makes up a mere fraction........

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