What is hydrogen energy and why is it important?
BBC NewsJUL 2021
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
The Biden administration's plan to reach net zero emissions by 2050 includes hydrogen as a promising tool to fight climate change. In theory, hydrogen could be the solution to produce steel, cement, chemicals, and fertilizer without emitting greenhouse gases. It could also be used to power trucks, ships, or airplanes or to produce electricity. Biden is planting the seed of making hydrogen the power of tomorrow.
Establishment-critical narrative
The Biden administration wants the US to believe that hydrogen fuel is a promising new source of renewable energy. However, when leaked into the atmosphere, hydrogen has a greenhouse gas effect five times more potent than CO2. Equally as important, at a time when we need to quickly reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, a large portion of this project will rely on natural gas.
Metaculus Prediction
There's a 40% chance that it will be possible to purchase a zero-emissions flight from New York to London for less than half of a median US weekly household income by 2050, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
