How long will it be before the World Economic Forum crowd realizes that Western elites no longer control the world’s future? How long before they lose their anti-growth influence that has brought energy production to a standstill (or worse) in the U.S, and across much of Europe?

The climate crowd (Al Gore, JFK Heinz, and the other green profiteers, buoyed by generations of the indoctrinated) has already lost the 50-year climate crusade to Xi Jinping, Nahrenda Modi, and the African Energy Chamber.

In a carefully worded statement issued just prior to the thankfully failed climate catastrophe party in Glasgow (where activists wine and finely dine unmasked on other people’s money), Premier Li Keqiang announced that China needs to prioritize its economic development. Translation: China will continue to use oil, coal, and natural gas to generate its mammoth energy needs.

At about the same time, R. P. Gupta, India’s Environment Secretary, asserted that merely announcing a “net zero” goal creates no real-world solution to the presumed climate catastrophe. Gupta claimed that India is a victim of global warming and not a contributor. Indeed, India and China are demanding a trillion-dollar buy-in by “developed” nations before they will submit to serious net zero conversations.

India is projected to lead world oil demand growth, thanks to a five-fold increase in per capita [mostly fossil fuel powered] car ownership. The nation, already the world’s fourth largest energy consumer (behind China, the U.S., and the EU), is now the fastest-growing market for natural gas. India is on a path toward rises in demand of 75 percent for oil, 30 percent for coal, and 50 percent overall in the next decade or two.

NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the Africa Energy Chamber, spoke for much of Africa when he posted, during the Glasgow climate summit, his utter disappointment with the global elites (the aforesaid losers) for their eagerness to “rid the world of fossil fuels” before Africa (where millions die from disease or malnutrition every year) has had the chance to grow.

The African Energy Chamber, which hosted the African-run Africa Energy Week in November, has many reasons, Ayuk stated, for becoming an outspoken advocate for continued production of natural gas. One major reason is the building momentum in Africa for developing and expanding gas-powered electricity plants, which Ayuk calls a practical way to address energy poverty that makes sense for Africa.

The global elites know they have lost – but they still act as if they are in charge. Who knows? Perhaps they can steal and con a few more trillion before they are run out of town on a rail by the American and European lower and middle classes, many of whom are rapidly awakening to the reality that they have been played.

One Western nation already preparing for the post-apocalypse in Norway. Oilprice.com reports that Norway’s oil and gas production for 2021 is at an all-time high, bouncing back from the pandemic year 2020 (when real-world eyesight was anything but).

The Norwegian government made this rebound possible by enacting tax breaks for oil and gas firms over loud objections from the climate crowd (well-paid activists pushing for subsidies and profit-taking by renewable energy mavens). Oilprice reporter Felicity Bradstock mused, “For a country founded on oil revenue, it is hardly surprising that Norway wants a continuing piece of the action as post-pandemic oil demand rises.”

Even Justin Trudeau is sticking up for Canadian energy of late. The Canadian government, citing a 1977 bilateral treaty, recently intervened to block Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s attempt to shut down a pipeline owned by Canadian firm Enbridge. And Canada’s Oil Sands Innovation Alliance, rather than let the nation’s oil and gas industry lie down and die, is conducting feasibility studies on the potential for geothermal energy to help oil mining survive for another 30 years.

Japan, too, has apparently left the climate camp. Bloomberg reports that Japanese government officials are urging trading houses, refiners, and utilities to slow down their move away from fossil fuels. They are even subtly encouraging new investment in oil and gas projects. Despite signing the net zero pledge in Glasgow, Japanese leaders apparently recognize their nation needs first of all to ensure an adequate energy supply to meet their people’s needs.

Meanwhile, a plethora of would-be scientists “advise” the Biden throne room on how to further tighten the screws on anyone who dares defy the all-electric diktat. P. E. Moskowitz, publisher of a newsletter about capitalism and psychology, calls for an IMMEDIATE end to fossil fuel extraction. Canadian activist David Suzuki tells an Extinction Rebellion audience that “there are going to be pipelines blown up” (but later apologizes).

Meanwhile, President Biden speaks from both sides of his shaky mouth. On the one hand, he joyfully cancels the Keystone XL pipeline, cancels Alaskan (and other) oil leases, and threatens further repression of U.S. energy production. Such actions naturally drive gasoline prices up, as other oil-producing nations choose not to increase production  to save the Democratic Party.

On the other hand, or, rather, knee, Biden embarrassingly begs OPEC and Russia to produce and sell Americans more of their own oil and gas. Their laughing refusals enabled Biden to tap the Strategic Petroleum Reserve rather than back down and open up pipelines and leaseholds.

And the people see this.

And like the crowd whose collective trance was broken by a boy’s shouting out the obvious (that the king wore no clothes), they see that THIS Great and Terrible Oz is also just a paper tiger.

This article originally appeared at Real Clear Energy