Climate Politics in One Lesson

European ministers of environment and energy are gathered in Valladolid, Spain, this week for an informal climate meeting. High on the agenda is “bicycle policy,” which is aimed at reducing the use of vehicles powered by fossil fuels. They’re not kidding.

Spain’s Ecological Transition Minister, Teresa Ribera, a member of the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party, is hosting the event. To get things going on Monday she cruised on a city bike through the streets of the small metropolis on her way to the conference. Cameras were rolling. The message was unmistakable: Pedal to your destination like me and save the planet.

The proletariat wasn’t buying it. The video of the minister’s “green” bike ride shows her escorted by two security cars—one in front and one behind. Besides allegedly snarling traffic, her carbon footprint was twice what was required. Some reports said that the minister had emerged from a limousine 100 meters from the event and got on the bike there.

Ms. Ribera certainly didn’t cycle from Madrid, 120 miles away, which led to more speculation about her carbon emissions. According to Falcon Despega, a website that tracks Spanish government-owned aircraft, a military jet traveled from Madrid early Monday to Valladolid. Its passenger list isn’t known, and Ms. Ribera’s office tweeted that she didn’t use a plane. Press reports indicate that the minister’s office originally said she traveled by train but later said she used a hybrid car to make the trip. Either way, carbon emitted.

All of this is highly amusing because the climate glitterati want so much to appear virtuous but can’t give up the travel and other benefits of evil fossil fuels. Politico reported in March that European Council President Charles Michel used commercial aircraft for a mere 18 out of 112 flights from 2019 to December 2022. His use of chartered air taxis included his travel to the U.N. climate summits last year and in 2021. Jets for the grandees, but bikes for the masses.