Number six in Craig Kelly’s series 20 reasons why the Wuhan Flu is the final nail in the climate alarmists’ coffin.

Imagine if you will, that you have a close family member that has come down with the Wuhan Flu, and they are unfortunately one of the small percentage that ends up in hospital on a mechanical ventilator. And the only thing keeping them alive is the constant flow of electrons powering the ventilator, moving breathable air into and out of their lungs.

In these circumstances would you want those electrons generated by consistent, reliable baseload power generated by fossil fuels (or nuclear power) or would you be happy to swap for unreliable intermittent sources of generation; solar and wind, hoping that a cloud doesn’t come across to block the sun or the wind eases off, putting the flow of electrons in jeopardy? 

Imagine how front line medical staff would go trying to protect themselves from the virus without fossil fuels when personal protection equipment such as surgical masks, goggles, coveralls and gowns, are all made from polypropylene — a fossil fuel product? And when hospitals around the world are crying out for urgent deliveries of PPE, were would we be without airfreight powered by fossil fuels ?

In a recent study published in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases, Swiss and German researchers found that alcohol-based hand sanitizers are effective in killing the Wuhan Flu. Most hand sanitizers come in liquid or gel form and are made from isopropyl alcohol.  And the basic material used in the production of isopropyl alcohol is Propene, which is derived from fossil fuels, typically petroleum and natural gas.

And what hope would we have of developing a vaccine and other medicines to fight the virus without fossil fuels, when they are the foundation for between 80% to 90% of the pharmaceuticals we use ?

If we are smart, the Wuhan Flu will help give us a true appreciation of the value of fossil fuels and how vital they are in the medical industry – driving another nail in the alarmists’ coffin.

Craig Kelly is the Liberal Member for Hughes.

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