Hydrogen is the new saviour fuel for the capitalist economy. It's at the core of the UK Conservative's green plan and Biden's environmental policy. Both treat hydrogen fuel for electric vehicles, for instance, like it's a sure thing. The truth is much more complicated. 1/5

Most hydrogen produced today is created by burning gas (a fossil fuel). Using this method hydrogen’s carbon footprint lies somewhere between burning coal or gas directly for consumption. In other words, it isn’t a green energy source at all. 2/5

Electrolysis is presented as an alternative. Here solar or nuclear is used instead of gas. At present this method isn’t cost efficient or technologically feasible at scale. Most studies of its ecological impact don't include the impact of producing the solar or nuclear plants 3/5

Financial speculation on EVs and hydrogen fuel soared after Biden and Johnson’s announcements. The idea that the interests of capital, people, and the planet are convergent is a powerful one. But hydrogen fuel, like carbon capture and storage, is a capitalist fantasy. 4/5

Its message is that we can tackle the climate crisis without changing anything essential. This is untrue. As Eco-socialists and degrowthers have said for years, the "developed" world must decrease its energy consumption and reliance on personal transport - EVs or otherwise. 5/5