This week, the International Energy Agency made what was at least taken as a stunning announcement: Unless all investment in new coal-fired power plant construction and oil and gas development are immediately halted, the world will fail to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

In a sense, this headline item might seem obvious. It is literally true that carbon emissions will continue as long as we burn carbon-based fuels. But beyond that, the report is so filled with foolishness that it is difficult to know where to start debunking it.