Policy and Science are often disjointed.
I am a climate scientist as well. I have lived witnessing global warming that is human induced. However, the solution that are proposed and the rate at which they are proposed, are simply moronic.
There is a finite amount of pace in growth of any new energy, after a certain threshold, you can't increase the rate of adoption. This is a fact, but policy makers don't understand it.
North Sea, still has some of the largest Natural Gas resources, with infrastructre in place, but UK won't produce and explore for it in their backyard. Nat Gas is clean (I mean as clean as it gets). You can produce and use your own, but you decide to buy from the Russians! How stupid can you get??
Unfortunately, I totally agree with what you said.
Note that I have a preference for nuclear power plants over natural gas ones, as I am convinced that they are way better in terms of climate. There is of course the issue with nuclear waste, the associated research being also something under-funded...
Have a good week!
I like Nuclear myself, especially in northern Europe, where solar is impractical. However, permitting a new Nuclear Power Plant is a major issue. The recent accident in Japan got people rattled for good.
Also the waste as you mentioned, and mining. They are non-renewable as well.