Environmentalist Bill McKibben wrote about it in The Guardian.
Thomas Friedman made it the topic of his column in The New York Times.
The Christian Century addressed it in a recent editorial.
Our dependence on oil is fueling Russia’s war in Ukraine, providing even more reason to transition to renewable energy.
Throughout the west, people have been horrified by Russia’s unprovoked attack on its neighboring country and have responded by imposing sanctions against Russia and sending military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine. We have even paid higher prices at the pump, largely without grumbling. But we are still paying them, unaware (or unconcerned) that by doing so, we are funding the very war we abhor.
Gas and oil account for 60% of Russia’s exports, and 40% of its government funding. The west — specifically the U.S. and western Europe — has funded Russia’s war chest, along with autocratic regimes in other oil-rich countries like Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Venezuela, through our addiction to fossil fuels.
This week the United Nation’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released its sixth assessment report. The good news is that things are not as bad as they were when the IPCC issued its first report in 1990. The bad news is that we are still heavily dependent on fossil fuels, keeping us on track to surpass the 1.5° C increase in global temperature that would result in catastrophic climate change.
However, the really good news is that transitioning to renewable energy is cheaper than ever, and far cheaper than continuing to burn coal, oil, and gas. The IPCC notes an 85% decrease in the cost of solar and wind energy, along with batteries, since 2010. In addition, policies and laws have targeted energy efficiency, deforestation, and renewable energy that help reduce carbon in the atmosphere.
Government and business leaders with fossil fuel interests would have us believe that transitioning to renewable energy will bring economic disaster, when the reality is that it will create jobs and save money. Once we have installed solar panels and wind turbines, the energy is free — it is “renewed” every time the sun shines or the wind blows. Continuing to burn fossil fuels involves increasingly costly and dangerous methods of drilling and mining for materials that we will eventually deplete.
Climate change sometimes seems like an insurmountable problem, but each of us can take part in kicking the fossil fuel habit.
- Drive less. If your community has public transportation, use it. If not, advocate for it.
- Drive the most fuel efficient vehicle you can afford and that will serve your needs.
- Slow down and avoid stop-and-go traffic. The Energy Department offers these and other tips for fuel efficiency on its website.
- If your electric company allows you to choose a provider, select one that provides all or most of its electricity from wind or solar. You may be surprised at how competitive their rates are!
- Replace old appliances with those earning an Energy Star rating.
- Eat less meat and buy local when possible.
- Vote for change. In this election year, look for candidates who support climate initiatives at the local, state, and national level.
The IPCC report focuses on mitigation strategies and makes it abundantly clear that we have the technology and resources to make a rapid transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy. What we lack is the political leadership, but we can change that. You may not consider climate a pivotal issue for you, but it is also an economic issue and a national security issue. Most importantly, it is a moral issue, because until we kick the fossil fuel habit and stop supporting brutal regimes in oil-rich countries, we all have blood on our hands.
