Ending Fossil Fuels: Why Net Zero is Not Enough
The world is facing an existential crisis. The climate is changing at an unprecedented pace due to human activities, and the consequences are dire. To ...prevent the worst-case scenario, the world needs to reduce carbon emissions drastically. Many governments and companies have committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions, where the amount of carbon dioxide released is equal to the amount removed from the atmosphere. While this is an admirable goal, it may not be enough to combat climate change.
The problem with achieving net-zero is that it is vulnerable to manipulation. Fossil fuel companies can continue to produce massive amounts of carbon emissions, and then purchase carbon credits from other industries that have reduced their emissions. This system allows fossil fuel companies to continue with business as usual while appearing to be environmentally conscious. It also depends on the unproven assumption that carbon capture and storage technology will be effective in removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
The truth is that focusing solely on emissions reduction is not enough. As important as it is to reduce carbon emissions, it is equally crucial to stop fossil fuel production. The fossil fuel industry is responsible for the large majority of carbon emissions globally. Therefore, if we are ever going to change the trajectory of climate change, we need to end the fossil fuel industry once and for all.
This, however, is easier said than done. The fossil fuel industry is incredibly powerful and entrenched in the global economy. Fossil fuel companies have enormous wealth and influence, and they will fight tooth and nail to continue their operations. This is why a coordinated effort is required to end the fossil fuel industry. Governments must build coalitions with rural and urban communities, which are often vulnerable to the negative impacts of fossil fuel production. Together, they can ensure that the fossil fuel industry is held accountable for the damage it has caused and prevented from continuing its destructive practices.
Another essential element of this effort is platform governance. This refers to a political strategy that emphasizes the power of digital platforms to mobilize social movements and effect political change. By using technology to harness the power of social movements, climate advocates can build a broad-based coalition of supporters who will work tirelessly to bring an end to the fossil fuel industry.
In conclusion, net-zero carbon emissions targets are a good start, but they are not enough. We need to end the fossil fuel industry if we are ever going to address climate change effectively. This requires a coordinated effort involving governments, communities, and social movements. The fossil fuel industry will resist, but we must remain steadfast in our commitment to ending it. With persistence, courage, and collaboration, we can create a world free from fossil fuels and the devastating consequences they bring.
Eating Fossil Fuels is a thought-provoking book that delves into the interconnected crises of energy and agriculture. Author Dale Allen Pfeiffer presents a shocking outline of the current state of aff...airs, highlighting the unsustainable practices that have led to an imbalance in the food production system. The Green Revolution, which was made possible by cheap fossil fuels, has allowed for the mass production of food, but at great cost to the planet.
Pfeiffer's research shows that the world-wide expansion of agriculture has appropriated 40% of the Earth's photosynthetic capability, resulting in a population explosion that exceeds the planet's carrying capacity. To sustain the US population without fossil fuel-based agriculture, the country could only support two-thirds of its present population, while the global sustainable number is estimated to be around two billion.
The author argues that, without a transition to sustainable, relocalized agriculture, the effect of energy depletion will be disastrous. He draws on the experiences of North Korea and Cuba to demonstrate stories of failure and success in the transition to non-hydrocarbon-based agriculture. Pfeiffer urges strong grassroots activism for sustainable, localized agriculture and a natural shrinking of the world's population.
Eating Fossil Fuels is a wake-up call to the world that we cannot continue with our current practices of agriculture and energy consumption. It is a call to action, urging individuals and communities to take the necessary steps toward sustainable agriculture and energy practices. The book is well-researched and thought-provoking, offering a sobering look at the future of food production and energy use. Anyone interested in the intersection of energy, agriculture, and sustainability should read this important work.
The Birth of Energy: Fossil Fuels, Thermodynamics, and the Anthropocene
The Anthropocene is a term used to describe the current geological epoch, in which human activity is the dominant force shaping... the environment. One key aspect of that human activity is our use of energy. In The Birth of Energy, Cara New Daggett traces the historical genealogy of our concepts of energy back to the science of thermodynamics in the 19th century. She argues that these early notions of energy were tightly bound to Western capitalist domination and the politics of industrialized work.
At the core of thermodynamics is the idea that energy is conserved: it can't be created or destroyed, only transformed from one form to another. This concept has been crucial to the development of modern industrial capitalism, as it allowed for the efficient use of fossil fuels like coal and oil to power machines and expand production. However, as Daggett shows, this early resource-based concept of power was also used as an imperial science to govern the use of fossil fuels, labor, and colonial expansion.
Daggett argues that only by transforming the politics of work can we confront the energy problems of the Anthropocene. This would involve challenging the veneration of waged work and decoupling the concepts of energy and work themselves. Simply substituting one source of energy for another will not ensure a habitable planet. Instead, we need to fundamentally rethink how we produce and consume energy, and how we organize our work and economy more broadly.
The Birth of Energy is a thoughtful and provocative book that challenges the underlying logic of our contemporary energy regimes. By excavating the historical connection between energy and power, Daggett opens up new possibilities for rethinking our relationship to the environment and to each other. Whether you're interested in environmental studies, political economy, or the history of science, this book is a must-read.
The Moral Case for Fossil Fuels is a book that challenges the widely held belief that fossil fuels are a self-destructive addiction that will destroy the planet. The author, Alex Epstein, argues that ...by every measure of human well-being, life has been getting better and better thanks to the use of fossil fuels.
Epstein points out that we hear only one side of the story when it comes to fossil fuels. We're taught to think only of the negatives, such as the risks and side effects, but not their positives. Fossil fuels provide cheap, reliable energy for a world of seven billion people, and the moral significance of that cheap, reliable energy is woefully underrated.
Energy is our ability to improve every single aspect of life, whether economic or environmental. The use of fossil fuels has allowed us to build a world with longer life expectancy, clean water, and climate safety. Fossil fuels have given us the power to light up our homes, power our cars, and warm our homes. Without fossil fuels, we would be back in the dark ages.
Epstein argues that we are morally obligated to use more fossil fuels for the sake of our economy and our environment. While there are risks and side effects associated with the use of fossil fuels, the overall impact of using them is to make the world a far better place.
The Moral Case for Fossil Fuels challenges our preconceived notions about fossil fuels and encourages us to look at the big picture. The book provides a compelling argument for why we need to use fossil fuels to continue to improve our lives and our planet. It's a must-read for anyone interested in energy policy and the environment.