Nero [37 apr. J.-C. – 68 apr. J.-C.] is notorious for playing the violin while Rome was burning. Today, some executives are worse off. They literally add fuel to the fire. While the effects of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine are being felt around the world, some nations’ response to the growing energy crisis has been to redouble their use of fossil fuels and pump billions more into coal, oil and gas, the very materials who are driving the growing climate emergency.
Meanwhile, all climate indicators continue to break records, pointing to a future of violent storms, floods, droughts, wildfires and unbearable temperatures across much of the planet. Our world is sinking into climate chaos. It makes no sense to inject new funds into fossil fuel exploration and production infrastructure. Fossil fuels are not, and never will be, a solution. We can see with our own eyes the damage we are causing to the planet and our societies. We talk about it in the media every day and nobody is immune.
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Fossil fuels are at the very root of the climate crisis. Only renewable energy is an answer to limit climate change and strengthen energy security. Had we invested earlier and massively in renewable energy, we would not again be at the mercy of the instability of the fossil fuel markets.
Renewable energies are the guarantors of peace in the 21st century. But the fight for a quick and fair energy transition is not being fought on an equal footing. Investors continue to support fossil fuels, and states continue to hand out billions of dollars in coal, oil and gas subsidies, or about $11 million a minute.
Global Coalition
There’s a term for prioritizing short-term relief over long-term well-being: addiction. We are still addicted to fossil fuels. For the health of our societies and our planet, we must wean ourselves. Instantly. Only by doing without polluting fossil fuels and by accelerating the energy transition based on renewable energies can energy security, stable electricity prices, prosperity and the preservation of the planet be achieved.
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