The year 2024 is shaping up to be the hottest year on record, with extreme weather events becoming more frequent and severe due to human-caused climate change. Despite the overwhelming evidence of the harm caused by fossil fuels, the industry continues to argue that we cannot live without them. It’s a familiar argument that echoes the defense of leaded gasoline in the past, which was eventually phased out due to its harmful effects on health.
The fossil fuel industry has long worked to delay the transition to renewable energy, even as it acknowledges the necessity of such a shift. The argument that we need fossil fuels for modern life is reminiscent of the claims made about leaded gasoline being essential for the economy and industrial progress. However, history has shown that when lead was removed from gasoline, the positive effects were significant, and the economy did not collapse as predicted.
It is crucial that we reduce our reliance on coal, oil, and gas to address the existential threat of global climate change. The transition to renewable energy will take time, but it is necessary for the future of our planet. Just as leaded gasoline was not essential to civilization, fossil fuels are not either. By shifting towards cleaner energy sources, we can create a safer and more sustainable future for generations to come.
