Another excellent article from Henrik. Yes, fossil fuels have allowed humans (mainly in the West) to create a monster society which allowed people to become very wealthy and powerful, so who would want to give up that now? The fossil fuel industry has about 1 trillion dollars of profits per year, I think only Nature will eventually defea…
Another excellent article from Henrik. Yes, fossil fuels have allowed humans (mainly in the West) to create a monster society which allowed people to become very wealthy and powerful, so who would want to give up that now? The fossil fuel industry has about 1 trillion dollars of profits per year, I think only Nature will eventually defeat this big monster.
"SRF: Society and politics are doing too little to combat climate change. Why?
Jens Beckert: It's a complicated matter. In my opinion, several things are important. The first problem: the fossil energy industry makes around a trillion US dollars in profits per year. They have done so for 50 years. Do you think they'll give up their profits just because the temperature is rising a little, if I can put it cynically?"
No, we would have to force them. The idea is to make the oil companies an offer they cannot refuse: 1) either they pay climate compensation and can continue to operate, or 2) we will go after them will legal action, political measures, and activism. Ideally, an fossil fuel company that does not pay should be treated like a drug cartel. Since paying climate compensation would not hurt the short-term profits of the companies, the shareholders would be likely to vote for option 1. Note that there are only a small number of fossil fuel companies. Why should we let a small number of guys in suites and ties destroy the future of our children?
Another excellent article from Henrik. Yes, fossil fuels have allowed humans (mainly in the West) to create a monster society which allowed people to become very wealthy and powerful, so who would want to give up that now? The fossil fuel industry has about 1 trillion dollars of profits per year, I think only Nature will eventually defeat this big monster.
"SRF: Society and politics are doing too little to combat climate change. Why?
Jens Beckert: It's a complicated matter. In my opinion, several things are important. The first problem: the fossil energy industry makes around a trillion US dollars in profits per year. They have done so for 50 years. Do you think they'll give up their profits just because the temperature is rising a little, if I can put it cynically?"
https://www.srf.ch/kultur/gesellschaft-religion/fluten-hitze-und-bergstuerze-klimawandel-killt-heimat-warum-juckt-uns-das-nicht
No, we would have to force them. The idea is to make the oil companies an offer they cannot refuse: 1) either they pay climate compensation and can continue to operate, or 2) we will go after them will legal action, political measures, and activism. Ideally, an fossil fuel company that does not pay should be treated like a drug cartel. Since paying climate compensation would not hurt the short-term profits of the companies, the shareholders would be likely to vote for option 1. Note that there are only a small number of fossil fuel companies. Why should we let a small number of guys in suites and ties destroy the future of our children?