Oil and Honey

1. Climate change is an urgent global crisis requiring immediate action

"We've left the Holocene, and we've left the predictable: this was already looking to be the hottest year in American history, we'd seen the deepest drought in living memory, and the full-on melt of the Arctic had shocked even the most pessimistic of climate scientists."

The urgency of climate change cannot be overstated. The Earth has entered a new geological epoch, characterized by unprecedented changes in global temperature, weather patterns, and ecosystems. Key indicators of this shift include:

• Record-breaking temperatures
• Severe droughts and floods
• Rapid Arctic ice melt
• Rising sea levels
• Increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather events

Scientific consensus overwhelmingly supports the reality of human-caused climate change. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has warned that we have limited time to prevent catastrophic warming. To avoid the worst impacts, global temperatures must be kept below 2°C above pre-industrial levels, with efforts to limit warming to 1.5°C.

2. The fossil fuel industry is the primary culprit behind climate change

"We have met the enemy and they is Shell."

The fossil fuel industry bears the lion's share of responsibility for the climate crisis. This industry has:

• Known about the dangers of climate change for decades
• Actively suppressed and denied scientific evidence
• Lobbied against climate action and environmental regulations
• Continued to explore and extract new fossil fuel reserves

The industry's business model is fundamentally at odds with a stable climate. Oil, gas, and coal companies have reserves that, if burned, would far exceed the carbon budget required to keep warming below 2°C. This creates a "carbon bubble" – a vast overvaluation of fossil fuel assets that cannot be exploited without causing catastrophic climate change.

3. Grassroots activism and civil disobedience can effect change

"To have a chance we were going to have to go on offense. We'd need to take on the fossil fuel industry directly."

The power of collective action has been demonstrated repeatedly in the fight against climate change. Grassroots movements have:

• Organized massive protests and demonstrations
• Engaged in civil disobedience to draw attention to the crisis
• Pressured politicians and corporations to take action
• Built coalitions across diverse groups and interests

Notable examples include the Keystone XL pipeline protests, which delayed and ultimately helped defeat the project, and the global climate strikes inspired by Greta Thunberg. These actions have shifted public opinion, influenced policy, and challenged the social license of the fossil fuel industry.

4. Divestment from fossil fuels is a powerful tool for combating climate change

"If you told ExxonMobil that they couldn't pump out their reserves, the value of the company would plummet—a research report from the world's second largest bank, HSBC, showed that such a restriction would cut its stock price in half."

The fossil fuel divestment movement aims to weaken the industry by pressuring institutions to withdraw their investments. This strategy:

• Stigmatizes fossil fuel companies
• Reduces financial support for the industry
• Aligns investments with ethical and environmental values
• Encourages reinvestment in clean energy and sustainable technologies

The movement has gained significant momentum, with institutions like universities, pension funds, and even entire cities committing to divest. As of 2021, over 1,300 institutions representing more than $14 trillion in assets have made some form of divestment commitment.

5. Local, sustainable practices are crucial for building resilience

"To have a chance in the long run, we needed the president to promise that when he made the final determination, which now seemed likely to come no earlier than 2013, that he'd take climate change into account."

Building local resilience is essential for adapting to the impacts of climate change and creating sustainable communities. This involves:

• Supporting local food systems and sustainable agriculture
• Developing renewable energy projects at the community level
• Implementing green infrastructure and nature-based solutions
• Fostering community networks and mutual aid systems

Examples include community-supported agriculture (CSA) programs, urban gardens, local renewable energy cooperatives, and community-led disaster preparedness initiatives. These efforts not only reduce carbon emissions but also strengthen social bonds and increase community self-reliance.

6. Extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and severe

"Watching Sandy flood New York, though, was different. It felt scarier by far, like a glimpse into the way the world ends."

Climate change is amplifying the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, including:

• Hurricanes and tropical storms
• Heat waves and droughts
• Floods and storm surges
• Wildfires
• Polar vortex disruptions

These events cause immense human suffering, economic damage, and ecological devastation. They disproportionately affect vulnerable populations and exacerbate existing social inequalities. The increasing severity of these events serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for climate action and adaptation measures.

7. Political and economic systems must be transformed to address climate change

"We need to take away their social license, turn them into pariahs, and make it clear that they're to the planet's safety what the tobacco industry is to our individual health."

Systemic change is necessary to effectively address the climate crisis. This requires:

• Overhauling energy systems to prioritize renewables
• Implementing carbon pricing and regulations
• Reforming campaign finance to reduce fossil fuel industry influence
• Investing in green infrastructure and sustainable development
• Shifting economic models away from endless growth and consumption

These changes face significant opposition from entrenched interests, but are essential for creating a sustainable future. Transforming our systems requires sustained political pressure, innovative policies, and a fundamental shift in societal values.

8. Individual actions matter, but systemic change is necessary

"We can't actually solve global warming one bike path at a time."

While personal choices are important, they are insufficient to address the scale of the climate crisis. Effective climate action requires:

• Large-scale policy changes
• Rapid transition to renewable energy
• Transformation of industrial and agricultural practices
• Overhaul of transportation systems
• Reform of financial and economic structures

Individual actions like reducing meat consumption, using public transportation, and conserving energy are valuable, but must be coupled with broader systemic changes to achieve the necessary reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

9. The fight against climate change is a moral imperative

"If, as is far more likely, he has zero impact, and we become Venus 2, and all those pixels of snowflakes and sand castles and little girls holding signs are nothing but melting chips of silicon on a dead server, then it won't be because William Ernest McKibben didn't give it a shot."

The climate crisis is fundamentally an ethical issue, involving:

• Intergenerational justice
• Global equity and fairness
• Protection of vulnerable populations and ecosystems
• Responsibility to future generations

Addressing climate change requires moral courage and a commitment to collective action. It challenges us to consider our obligations to the planet, to each other, and to those who will inherit the world we leave behind. The fight against climate change is not just about preserving the environment, but about preserving our humanity and our capacity for compassion and justice.

Last updated: November 18, 2024