The scoop It's been 161 years since the US drilled oil for the first time. Let's talk about the history and future of oil, and where it fits into our plans for better planet.
Talking points
- We keep running out of oil and then find more.
- It seems like the world is moving away from oil, but the US is producing more today than ever before.
- Unconventional oil, which is oil that is extracted by non-traditional means, is more problematic given its more likely to use more costly and environmentally disruptive processes.
- If you stream videos, drive a car, or live in a colder climate, you probably use more fossil fuels than you think.
- To move away from oil, we need to either invest heavily in a climate plan at an institutional level (cons: more government market intervention, higher taxes) or create a marketplace where renewables are the more viable option for businesses and consumers.
Final thoughts More investment in renewables will help ‘fuel’ the transition away from oil. In the meantime, let’s get the Republican party to acknowledge climate change.
Dig deeper → 2 min