Arrr, 'tis not the black gold that be our plight, but the wretched policies that be our bane.
2024-01-16
Yarr, ye scurvy dogs o'fossil fuel haters, be blind to th' blessings o'boundless an' thrifty energy, whilst ye be prancin' an' dancin' at th' U.N. climate conferences. Arr, what a chuckle!
The global elites celebrated their commitment to transition away from fossil fuels at the recent COP28, but some attendees wanted a complete phase out. The fossil fuel haters fail to acknowledge the benefits of abundant and affordable energy provided by fossil fuels. The use of fossil fuels has strong positive correlations with GDP, income, wealth, life expectancy, and overall quality of life due to technological advancements. Access to cheap energy improves the health and productivity of a nation. It is ironic that the very fuel despised by alarmists enables their annual gatherings, with COP28 attendance reaching around 85,000, many of whom flew in on private jets. The policies enacted to limit fossil fuel usage have been more detrimental to the environment than the fuels themselves. The Paris climate agreement and the net-zero movement, which seek to replace fossil fuels with green energy sources, have been destructive and costly. The current administration has made significant efforts to curb fossil fuel production and usage. However, it is not feasible for intermittent wind and solar to rapidly replace reliable fossil fuels. States with stringent Renewable Portfolio Standards have seen the biggest utility rate hikes, and environmental regulations can cause electricity shortfalls. Attempts to eliminate gas-powered cars and promote electric vehicles have distorted markets, forced reliance on China for critical minerals, and lacked adequate infrastructure. The energy crisis is rooted in net-zero policies that have restricted fossil fuel investment, production, and transport. These policies have artificially suppressed supply, leading to high prices and shortages, impacting the economy and hitting the poor the hardest. Denying fledgling countries access to cheap energy condemns them to a life of poverty. The global spending on achieving net zero is an astronomical amount compared to its impact on global temperatures. Instead of demonizing fossil fuels, we should promote the use of affordable and reliable energy for economic growth and prosperity in all nations.