Do We Need Oil Companies to Combat Climate Change?
The complex role of oil companies in the energy transition
I started thinking about this question after seeing an Instagram post by 350 dot org commenting on an Axios article headlined “Shell CEO: The world needs our help on climate change.”
My gut instinct was to reshare the post, but I couldn’t figure out whether or not I agreed, or how I wanted to recaption it. Then I realized it didn’t matter. Whether we like it or not oil companies are already participating in the energy transition. So perhaps rather than asking ourselves whether we need their help we should consider: What are the pros and cons big oil’s participation in combating climate change and how can their influence be managed to avoid the pitfalls free market development?
“No the world doesn’t” is over simplified.
Comments by 350 dot org’s followers were largely similar to the original posts sentiment saying “No thank you,” “Only if they stop drilling for oil,” and “Only if they give back profits made from ruining the environment.” These reactionary statements are natural responses to a triggering meme but they…
