This column represents the thoughts and opinions of Doug Stauffer. This is NOT the opinion of the Taylor Press.
Heat waves, droughts, fires, devastating storms and floods, these disasters are happening all around the globe with ever increasing frequency and severity. Yet, in the same way that big tobacco fought for decades to deny the harm their product causes and to avoid responsibility, the fossil fuel industry is now fighting to obstruct and delay the transition to truly clean, sustainable energy. The risk is obvious, our planet cannot endure if present levels of fossil fuel emissions continue for decades longer. Or rather, it’s we humans who may not survive the consequences of our actions. The earth will still be here long after we’ve decimated or completely destroyed ourselves.
The big oil companies are spending millions of dollars on advertising to “greenwash” the public, telling us all they are doing to reduce carbon emissions, while in reality, their actions do not support their rhetoric. They actually devote only a small percentage of their massive profits to clean energy initiatives.
