It oftens surprises people that we aren't big fans of JUST STOP OIL , but if you really think about JSO they actually create climate anxiety other and skewing the debate on a very real issue the climate crisis in a way that is unhealthy, counter productive and actually creates a very negative message that is creating fear and not innovation.
I am not saying there isn't a climate emergency, there is , I am not saying that we don't need to make lifestyle changes, we do but the debate misunderstands the reality of fossil fuels, so it's worth comparing the problem with the reality.
JSO wants to end oil and gas extraction, is this possible?
The simple answer is no at the moment and possibly not for the foreseeable future.
Oil and Gas extraction is not great for the planet, in this we agree but the reality is , this way of thinking is the same skewed way of thinking “ all plastics bad” when the real answer is more complex.
We do need to reduce and eventually eliminate oil and gas for energy in the future, we just aren't there yet, so in the short term we will need fossil fuels until technology exists and we now have the worst possible solution as we import fossil fuels when we could reduce carbon by extracting in the UK, this alone is adding 12% to our carbon energy output.
So is the UK failing when it comes to renewables?
In 1991 renewable energy accounted for 2% of all energy use , in 2022 this now accounts for 38.2% of all energy generation, and as technology improves, renewables get cheaper and their contribution to our energy industry grow.
In fact the UK renewable capacity is predicted to grow from 25gw in 2020 to 120gw in 2030.
So we are already winning the war on carbon from energy, this doesn't mean that in the short term we will get to 100% renewable but we are already on the way to achieving this, the issue isn't really the UK, the issue is external.
So Just Stop Oil is an organisation without a point?
Well no their message is valid, the world does need to do something about the climate and especially the Co2 generated by Fossil fuel for energy but they protesting in a way that disengages
it's quite simple - Vandalism, scaremongering and disruptive protests = disengaged and anxious population
Peaceful protest and using democracy to drive change = engaged and empowered population
Let's look to Holland for an example , Dutch Farmers decided they needed change, so they created the BBB and they now control 16 of the 75 Senate seats & 137 of the 572 Provincial Councils, so they have proved that if your not being listened to , use democracy to drive change.
A further point is the UK contributes 330m tonnes of Co2 in 2021 compared to 602m tonnes in 1990.
To put this into perspective we now contribute 1.1% of global emissions, whereas the top 5 produce 58% of global emissions and if we don't address the problem at the big 5 and especially China who produce 28% of the emissions, nothing we do here will make any difference.
So what would you ask Just Stop Oil in a fire side chat?
I would ask them what they think would happen if the UK disappeared overnight , if the UK sunk into the ocean , the Co2 changed would account for the output of just the new coal plants opened in China this year, so why do they not target Chinese organisations and Embassies?
I would also mention their own survival is dependant on them rethinking their strategy , I would love to see them use their reach to become the new BBB , to empower the population, to stop being a barrier organisation, but a driver of positive change.
Let's talk about solutions and let's challenge the real problem, which is the top 5 polluters.
As always, all views are my own and I am happy to be corrected if you need their is any inaccuracies or errors on my part.
Charlie
Citations
UK Greenhouse Gas emissions Stats
Worldwide Greenhouse Gas Stats
