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Oil and gas boosters seized on the Russian invasion of Ukraine yesterday to push their energy dominance agenda and call for more oil and gas production on public lands. Companies want to increase exports of liquified natural gas to Europe, which currently imports the gas from Russia.
But their plan ignores the obvious long-term solution: rather than increase global dependence on a fossil fuel that contributes to climate change, and is transported across the world via ships that further pollute and exacerbate the climate crisis, the world—and Europe especially—must accelerate the transition to renewable energy.
Thankfully, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen agrees. “We are doubling down on renewables. This will increase Europe’s strategic independence on energy,” she said. The new EU energy plan will be unveiled next week and is expected to call for a 40 percent reduction in fossil fuel use by the end of the decade. The plans will also speed up permitting of renewable energy projects, which already account for the plurality of electricity usage in Europe.
This reveals the oil industry’s calls to increase drilling on American public lands and cut corners on drilling permits for what they are: profiteering off Russia’s war. It takes years for new leases to begin to produce oil and gas. By the time any new production comes online, Europe will be even further down its exceptionally prudent path to eliminate its dependence on American methane.
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With all of the divisions going on, looking up to the night sky connects us to the biggest mystery in our world and helps us get in touch with the fact that we are all humans on spaceship earth.”
