Letter to Greta

Dear Greta:

Your generation has been exposed to unprecedented levels of “bleeding and leading” news, making many believe it represents the state of the world. The media cares little about youth’s climate anxiety – their business is to attract eyeballs, and many do so by catastrophizing reality. I understand you want to protect the world from the human impact on its climate, but you have become a victim of charlatans who care more about being righteous than being factually right.

Progressive politicians and influencers have declared war on carbon, the element of life. They know atmospheric CO2 concentration increases are unstoppable because more people want more reliable energy, but they promise “net zero” mandates regardless of this reality. Their rejection of nuclear energy, the only scalable zero-carbon primary energy, shows they are not interested in CO2 reduction. Instead, they make political promises to control policy and flow of public money. Rewarding their like-minded friends, they appreciate cover provided by honest believers like yourself.  You should direct your anger at them.

The rise in atmospheric CO2 impacts the climate. However, estimated impacts are often exaggerated and subjected to significant scientific uncertainty. Even if the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s “middle of the road” 2.7°C temperature increase proves accurate, cutting greenhouse gasses is significantly less practical and more expensive than human adaption. The focus on exaggerated climate impact takes away from the world’s #1 problem: poverty. While climate change is a potential problem in a distant future, there are six billion people today who live on less than $20/day. Their proven path out of misery is rule of law, individual freedom, and access to cheap and abundant energy. Sadly, your rich friends want everyone to reduce their energy use while they increase theirs. Don’t they understand human dignity is a life free of basic needs? 

Climate change is as old as the world. Adaption is human nature that has made us better. President Obama said in 2014: “…this is the best time in history to be alive”. Most of the 200-year revolution in human well-being is due to fossil fuels, the catalyst that enables everything in our modern life. Not everyone has been as lucky as you and me. Don’t you agree we have a moral obligation to help increase people’s life expectancy and quality of life?

The unintended consequence of a strategy to ban carbon is to hurt people who are trying to jump-start a better life: access to clean water, better hygiene, a first refrigerator, an air conditioner unit, a secure roof, clean propane cooking, more free time saved from collecting firewood, and a fairer chance to save a premature life with a reliably-powered incubator. For us, these things are available at the flip of a switch or the click of a button, but for too many these blessings do not come easy. 

I strive to lift people out of poverty through energy access. With your ability to mobilize millions, please help rid the world of poverty.

Sincerely,

Leen