Saturday, 14 August 2021

Oiling Out of Pledges?

Adam Tooze (Columbia University) is alarmed by a statement from Jake Sullivan, a White House National Security Adviser (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/aug/12/pushing-oil-production-us-joe-biden-killing-climate-pledges). Sullivan stated "President Biden has made clear that he wants Americans to have access to affordable and reliable energy, including at the (car refuelling) pump." Tooze interprets this as meaning that an increase in petrol prices to $3.17 per gallon (incredibly low by European standards), is a matter of national security. The US consequently reserves the 'right' to pressure the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and Russia, to flood the world with more oil. Tooze concludes that pushing for more oil production essentially kills its climate pledges. If the US cannot fulfill its obligations, what chance is there that any of the others will do so?
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