Vested interests keeping fossil fuel relevant

THE EDITOR, Madam:

The disturbing over-representation of fossil fuel interests at COP28 and the meeting’s discouraging results just further expose the immense political influence of the industry, seemingly everywhere, though especially here in Canada.

Notably, Alberta’s government, via its utilities commission in August, suddenly announced their decision to delay (or ‘pause’) all approvals for new renewable energy infrastructure for about seven months, citing concerns over logistics and potential end-of-life clean-up costs. Yet, the same government fails to force fossil fuel companies that have left behind major contamination sites in Alberta to clean up after themselves as they formally agreed to do.

On a global level, it’s no longer prudent to have so much of society, including our primary modes of transportation, reliant on traditional sources of energy. But industry and fossil fuel-friendly government can tell when a very large portion of the populace is too overworked, worried and even angry about food and housing unaffordability for themselves or their family — all while on insufficient income — to criticise the industry, et cetera, for whatever environmental damage their policies cause/allow, particularly when not immediately observable.

Even as bone-dry vegetation regions uncontrollably burn, mass addiction to fossil fuel products undoubtedly help keep the average consumer quiet about the planet’s greatest polluter, lest they feel and/or be publicly deemed hypocritical. It must be convenient for the industry.

FRANK STERLE JR

White Rock, BC

Canada