I wonder if those folks that think global warming is a hoax are noticing the negative impacts of remaining dependent upon fossil fuels. Even if global warming doesn’t exist, even if pollution from burning fossil fuels is somehow good for us, even if the increased CO2 levels in the oceans isn’t killing the bottom of the global food chain, even if the rising ocean levels just means a booming economy as we move from the current shores and rebuild on the “new” beaches (my home might become beach front property at an elevation of 52 feet) – even if all of that means we should just keep on keeping on with regard to our use (and misuse) of fossil fuels, there are still the problems that are being highlighted by the war in Ukraine.

Just the problems of nations being held hostage by other nations because of their dependence on fossil fuels seems enough to warrant changing how we use energy – not just how we make energy. So far just about the only thing that is promoted by governments, industry and “the news” is how we can switch from using fossil fuels to using “sustainable” sources of energy. Of course, none of those alternates are truly “sustainable” or environmentally friendly. The only obvious solution out of this bind that I can see is to change how we use energy with the result that we reduce our consumption to the point where we can actually power our civilization on sustainable, environmentally friendly, sources of power.

The discussions should be all about using less energy, not on using the same (or more) energy from other sources. We need to be focused making major changes to what we use energy for, and how much we waste. We have many, many solutions available that use much less energy for the same utility. Examples of possible energy saving solutions including making homes more energy efficient, MUCH more energy efficient is easy and inexpensive. It is almost always possible to bring homes to the point where they consume zero external energy at an upfront cost that is less than not making changes. It it possible to cut transportation energy use by vast amounts using currently available, affordable technology.

Instead of finding ways to “mine” energy from difference sources, we need to actually do the things that will reduce our needs. As we have been shown many times during the last few decades, using less energy does NOT mean less utility or a decrease in lifestyle – in fact it almost always means better utility and a better lifestyle. It is not “taking a hit for the team” – it means improving our lives while damaging the environment less. It doesn’t even mean having less jobs, or making smaller profits, or anything like that. I almost always means more jobs, better pay, safer and more enjoyable work, more security.

What does it take to get people, as a total society, to wake up to the fact that our current approach is damaging, expensive, and as the war in Ukraine is demonstrating, very dangerous. Can’t we just drop all of the ballyhoo and make the necessary changes? Do we really need to make something that everyone can see is an obvious good thing, an obvious need, and an obvious good solution into a civil war? Do we really need to make whether or not to do a good thing into a giant argument? Our current approach of yelling and screaming is just total insanity – and everyone on both sides of the issue knows it.