Presenter Information

Bokyung Kim, Seattle University

Publication Date

2021

Start Date

3-9-2021 12:45 PM

End Date

3-9-2021 1:10 PM

Moderator

Afrikaan Osman

Description

Climate change is  a global issue that affects every part of humanity: our environment, our health, and our morality.  Among so many contributors of climate change in this world, the biggest contributor  is  the  fossil fuel industry, in which the U.S. industry plays a significant role.  Thus, in order to help prevent a climate catastrophe, the U.S. fossil fuel industry needs  to change.  In the U.S., fossil fuel companies’ climate denial and lobbying activities have caused lack of awareness and regulation regarding the issue,  allowing them to  emit  a huge share of  emissions for the last several decades.  However, the U.S. government and  investors  are now starting to care more about the issue and thus changing their behavior, and this shift suggests that the fossil fuel companies in the U.S. have no option but to change their business model: to renewable energy.  This presentation  will explain  what  climate change  is and how it is detrimental to our home and our people. Then, with a special focus on U.S.-tied fossil fuel companies, it will discuss how  the fossil fuel industry has contributed hugely to the issue  and how the industry’s specific activities  enabled  this  huge contribution. Finally, the presentation will explore  the  current shift in the U.S. government and  investors  regarding this issue and what options  U.S.-tied fossil fuel companies have  in order to  keep their social license: transition to renewable  energy.

Share

COinS
 
Sep 3rd, 12:45 PM Sep 3rd, 1:10 PM

Climate Change is Urgent: Time for the U.S. Fossil Fuel Industry to Go Green

Climate change is  a global issue that affects every part of humanity: our environment, our health, and our morality.  Among so many contributors of climate change in this world, the biggest contributor  is  the  fossil fuel industry, in which the U.S. industry plays a significant role.  Thus, in order to help prevent a climate catastrophe, the U.S. fossil fuel industry needs  to change.  In the U.S., fossil fuel companies’ climate denial and lobbying activities have caused lack of awareness and regulation regarding the issue,  allowing them to  emit  a huge share of  emissions for the last several decades.  However, the U.S. government and  investors  are now starting to care more about the issue and thus changing their behavior, and this shift suggests that the fossil fuel companies in the U.S. have no option but to change their business model: to renewable energy.  This presentation  will explain  what  climate change  is and how it is detrimental to our home and our people. Then, with a special focus on U.S.-tied fossil fuel companies, it will discuss how  the fossil fuel industry has contributed hugely to the issue  and how the industry’s specific activities  enabled  this  huge contribution. Finally, the presentation will explore  the  current shift in the U.S. government and  investors  regarding this issue and what options  U.S.-tied fossil fuel companies have  in order to  keep their social license: transition to renewable  energy.