In many ways, the consumption of hydrocarbons can be compared to that of drugs: if the streets demand it, it will be supplied to them, no matter how much effort is made to reduce their extraction. In addition, mobilizing to thwart new hydrocarbon extraction projects is laudable but somewhat ineffective. It is at street level that we must regulate.
During the pandemic’s first containment, when roads were guarded, borders closed, everyone stranded at home, global demand for oil fell dramatically. At that time, there were no new hydrocarbon extraction projects, whether in the tar sands, in the Atlantic Ocean or elsewhere, and the industry had to deal with huge unsold surpluses.
To reduce our consumption of hydrocarbons, we must necessarily reduce our trips and reduce the number of vehicles on the roads. It will be necessary to impose tolls inversely proportional to the number of passengers per car, limit air travel, ban motor sports and of course offer affordable alternatives. Obviously, that will disturb, but it is a necessary evil because we will not be able to reach our greenhouse gas emission reduction targets without causing some discontent.
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