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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/jun/19/pope-climate-change-earth-john-browne
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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Why we must listen to the pope on climate change | Why we must listen to the pope on climate change |
| (2 days later) | |
| I am sure that many gay readers disagree with the pope on matters to do with sexuality. But I must confess that his call to action on climate change is right. | I am sure that many gay readers disagree with the pope on matters to do with sexuality. But I must confess that his call to action on climate change is right. |
| Related: Pope Francis warns of destruction of Earth's ecosystem in leaked encyclical | Related: Pope Francis warns of destruction of Earth's ecosystem in leaked encyclical |
| The encyclical issued by the pope makes the case that our failure to tackle climate change will have hugely damaging consequences for us all. It is further evidence that the debate on climate change is moving forward and that the groundswell of public opinion is growing in support of urgent action. | The encyclical issued by the pope makes the case that our failure to tackle climate change will have hugely damaging consequences for us all. It is further evidence that the debate on climate change is moving forward and that the groundswell of public opinion is growing in support of urgent action. |
| The G7’s recent commitment to decarbonise the global economy by the end of this century has put a clear timeline on the existential threat that the energy industry faces. | The G7’s recent commitment to decarbonise the global economy by the end of this century has put a clear timeline on the existential threat that the energy industry faces. |
| Oil companies started to acknowledge this threat almost 20 years ago. The company I led, BP, was one of the first. It surpassed its target of cutting emissions by 10%, and developed an alternative energy business to invest in new low-carbon fuels. | Oil companies started to acknowledge this threat almost 20 years ago. The company I led, BP, was one of the first. It surpassed its target of cutting emissions by 10%, and developed an alternative energy business to invest in new low-carbon fuels. |
| Since then, industry has made great progress. It has engaged in the debate about what can be done and applied resources to the search for solutions. Recently, forward-thinking companies have presented a united front, calling for governments to put a price on carbon in order to limit the rise in global temperature to below 2C over pre-industrial levels. | Since then, industry has made great progress. It has engaged in the debate about what can be done and applied resources to the search for solutions. Recently, forward-thinking companies have presented a united front, calling for governments to put a price on carbon in order to limit the rise in global temperature to below 2C over pre-industrial levels. |
| The public will not tolerate companies that have not accepted the existential threat of climate change | |
| Some companies are attempting to fight against this rising tide. But resistance is futile. | Some companies are attempting to fight against this rising tide. But resistance is futile. |
| There is clear scientific evidence for the dominant role that humans have played in the recent rise of global temperatures. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has stated this case with 95% confidence. The public also has learned more about the costs of inaction. They want practical solutions to mitigate the threat humanity faces. New research shows that most people want to see engineering focus on improving renewable energy solutions in the future. | There is clear scientific evidence for the dominant role that humans have played in the recent rise of global temperatures. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has stated this case with 95% confidence. The public also has learned more about the costs of inaction. They want practical solutions to mitigate the threat humanity faces. New research shows that most people want to see engineering focus on improving renewable energy solutions in the future. |
| Those who fail to respond to this hardening of public opinion will be left behind. | Those who fail to respond to this hardening of public opinion will be left behind. |
| After all, companies rely on the trust and support of the public for their licence to operate. There are companies who want to prevent government regulation to remain masters of their own fate. But they will face extinction sooner than they think. | After all, companies rely on the trust and support of the public for their licence to operate. There are companies who want to prevent government regulation to remain masters of their own fate. But they will face extinction sooner than they think. |
| Related: Exegesis of Pope Francis’s encyclical call for action on climate change | Letters | |
| We will reach a point where cheaper, cleaner fuels will make the dirtiest fuels irrelevant. Companies that continue to produce carbon-rich fuels will be unable to compete. | We will reach a point where cheaper, cleaner fuels will make the dirtiest fuels irrelevant. Companies that continue to produce carbon-rich fuels will be unable to compete. |
| To get there, we need changes to the demand and supply of energy. On energy supply, we need more investment in renewable energy to make it a cheaper alternative fuel. For a start, governments should commit to spending $15bn a year on renewable energy R&D, an idea proposed by the Global Apollo programme which I co-authored. On the demand side, we need a price on carbon that encourages companies to stop production of the most environmentally damaging fuels. | To get there, we need changes to the demand and supply of energy. On energy supply, we need more investment in renewable energy to make it a cheaper alternative fuel. For a start, governments should commit to spending $15bn a year on renewable energy R&D, an idea proposed by the Global Apollo programme which I co-authored. On the demand side, we need a price on carbon that encourages companies to stop production of the most environmentally damaging fuels. |
| Public demand for these changes will continue to grow and the resources and regulations necessary to make cleaner fuels more competitive will follow. | Public demand for these changes will continue to grow and the resources and regulations necessary to make cleaner fuels more competitive will follow. |
| So companies should change now if they want to be around for years to come. The public will not tolerate companies that have not fully accepted the existential threat that climate change poses. But this is only the first step. Responsible companies should be seeking to get ahead of the curve, and they can do this by focusing on the production of carbon-light fuels such as gas. | So companies should change now if they want to be around for years to come. The public will not tolerate companies that have not fully accepted the existential threat that climate change poses. But this is only the first step. Responsible companies should be seeking to get ahead of the curve, and they can do this by focusing on the production of carbon-light fuels such as gas. |
| The pope’s encyclical states that humans have a responsibility to take action because we are God’s custodians of the earth. But here I must disagree with the pope. | The pope’s encyclical states that humans have a responsibility to take action because we are God’s custodians of the earth. But here I must disagree with the pope. |
| It is Gaia theory that makes the right point. Humans are not all that important when it comes to the survival of our planet. It is our own destiny that is in peril if we fail to act on climate change. The planet will survive. Our actions are about self-preservation. | It is Gaia theory that makes the right point. Humans are not all that important when it comes to the survival of our planet. It is our own destiny that is in peril if we fail to act on climate change. The planet will survive. Our actions are about self-preservation. |
| But I am optimistic. | But I am optimistic. |
| History shows that mankind has the ingenuity to overcome great challenges. And so often these great innovations have come from companies who are willing to lead the way. The pope’s call to action presents a great opportunity for them to do so again. | History shows that mankind has the ingenuity to overcome great challenges. And so often these great innovations have come from companies who are willing to lead the way. The pope’s call to action presents a great opportunity for them to do so again. |
| This is an edited version of a piece that originally appeared on Gay Star News | This is an edited version of a piece that originally appeared on Gay Star News |