Ok all true, the fossil fuel industry has undue power, gets too much in subsidies, does not care about the environment. My brothers and I had a business building solar hot water heaters in the 70s, I bought an electric car in '88, I've been proselytizing for reasonable alternative energy (& small is beautiful) solutions for 50 years...BUT
1) The government has to maintain a strong defense or we get overrun by countries that perhaps care even less about the environment (along with a lot of other problems). Please explain, how are fighter jets and tanks supposed to run on renewable energy? (smaller drones, planes, & ships maybe). Missiles are state of the art, will they run on renewables? This seems a reason to at least have a decent oil reserve, along with the need for lubricants and plastics (the latter another big subject of course). Also, witness how "clean" Europe is almost being brought to its knees by shutting off of Russian gas (its made Germany resurrect its nuclear plants). Unless we can invent a perfect peace (missile shields?) the bigger picture isn't exactly overnurturing renewables. I fear that Russia/China may be plotting to control 2/3 the world's oil reserves then, um, game over?
2) Receding polar ice caps are creating large methane releases...shouldn't we capture, refine (remove CO2) and use like natural gas? I don't understand the demonization of natural gas in many sectors, as its much cleaner than coal (if methane release can be controlled), and skyrocketing demand for electricity (electric cars etc) will create a need for more power plants, of which nuclear and natural gas are currently the best candidates. Green and blue hydrogen, CCS natural gas seem politically expedient also as face-saving solutions for oil companies/Republicans (even climate deniers hate air pollution & like money).
3) Adding to the above, there really IS a problem with renewables coming onboard quicky enough a) their energy density can't match oil unless a super battery breakthrough is made b) Scalability is a problem due to hiccups mentioned in your articles (ie recycling, siting, complexity, intermittency, lack of cheap energy storage)
4) All told, I'm kind of with Bill Gates...a) some warming predictions may be overstated b) to catch up, we may need nuclear (next generation tech) and CCS methane/gas to bridge the gap to an all clean energy future by maybe 2050 c) Even then, humanity will probably have to move northwards and away from coastlines.
5) It seems a biomass product could be combined with CCS gas and/or Blue/Green hydrogen to keep supplying gas in all our pipelines, to also bridge the electricity/energy storage gap.
6) Ag is a big part of climate solutions, rather independent of renewables, not much notoriety. About 40% of climate change could be addressed by growing drip-fed fruits & veggies, less meat? Might solve water problem too? Is big oil stopping us from doing this?
7) I respond to medical/health articles that talk about big pharma/corporate medicines conspiracy to keep us sick & dependent on their swill, yet if you want to be healthy its no secret to adopt Blue Zone diet, exercise, don't smoke or drink, be good to your family. In that sense, how are we corporate slaves? In the energy sense, what in the big oil conspiracy is really stopping each of us from producing our own solar energy & driving an electric car? (me and perhaps 20% of Californians do exactly that and its not all that expensive) I get tired of conspiracy concepts, especially right wing but increasingly left.
8) If nuclear fusion is perfected (as in your articles) all problems solved?
