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Re:The scientists hired by big oil who predicted the climate... by jl6 on Friday July 02, 2021 @12:05PM (#27713272)
O&G producers and investors must answer for the funding of climate change denial (which is a crime against humanity IMHO, and needs to be prosecuted in an international court), but the actual production of oil and gas is the fault of every man, woman and child who ever consumed a fossil-fuel-derived product.

It is futile to bring a prosecution for everyday production and consumption of fossil products, because the defendant list would include everybody, but there is a specific, small group of actors who have knowingly poisoned attempts at collective action and are intentionally blocking the path towards a better world, and those people absolutely can be put on trial.

Re:The scientists hired by big oil who predicted the climate... by rytor718 on Friday July 02, 2021 @02:39PM (#27715146)
I agree but unfortunately, the actual problem is we did not have and do not have a government willing to take responsibility for allowing this; for a total lack of public planning and a total dependency on such singular forms of energy for everything which has left us open to catastrophe. After all, its government regulation and policy which are ultimately responsible for making sure stuff like this doesn't happen. Or that if it does happen, it's part of how we plan our society so that we're prepared. There are far more delinquents in Washington, past and present, who were too busy lining their pockets to do their jobs. They get the bulk of the blame here. Companies and individuals will do whatever they can get away with. That's why we have laws.

So while I'd like these companies to also fess up and be accountable for their role, nothing will change until we have a government who understands they've been complicit (and that includes a citizenry who will not vote for action on these issues). This is literally the function of government -- to make sure we have harvests year round, clean water, sanitation and clean air. And they have failed us the world over on this task.