I think most people would prefer if all fossil fuel fuel sources could be replaced by sustainable non-polluting alternatives. How energy is produced and the sustainability of supply is of great importance to the miners.

> Can Bitcoin survive in an environment in which fossil fuels are banned, and in > which people also demand that energy remain affordable to them, even in that context?

Absolutely. As long as we can power a networked computer, there will be Bitcoin. I don't think the relationship to fossil fuels is any more than a second order component, and most people would rather see disappear now we have cleaner way to generate electricity.

I think a fair way to clean the energy supply is to get suppliers of non-clean energy sources pay a penalty for the production of that energy. This would apply to electricity and oil/gas like petroleum producers. That penalty rate can be adjusted based on environmental measurements like air quality figures in local areas of consumption. The penalty should be paid into a capital pool that loans money for clean infrastructure projects at a preferential rate. We then accelerate the decommissioning and aid in migration to clean energy infrastructure.

Bitcoin is PART of a sustainable energy future. It drives economic incentives and behavior, and can be harnessed to achieve a cleaner energy. Bitcoin can and does subsidize clean energy, independent of States.