Here’s the thing—it doesn’t matter what most people think. Most people have little influence on whether or not fossil fuels stay in the ground or are burned. Don’t worry about what ordinary people think. In fact, plenty of them realize what’s happening and feel powerless and their understanding doesn’t change anything.

That said, what’s needed is to stop the burning of fossil fuels and quickly adopt the use of renewable energy. There are plenty of excuses, but none of those excuses should deter us from fighting to make this change as best we can. I don’t give a crap if batteries aren’t yet perfect or whatever. We need to move NOW and correct course as we go.

The question is, how do we start moving when our leaders choose to keep speeding our specie toward doom?

Protest is important, but not enough by itself. We also need TEETH. What if fossil fuels became a risky investment? Something that investors don’t like, something that scares them, something that doesn’t dependably make them money? That’s the idea of Andreas Malm in his book How To Blow Up A Pipeline. At this late date, we aren’t going to convince corporations or politicians (who take corporate money and make policy for their financial backers) to save the planet. But if we protest AND if some people regularly sabotage fossil fuel infrastructure and products…well, that hits them the only place they care—their wealth.

If the big money is in renewable energy and fossil fuels are financial losers, the situation is reversed. THAT’s what needs to happen. I strongly recommend you read his book. Also, Kim Stanley Robinson’s novel, The Ministry of the Future.

There’s a way out. Despair is understandable. But premature.