Fossil Future

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For over a decade, philosopher and energy expert Alex Epstein has argued that the negative impacts of fossil fuel use on our climate are outweighed by their unique benefits to human flourishing, particularly their ability to provide low-cost, reliable energy to billions, especially the world's poorest. Contrary to media narratives about a renewable revolution and climate emergency, reality supports Epstein's views: fossil fuels remain the dominant energy source globally, while renewables have led to rising electricity prices and increased blackouts. Fossil-fueled development has significantly reduced global poverty, and although fossil fuels have contributed to 1 degree of warming over the past 170 years, climate-related deaths are at all-time lows due to this development. In his analysis, Epstein concludes that the advantages of fossil fuels will continue to surpass their drawbacks, including climate impacts, for generations. He advocates for a future that combines increased fossil fuel use, improved climate mastery, and energy freedom policies to allow nuclear and other promising alternatives to thrive. Epstein critiques the prevalent claims of imminent climate catastrophe and renewable energy dominance as rooted in a flawed anti-impact framework, which has led to erroneous predictions about fossil fuels, climate, and renewables over the past fifty years. This well-researched work challenges conventional beliefs about our en