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> will continue to be dependent on petrochemical solids for long after we switch completely to electric vehicles and renewable energy Does anyone have insight

> will continue to be dependent on petrochemical solids for long after we switch completely to electric vehicles and renewable energy Does anyone have insight in what the negative effects here are, if any? It feels like this should be problematic, but I just can't put my finger on what problems this is creating. Like e.g. extracting oil to create single-use plastics that get put in a landfill after usage: it sounds bad, but what's actually the problem (assuming the whole process is done without burning any of the oil - which afaik is possible)?

blamazon 4y ago
To me it's at the root just an ethical capital allocation problem. We can split hairs about specifics but it's hard to argue Petro is interested in the common good, it's obviously interested in making money from oil extraction, common good be damned. I'd much rather incentivize a very different, more ethical form of industrial practice. More efficient, more local, less tragic commons. More locally recycled paper bags and food that comes in banana leaves. Less single use plastics that are generally impossible to recycle locally. More bike lanes and more transit, two things oil companies are traditionally villainous about lobbying against. Fewer oil spills, less tanker mileage. Less land allocated to vast chemical plants. More carbon tax. Etc. As long as we're hooked on the conveniences of plastic and gas stoves, it will be difficult to achieve a Star Trek type future.