[photoguy112]

I am really curious what goes on in the minds of the people working at these companies in top positions. How do they sleep at night? Do they simply say to themselves "I'm just one person, I can't do anything about a global problem and I need money"?

I find it hard to believe that there is some sinister plot to do damage as long as possible to make the most money. Surely these people realize we are all doomed no matter the amount of money you have in the end? Or perhaps that's it... perhaps they know we are doomed and just want to live out their lives in the most comfort possible and buy whatever comfort money may afford for their children?

[carapace]

I was reading a "biography" of (I think it was the) Nature Conservancy (or a similar legal activist group.)

They got their start when they had figured out that PG&E (California's electric company) could meet their projected demand while saving money and reducing pollution by improving efficiency of existing infrastructure instead of building new power plants. They couldn't convince management to even look at the numbers. They had to sue them to get them to do something obvious that was in their own best interests. That's how gung ho the executives were to "build, baby build". It wasn't a conspiracy, it was just systemic cultural dumbness.

[dannycastonguay]

Answer: Yes, these people need jobs and there is a lot of money to be made legally drilling offshore oil wells off the coast of Guyana[1].

Consider coal, the poster child. Blaming the coal producing states[2] might feel good, but it's not very effective. Personally, I prefer to have a shared global responsibility mindset because I too consume goods that are made in China, where ~50% of the coal is burned. How do I sleep at night? Quite well because I'm often exhausted from startup life + BJJ + kids :-)

As a citizen in a democratic country, if you want to affect change, policy seems to be the way to go. As far as environmental problems go in the US, the boundary between federal and state is not well defined[3] and most recently the federal government seem content with letting the states take more of the burden. A few (humble) thought starters for US citizens would include:

  A. Learn how much your state is burning[4] and what your governor is doing about it
  B. Find out about organizations and lobbying groups that align with your ideals
  C. Vote with your money[5], and vote in the election

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  1: https://corporate.exxonmobil.com/en/Locations/Guyana/Guyana-project-overview#explorationWellsDrilledInTheStabroekBlock
  2: https://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.php?id=69&t=2
  3: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_and_state_environmental_relations
  4: https://www.americangeosciences.org/critical-issues/faq/which-states-are-largest-producers-and-consumers-coal
  5: https://lobbyit.com/how-state-and-fe-lobbying-differ/

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