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This is not an argument to decrease our reliance on fossil fuels to prevent climate change. Quite the opposite I believe that we will use every ounce of oil and probably coal available to us no matter the consequences or the cost. No matter what plans are put in place to slow fossil fuel usage we will continue to use it while it is available. This is mainly an argument to move away from oil for political and economic reasons and to put an infrastructure in place for when coal is no longer a viable option for power generation. If we do not take this opportunity in time to use these fuels for creating a more sustainable energy infrastructure we will just continue to move on to the next non-renewable source of energy. Tar sands, methane hydrates, and shell oil are all likely candidates to keep us on a hydrocarbon energy infrastructure for a long time.

As with any truth that one doesn't want to hear acceptance is the first step. No one, no group, and no movement is going to stop mankind from using all of the easily accessible fossil fuels available. The first thing we have to do is accept this as fact. Usage may be slowed or the energy redirected into building an infrastructure for the future but it won't be stopped until a less expensive more attractive option is available. The result of this is that the carbon dioxide from those fuels will wind up in the atmosphere. The best way to spend our energy instead of fighting a fight that will inevitably be lost is to mitigate any negative consequences of this. The amount of global warming this may cause is debatable but that is beside the point. The point is that we are not going to stop it so how do we deal with it.

We must determine the effects of climate change and take advantage of them where they are beneficial and mitigate them where they are not. Once we accept that some level of climate change is inevitable we can work on limiting the consequences. Some areas will benefit from a warmer northern hemisphere others will not. If we want to limit the changes we need to accept that we must use the energy available to us to build an infrastructure to deal with the future. Using the available fossil fuels we have in a wise manner is more important then attempting a futile fight to stop their use.

The very best thing that we could do is to take advantage of the relatively cheap fossil fuel available right now to build an infrastructure that will allow us to continue with our standard of living without fossil fuels in

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