--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's as certain that as long as fossil…" description: "\"It's as certain that as long as fossil fuels are the cheapest energy, we will just keep burning them.\" — James Hansen" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f2f/james-hansen-7143_burning_it-s-as-certain-that-as-long-as-fossil-f_721220.jpg" --- # It's as certain that as long as fossil fuels are the… ![“It's as certain that as long as fossil fuels are the cheapest energy, we will just keep burning them.” quote by James Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f2f/james-hansen-7143_burning_it-s-as-certain-that-as-long-as-fossil-f_721220.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f2f/james-hansen-7143_burning_it-s-as-certain-that-as-long-as-fossil-f_721220.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f2f/james-hansen-7143_burning_it-s-as-certain-that-as-long-as-fossil-f_721220.jpg) > “It's as certain that as long as fossil fuels are the cheapest energy, we will just keep burning them.” [James Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hansen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. If fossil fuels remain cheapest, society will continue using them, hindering climate progress. **In simple terms:** Cheap fossil fuels keep us burning them. Key Takeaway Shift to affordable clean energy. Themes environment economics energy policy Mood urgent concerned Type policy motivational When to use this quote - government policy - energy markets - public opinion - investment decisions Key Concepts climate change market dynamics sustainability Questions to Reflect On - How can clean energy become cost‑competitive? - What policies can reduce reliance on cheap fossil fuels? A Different Perspective Transition costs and political resistance can slow change. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Climate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climate/) [Energy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/energy/) [Fossil fuel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fossil-fuel/) [Fossil fuels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fossil-fuels/) ## Related quotes > [Handcuffing the ability of states and localities to develop clean fuels in the cheapest possible way, using local resources, is not sound or sensible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jan-schakowsky/handcuffing-the-ability-of-states-and-localities-to-develop-clean/) [Jan Schakowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jan-schakowsky/) > [Coal is responsible for as much atmospheric carbon dioxide as other fossil fuels combined and it still has far greater reserves. We must stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hansen/coal-is-responsible-for-as-much-atmospheric-carbon-dioxide-as-other/) [James Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hansen/) > [You can't turn on your television without seeing these advertisements about clean coal, clean tar sands and the claim that there's more jobs associated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hansen/you-can-t-turn-on-your-television-without-seeing-these-advertisements/) [James Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hansen/) > [Today, wind is the cheapest energy in America; solar is not far behind. In time, fossil fuels will only get more and more expensive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-ruffalo/today-wind-is-the-cheapest-energy-in-america-solar-is-not-far-behind/) [Mark Ruffalo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-ruffalo/) > [It is very possible to have lives that are just as prosperous, and nicer, that use 5 percent of the fossil fuels and virgin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-steffen/it-is-very-possible-to-have-lives-that-are-just-as-prosperous-and/) [Alex Steffen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-steffen/) > [The idea that human beings have changed and are changing the basic climate system of the Earth through their industrial activities and burning of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-johnson/the-idea-that-human-beings-have-changed-and-are-changing-the-basic/) [Paul Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-johnson/) > [“We need to stop using fossil fuels as soon as possible. Unfortunately, the two leading replacements of wind and solar have emerging health and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/we-need-to-stop-using-fossil-fuels-as-soon-as-possible-unfortunately/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [I said that if an alien came to visit, I'd be embarrassed to tell them that we fight wars to pull fossil fuels out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/i-said-that-if-an-alien-came-to-visit-i-d-be-embarrassed-to-tell-them/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [There's a lot of wishful thinking that somehow we'll replace fossil fuels with alternative energy sources, but they remain far from reality. We're not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-howard-kunstler/there-s-a-lot-of-wishful-thinking-that-somehow-we-ll-replace-fossil/) [James Howard Kunstler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-howard-kunstler/) > [We all know that we have to get off of fossil fuels. And we know that the world is going in that direction. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-fox/we-all-know-that-we-have-to-get-off-of-fossil-fuels-and-we-know-that/) [Josh Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-fox/) > [Fire made us human, fossil fuels made us modern, but now we need a new fire that makes us safe, secure, healthy and durable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amory-lovins/fire-made-us-human-fossil-fuels-made-us-modern-but-now-we-need-a-new/) [Amory Lovins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amory-lovins/) > [Ending our reliance on fossil fuels was never going to be easy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-angel-gurria/ending-our-reliance-on-fossil-fuels-was-never-going-to-be-easy/) [Jose Angel Gurria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-angel-gurria/) > [We have to be reminded that we still live in a world that relies a lot on fossil fuels, and that transition to new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-espinosa/we-have-to-be-reminded-that-we-still-live-in-a-world-that-relies-a/) [Patricia Espinosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-espinosa/) > [If a power station were to be built down the road, I'd prefer a nuclear plant over an oil burner, and definitely over a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-lovelock/if-a-power-station-were-to-be-built-down-the-road-i-d-prefer-a/) [James Lovelock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-lovelock/) > [Fossil fuels, including oil, are running out and supplies are getting harder to find. If we do nothing, prices will continue to rise and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-powell/fossil-fuels-including-oil-are-running-out-and-supplies-are-getting/) [Lucy Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-powell/) ## More by James Hansen > [Talking nice about sun and wind and green jobs is just greenwash.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hansen/talking-nice-about-sun-and-wind-and-green-jobs-is-just-greenwash/) [James Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hansen/) > [What is frustrating people, me included, is that democratic action affects elections but what we get then from political leaders is greenwash.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hansen/what-is-frustrating-people-me-included-is-that-democratic-action/) [James Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hansen/) > [The five-year mean global temperature has been flat for the last decade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hansen/the-five-year-mean-global-temperature-has-been-flat-for-the-last/) [James Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hansen/) > [What makes tar sands particularly odious is that the energy you get out in the end, per unit carbon dioxide, is poor. It's equivalent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hansen/what-makes-tar-sands-particularly-odious-is-that-the-energy-you-get/) [James Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hansen/) > [We are on the precipice of climate system tipping points beyond which there is no redemption.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hansen/we-are-on-the-precipice-of-climate-system-tipping-points-beyond-which/) [James Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hansen/) > [Jail threats did not dissuade Martin Luther King - and intergenerational justice is a moral issue of comparable magnitude to civil rights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hansen/jail-threats-did-not-dissuade-martin-luther-king-and/) [James Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hansen/) > [The United States did not sign Kyoto, yet its emissions are not that different from the countries that did sign it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hansen/the-united-states-did-not-sign-kyoto-yet-its-emissions-are-not-that/) [James Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hansen/) > [The five-year mean global temperature has been flat for the last decade, which we interpret as a combination of natural variability and a slow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hansen/the-five-year-mean-global-temperature-has-been-flat-for-the-last-2/) [James Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hansen/) > [Rising carbon price is essential to 'decarbonize' the economy - to remove the nation towards the era beyond fossil fuels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hansen/rising-carbon-price-is-essential-to-decarbonize-the-economy-to-remove/) [James Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hansen/) > [Policy decisions on climate change are being deliberated every day by those without full knowledge of the science, and often with intentional misinformation spawned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hansen/policy-decisions-on-climate-change-are-being-deliberated-every-day-by/) [James Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hansen/) > [ Imagine a giant asteroid on a direct collision course with Earth. That is the equivalent of what we face now \[with climate change\], yet… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hansen/imagine-a-giant-asteroid-on-a-direct-collision-course-with-earth-that/) [James Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hansen/) > [The most difficult task, phase-out over the next 20-25 years of coal use that does not capture COâ‚‚, is Herculean, yet feasible when compared…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hansen/the-most-difficult-task-phase-out-over-the-next-20-25-years-of-coal/) [James Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hansen/) > [As species are exterminated by shifting climate zones, ecosystems can collapse, destroying more species.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hansen/as-species-are-exterminated-by-shifting-climate-zones-ecosystems-can/) [James Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hansen/) > [I think we have a very brief window of opportunity to deal with climate change... no longer than a decade, at the most.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hansen/i-think-we-have-a-very-brief-window-of-opportunity-to-deal-with/) [James Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hansen/) > [The climate system is being pushed hard enough that change will become obvious to the man in the street in the next decade.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-hansen/the-climate-system-is-being-pushed-hard-enough-that-change-will/) [James Hansen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hansen/) [Explore all 94 James Hansen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-hansen/) ## More Burning quotes > [Eternal Trinity... mystery deep as the sea, You could give me no greater gift than the gift of Yourself. 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My three \[great teachers\] did not… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-steinbeck/teaching-might-even-be-the-greatest-of-the-arts-since-the-medium-is/) [John Steinbeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-steinbeck/) > [The desire to kill is like the desire to attack another with an ingot of red -hot iron: I have to pick up the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/the-desire-to-kill-is-like-the-desire-to-attack-another-with-an-ingot/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [The entire cosmos is one vast burning bush, permeated by the fire of the divine power and glory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kallistos-ware/the-entire-cosmos-is-one-vast-burning-bush-permeated-by-the-fire-of/) [Kallistos Ware](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kallistos-ware/) > [Two beautiful women crashing and burning for the sake of the Women's Championship!!!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-ross/two-beautiful-women-crashing-and-burning-for-the-sake-of-the-women-s/) [Jim Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-ross/) > [He lowered the window, and looked out at the rising sun. There was a ridge of ploughed land, with a plough upon it where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/he-lowered-the-window-and-looked-out-at-the-rising-sun-there-was-a/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [Catholicity seized on man... and the mystics, transcending all, taught him to ascend on high with the wings of contemplation the Ladder of Jacob…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-donoso-cortes/catholicity-seized-on-man-and-the-mystics-transcending-all-taught-him/) Juan Donoso Cortes > [Some fighters know when to stop on their own and go on to something else, and then some fighters have nothing to go back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-hagler/some-fighters-know-when-to-stop-on-their-own-and-go-on-to-something/) [Marvin Hagler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-hagler/) > [Death is staring too long into the burning sun and the relief of entering a cool, dark room.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elisabeth-kubler-ross/death-is-staring-too-long-into-the-burning-sun-and-the-relief-of/) [Elisabeth Kubler-Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elisabeth-kubler-ross/) > [All philanthropy ... is only a savory fumigation burning at the mouth of a sewer. This incense offering makes the air more endurable to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-key/all-philanthropy-is-only-a-savory-fumigation-burning-at-the-mouth-of/) [Ellen Key](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-key/) > [Time is a vindictive bandit to steal the beauty of our former selves. We are left with sagging, rippled flesh and burning gums with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raphael/time-is-a-vindictive-bandit-to-steal-the-beauty-of-our-former-selves/) [Raphael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raphael/) > [One writes because one has a burning desire to objectify what it is indispensable to one's happiness to express.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-moore/one-writes-because-one-has-a-burning-desire-to-objectify-what-it-is/) [Marianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-moore/) > [Nearly all runners do their slow runs too fast, and their fast runs too slow." Ken Mierke says. 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