Carbon Quote by Jane Mayer
““by 2008 the arithmetic of climate change presented an almost unimaginable challenge. If the world were to stay within the range of carbon emissions that scientists deemed reasonable in order for atmospheric temperatures to remain tolerable through the mid-century, 80 percent of the fossil fuel industry’s reserves would have to stay unused in the ground. In other words, scientists estimated that the fossil fuel industry owned roughly five times more oil, gas, and coal than the planet could safely burn.””
About This Quote
Source Article: The Climate Fix, The New Yorker, 2008
The scale of fossil fuel reserves vastly exceeds what the climate can tolerate, demanding most remain unburned to keep warming manageable.
In simple terms: Fossil fuels are far more than the planet can safely use.
Limit extraction and transition to clean energy.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- government regulation
- investment decisions
- energy planning
- public advocacy
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies balance economic growth with climate limits?
- What policies effectively keep fossil fuels underground?
Transitioning away from fossil fuels is politically and economically challenging.