Letter from Europe: Tobacco offers warning for oil
Moving on from burning fossil fuels for energy will not be easy, but it is ultimately a habit the world will need to kick
In some ways it may be churlish to draw parallels between the tobacco industry and the oil sector. After all, oil was one of the wonders of the 20th century. It is probably the most useful resource that we have ever discovered. The energy that oil contains, the ease with which it can be transported and its versatility are astonishing. But the plight of the tobacco industry offers an important lesson for oil industry executives: whataboutery and a strong PR campaign only go so far. Making good on the pledges at COP28 will be the oil industry’s moment of truth. The tobacco industry knew smoking was detrimental to human health from the early 1950s. As the scientific knowledge improved, the bigg
Also in this section
3 December 2024
Papua New Guinea’s LNG sector appears to be back on track, with other projects in the pipeline
2 December 2024
Crucial role of gas means country is laying the foundations to control physical and trading supply chains
30 November 2024
Decades of turmoil have left Iraq’s vast energy potential underutilised, but renewed investment and strategic reforms are transforming it into a key player in the region
29 November 2024
Although Iraq remains a major crude exporter, it is still some way from becoming a regional energy supply hub. Ambitious new cross-border schemes aim to rectify that situation