I applause the increase of oil prices!

It is always tragic when people die, whether they are an ayatollah, a soldier, or a civilian, and it is repulsive to witness a war. That said, there are always two sides to every coin. On the positive side of this conflict, oil prices have risen significantly. In the long run, this is an advantage for everyone, regardless of whether you live in Denmark, the USA, or the Middle East. In Denmark and all other countries that are major consumers of fossil fuels, oil prices are artificially low because we have chosen not to impose taxes on fossil fuels that correspond to the pollution their consumption inflicts on society. On the contrary, in the EU, we provide massive subsidies to the fossil fuel industry, far exceeding support for renewable energy, thereby helping to keep global oil prices artificially low. These low prices lead to increased global consumption and delay the development of alternatives. As a result, we are decades behind in the green transition and have likely already exceeded the 1.5-degree Celsius temperature rise that scientists warn will lead to uncontrollable consequences for human survival on Earth. As a result of the war, the price of diesel has increased by 20% to around 18 DKK per liter. This is good. Although it is unfortunately still not nearly enough, a little is better than nothing. For the sake of my children and grandchildren, I hope the price will rise much more. No politician, whether willing or able, can raise the price of fossil fuels to the level needed to prevent a climate catastrophe in the short term. So, it is fortunate that the market can help. As far as I am concerned, the price could rise to 50 DKK per liter this year. That is not too much, considering how far behind we are in the green transition. We want to phase out fossil energy within a couple of decades, and that will not happen at the current oil price, no matter how many extra electric cars we buy. It is an advantage for everyone if the phase-out of fossil energy happens gradually. Since we are so far behind in the green transition due to the reluctance of politicians, it is urgent to raise the price. This will, of course, lead to economic recession and a decline in consumption, and it will be tough. But what is the alternative? The alternative is continued uncontrolled global consumption of fossil fuels, which we know with certainty will lead to the deaths of millions, perhaps billions, of people from famine, war, and epidemics. The truth is often hard to hear, which is why democratically elected politicians and journalists do not speak openly and directly about it. But that is the outlook based on climate data. The war has led to the deaths of 3,000 people in just a few weeks, 90% of whom are innocent Iranian civilians. In the coming year or years, many more will undoubtedly die in the conflict that Israel has initiated with the support of the USA and Europe’s passive consent. It is tragic for those affected, and it is morally indefensible. But on the positive side, we must hope that the lives and martyrdom of the victims will not have been in vain if they lead to rising oil prices that can delay the climate catastrophe we are heading toward—a catastrophe where the number of innocent victims will be on an entirely different scale. I hope the war ends soon, but I also quietly hope that the closure of the Strait of Hormuz will be prolonged and that there will be irreparable damage to the fossil fuel infrastructure in the Gulf States. This could put a cork in the global supply of fossil fuels, which is currently driving our civilization toward collapse—a collapse we have been unable to prevent through political means due to short-sighted interests.