Conflict, Ethics, and the Problem of Fossil Fuels

In the midst of the human crisis currently unfolding in the Ukraine, it is perhaps useful to reflect on another, and potentially far more deadly, one that underlies it. While the United States has banned the import of Russian oil and natural gas, EU members have only agreed to significantly curtail the consumption of Russian natural gas by two-thirds in the course of 2022. The reason, of course, is that they are heavily dependent on their imports of Russian oil and natural gas, whereas only 3% of the oil consumed in the United States originated from Russia. And as gas prices have risen in the course of Russia’s attack on Ukraine, so has popular discontent in the United States, throughout Europe, and in other nations. Analysts were amazed at the rapidity with which the U.S. managed to mobilize NATO member nations and the EU to agree on sanctions. But in the face of a potential economic crisis and rising discontent, it’s unclear how long this united front in enforcing sanctions and opposing aggression will persist.

One of the knee-jerk reactions to this crisis of oil and gas supply is to advocate for energy independence – that the United States depend only on oil and gas extracted and produced domestically. However, to describe this approach as short-sighted is an understatement. We live in the age of a global economy; whether the United States can achieve energy independence ignores that, under current conditions, most of the world cannot. Because of this, the quest for oil can continue to define both domestic and foreign policy. More important, however, is the fact that fossil fuel emissions account for over three-quarters of greenhouse gas emissions, according to data from the EPA. And still more important is the fact that the inability of nations (especially when they are pressured by individual groups) to respond through their domestic and foreign policy to crises and potential aggression in a moral and ethical way is a form of idolatry. Jesus tells us that we cannot serve both God and mammon (Matthew 6:24). In this case, we can substitute fossil fuels for mammon; we cannot serve both God and fossil fuels.

This crisis offers us an opportunity to take stock of our lives, our priorities, and our future. it should prompt us to ask whether our consumption is contributing to global crises and to reassess what we are doing to ensure the survival of our planet. Are we contributing to greenhouse gas emissions, or are we taking serious measures to reduce our dependence on oil? We can take both short-term and long-term measures to decrease our personal dependence on oil. Juist a few of these include:

• Drive as little as possible. Try to plan so that you can combine what would ordinarily be multiple drives into a single drive.
• Drive in a way that maximizes fuel mileage.
• Set your thermostat to 68 degrees or less during the day, and to 7-10 degrees lower (or even better, turn it off completely) at night.
• When buying a new car, buy either a hybrid or an electric vehicle.
• If you have incandescent light bulbs, replace them with LED bulbs; these consume 80% less electricity and last much longer.
• Consider a tankless water heater when replacing your water heater. They heat water on demand, whereas conventional water heaters heat it continually.
• Consider installing a solar energy system, usually in the form of solar panels. Any power that your system produces in excess of your needs is purchased by Puget Sound Energy.