Trump's pick for energy secretary actually thinks climate change is a good thing
Chris Wright, the Trump-appointed chief executive of major oil companies, says the planet may get a little warmer.
December 9, 2024 at 4:00 pm (Central Standard Time)
Author: Jahan Jones
Over the years, arguments against taking meaningful action to combat climate change have evolved from doubts about the science to claims that rising temperatures may not be caused by human activity. Now, President-elect Donald Trump is taking it in a whole new direction: Climate change is actually a good thing.
Trump has been musing on the possibility that rising sea levels will lead to more beachfront properties. He recently announced that his choice for energy secretary is oil magnate Chris Wright, who has downplayed the risks of rising global temperatures and Think climate change might actually be a good thing.
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According to the Wall Street Journal:
Wright, a fracking executive, acknowledges that burning fossil fuels contributes to rising temperatures. But he also said climate change is making the planet greener by promoting plant growth, increasing agricultural productivity and potentially reducing the number of temperature-related deaths each year. “There may be almost as many positive changes as there are negative changes,” he told conservative media nonprofit PragerU last year, speaking about climate change. “This is a crisis, the greatest challenge in the world, and a challenge to the next generation.” Huge threat? No.
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MSLSDMicrosoft National Data CenterMSNBC
As far as I can tell, that's what Mr. Jones' ignorant tirade was. If there's anything worth reading beyond the Wall Street Journal quote, I hope someone can tell me in the comments.
First of all, Chris Wright is not the CEO of Big Oil.
big oil companies is a name sometimes used to describe six or seven of the world's largest publicly traded and investor-owned oil and gas companies, also known as Super professional.[5][6][7][8] This term, especially in the United States, emphasizes their economic power and influence on politics. Big Oil is often associated with the fossil fuel lobby and is also used to refer to the entire industry in a pejorative or derogatory manner.[9]
[…]
Wikipedia
Chris Wright is chief executive of oilfield services company Liberty Energy. Although Liberty is quite large, with a current market capitalization of about $3.1 billion, it doesn't even rank among the top ten companies in its industrial sector. Liberty primarily engages in unconventional well completion services (also known as fracking). They are also involved in the transportation and logistics of compressed natural gas (CNG).
Integrated alternative fuel and power solutions for remote applications
The field is undergoing a generational technology shift in fuel use from diesel to clean-burning natural gas, and Liberty is at the forefront of this change. Liberty Power Innovations (LPI) supports Liberty's technology transformation by vertically integrating fuel and power services with compressed natural gas (CNG) supply and wellsite fueling and logistics.
LPI's on-site fuel distribution services reliably distribute natural gas to pumps and generators consistent with all natural gas fuel supply sources.
Visit LPI
free energy
One might think MSNBC would be appreciative of a future energy secretary who is currently at the forefront of an actual “shift in fuel use from diesel to clean-burning natural gas.” But that would require an IQ higher than Peter Dinklage's shoe size.
Regarding future Secretary Wright’s views on climate change, Robert LaPierre sums it up well in this article Forbes article:
Chris Wright's stance: Not a climate change skeptic
Unlike traditional skeptics, Wright acknowledges that carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas that contributes to atmospheric warming.
As Forbes columnist Christopher Helman noted in a profile of Wright, “He has publicly stated for years that he believes carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas that undoubtedly makes the atmosphere warmer than it would otherwise be.”
This acceptance sets him apart from outright climate change deniers. Wright’s stance is more focused on addressing the economic and practical impacts of climate change than questioning its existence.
economic and practical perspective
Wright's approach reflects a school of thought that challenges the economic viability of extreme climate measures. This group is likely to argue that measures such as carbon taxes and green energy subsidies place a disproportionate burden on economies and low-income earners, with no guaranteed benefits.
Another perspective emphasizes human adaptability, arguing that societies have historically overcome environmental challenges and can adapt to future changes without drastic intervention. This is coupled with the perception that media reports exaggerate the urgency and severity of the climate issue to create a sensational narrative, leading to public misunderstanding.
Finally, some question whether the proposed solutions will be effective or fair. They argue that the costs and disruptions associated with transitioning to renewable energy or implementing climate policies may outweigh the benefits, especially when the scale required to reduce global emissions appears daunting and the efforts of developed countries may be outweighed by the growing demands of developing economies. offset by emissions.
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in conclusion
Chris Wright's views highlight the tension between environmental goals and economic considerations. While critics may call him a skeptic, his acknowledgment of carbon dioxide's role in global warming sets him apart from outright deniers.
The debate over his nomination reflects wider societal challenges on the road to achieving a sustainable and equitable response to climate change. As the international community continues to grapple with these issues, the importance of careful and balanced decision-making cannot be overstated.
Forbes
Below is a link to PragerU's actual interview with Chris Wright. Nothing he said was wrong or even controversial. Definitely worth a look. His positions on energy and climate change are very similar to those of Steve Koonin, Michael Schellenberg and Bjorn Lomborg.
On climate change So far so good…
“Climate change is making the planet greener by promoting plant growth”
Credit: Boston University/R. Maineni” (NASA)
“Improving agricultural productivity”
“Potential reduction in temperature-related deaths per year”
“Improving human life”
Liberty Energy Inc. releases 2024 Improving Human Life Report
DENVER – (BUSINESS WIRE) – Liberty Energy Inc. (NYSE: LBRT; “Liberty” or the “Company”) today is proud to announce the release of its 2024 Improving Human Life report, highlighting the central role energy plays in human life.
“A prosperous energy system can lead to a prosperous society and a future full of opportunity. Unfortunately, politics increasingly dominates the trajectory of U.S. energy, and the consequences are increasingly severe. The costs of energy mistakes include lower living standards, fewer jobs, and more national Safety declines and environmental quality declines.”improve human life Designed to inform readers and drive thoughtful conversations around the trade-offs between energy, climate, poverty and prosperity. This comprehensive report is filled with real-world case studies and is divided into six sections: Energy, Energy and the Modern World, Energy Poverty, Climate Change, Climate Economics, and an in-depth section on free energy.
“Leveraging our culture of excellence, technological advancement and pursuit of advancing energy production, Liberty is committed to being a force for disruptive change in the energy industry. We strongly support all energy sources that improve our energy systems and improve lives,” continued Mr. Wright said. “Earlier this year, we announced the Improving Human Lives Foundation to specifically address this most pressing energy access issue, furthering our ambition to deliver the safe, affordable, reliable energy critical to humanity's success. Liberty An initial funding of $1 million has been provided to kick-start the BHL Foundation's efforts to bring better clean cooking fuels to Africa. We hope more people will join us in improving health for those currently living in energy poverty. , extending lifespan and expanding opportunities.
Key takeaways from the Improving Human Lives Report 2024:
- Energy is vital to life and the world needs more of it!
- Today's modern world is powered by and made of hydrocarbons.
- For the 7 billion people who aspire to be among the world's one billion lucky people, hydrocarbons are critical to improving their wealth, health and life chances.
- Hydrocarbons supply more than 80% of the world's energy and thousands of critical materials and products.
- The U.S. shale revolution has transformed energy markets, energy security and geopolitics.
- Global demand for oil, gas and coal is at record levels and rising – the energy transition has not yet begun.
- Modern alternative energy sources, such as solar and wind, can only meet part of the electricity demand and cannot replace the most critical uses of hydrocarbons. Energy-dense, reliable nuclear power could be even more impactful.
- Making energy more expensive or unreliable harms people, national security and the environment.
- Climate change is a global challenge, but it is far from the world's greatest threat to human life.
- Zero energy poverty by 2050 is a superior goal than net zero emissions by 2050.
“Our mission is to improve human life. Human happiness comes from relationships, love and a strong purpose in life. The prerequisites for these ultimate goals are food, shelter, health, education and longevity,” continued Mr. Wright. “None of these are possible without energy, and the quality of each depends on access to affordable, reliable and secure energy.”
this improve human life The report can be downloaded from www.libertyenergy.com. To print the report, please visit the Liberty website or contact BHL@libertyenergy.com.
About freedom
Liberty is a leading energy services company in North America, providing one of the most innovative suites of completion services and technologies to onshore oil and gas exploration and production companies. Founded in 2011, Liberty is committed to working with customers to develop and deliver next-generation technologies to enable sustainable development of unconventional energy sources. Liberty is headquartered in Denver, Colorado. For more information about Liberty, please visit www.libertyenergy.com. For more information about the Bettering Human Lives Foundation, visit www.bettering humanlives.org.
free energy
“Climate change is a good thing”
(Borrowed from “The Pilgrims and the Little Ice Age.”)
Who else remembers the 1970s?
Until about 1975, observed temperatures were consistent with models of natural forcing mechanisms.
Even if man-made carbon dioxide2 Emissions are responsible for virtually all warming since 1975, and without fossil fuels we would still be in “ice age coming” mode.
Thanks to fossil fuels
From 1800 to 1900, per capita energy consumption (mainly from biomass) remained relatively stable; as did average life expectancy. From 1900 to 1978, per capita energy consumption approximately tripled as fossil fuel production (coal, oil, and natural gas) grew rapidly. At the same time, average life expectancy has doubled. While I can't say that fossil fuels caused the increase in life expectancy, I can say unequivocally that without fossil fuels, especially oil, none of the things that extend life would exist or happen.
Without fossil fuels, our modern society would not exist, and without fossil fuels being accessible and/or affordable, modern society would collapse in an instant. One of the coolest things about being a petroleum geologist is that I can say thank you to fossil fuels and say “you're welcome” in the same sentence.
Relevant
