I write to thank Ross Greer and others for keeping the climate emergency at the forefront of the Kirk’s mind. Ian Cooper, in January’s edition, drew attention to Mr Greer’s youth and enthusiasm, alleging naivety. It is an elderly gentleman, Sir David Attenborough, who has done more than almost anyone else to raise the awful spectre of climate change in the wider public consciousness. Is he also too young, enthusiastic or naive?
Mr Cooper’s main point is worth engaging with: that continuing investment in the oil and gas industry allows us a voice and a platform to promote change.
However, most economic evidence to date completely undermines this assertion. These companies are only very slowly changing, doing so not because of shareholder pressure but rather an eye to a future shrinking market for their main commodity. They have, over many years, always put profit and company survival above all else. It will be how the market changes that will have the most influence. I have personal experience of the boom and bust cycle in the oil industry and know at first hand how profit and survival are always the oil company’s primary concern. Relatively small investors like us, as Mr Cooper notes we are, kid ourselves if we think we have influence in the boardroom. Purchasing power is all we’ve got.