Burning Fossil Fuels Fuels Record-Breaking Heat: Fossil Free Media’s Eye-Opening Billboards
Fossil Free Media, an organization dedicated to raising awareness about the role of fossil fuel companies in exacerbating climate change, has launched a powerful campaign using billboards to convey its message. The eye-catching billboards, located in Phoenix, Austin, and Fresno, prominently display a map showcasing record-breaking temperatures recorded across the United States this summer. The campaign aims to shed light on the alarming consequences of burning fossil fuels, which have directly contributed to the unprecedented heatwaves experienced throughout the country and around the world.
In Fresno, drivers will be confronted with a reminder of a scorching 109°F day in their city, while Phoenix residents will see their hometown marked with 117°F on the map, accompanied by the striking words, Brought to you by Big Oil and ThankYouBigOil.com. The billboards serve as a sobering reminder of the devastating impact of climate change caused by the relentless pursuit of profit by major oil and gas companies.
Fossil Free Media’s Stop the Oil Profiteering campaign emphasizes that the fossil fuel industry has been aware of the connection between their products and climate change for decades. Yet, they have consistently failed to take meaningful action. Instead, these companies continue to invest billions of dollars into new projects that perpetuate fossil fuel extraction, leaving communities to bear the brunt of extreme weather events and rising temperatures.
Jamie Henn, a climate activist and the director of Fossil Free Media, urged the public to recognize that the brutal heatwaves experienced this summer were a direct result of the practices of the oil industry. Henn emphasizes the urgency of understanding that the consequences of climate change are not a distant concern but a pressing issue that affects us today, with the potential to render our planet uninhabitable within a few decades.
While Fossil Free Media aims to raise awareness about the critical role of fossil fuel companies in fueling climate change, there are those who hold differing viewpoints. Republicans, for example, do not believe that human activity is responsible for the extreme heatwaves witnessed in North America, Europe, and China this year. They attribute these weather events to sunspots or even conspiracy theories involving Democrats. However, a recent study by World Weather Attribution demonstrated that climate change significantly increased the likelihood of the extreme heat witnessed in these regions in July 2023.
The alarming truth is that the Earth’s temperature is increasing exponentially, and we are rapidly approaching a point of no return. To exacerbate matters, governments continue to subsidize fossil fuel companies. A report by the International Institute for Sustainable Development reveals that public funding for coal, oil, and gas in the world’s largest economies reached a staggering $1.4 trillion in 2022, despite previous commitments to reduce inefficient subsidies made at the COP26 climate summit in 2020.
The report’s findings highlight the need for G20 countries and governments worldwide to take immediate action to end fossil fuel subsidies. The International Institute for Sustainable Development calls for the cessation of such subsidies in rich countries by 2025 and in the rest of the world by 2030. By redirecting funding away from fossil fuel industries, governments can allocate financial resources towards initiatives that combat climate change effectively and improve the lives of their citizens.
In conclusion, the billboards created by Fossil Free Media serve as a stark reminder of the consequences of burning fossil fuels. As record-breaking temperatures continue to engulf the United States and the world, it is clear that immediate action is necessary to transition away from our reliance on fossil fuels. Governments and individuals must recognize the urgency of the situation and work towards ending fossil fuel subsidies, implementing sustainable policies, and investing in renewable energy sources. Failure to act now would be an irreversible disservice to future generations and jeopardize the livability of our planet.
