The difference between Shell’s boss, Ben van Beurden, and his critics is that when he argues for the continued extraction of fossil fuels he has his shareholders in mind, while those in favour of renewable technologies are concerned about the future of the planet (Shell boss launches counterattack against naive critics of fossil fuels, 12 February). Calling environmentalists “naive and impractical” does not wash, given the considerable body of research that links climate change to carbon emissions caused by the burning of fossil fuels. Of course, the transition to a sustainable energy future will take time but in the process we must not be swayed by industry chiefs concerned primarily with the bottom line. Let’s hope that the negotiators at the crucial climate change talks in Paris later this year take the long-term view and put planet before profits.
Fiona Carnie
Bath
• Ben van Beurden may be right when he says “a sudden death of fossil fuels isn’t a plausible option” . But he seems to recognise that scientists are right that fossil fuels are slowly heating up the Earth with disastrous climate changes. So surely oil companies should be preparing a 10-year plan for switching from fossil fuel exploitation to renewable energy systems and announcing that by 2025 all their oil wells will be sealed off. In that context Shell should now abandon drilling in the Arctic and investment in Canadian tar sands.
Michael Bassey
Author, Convivial Policies for the Inevitable