Anti-fossil Fuel Activism and Climate Change*
This chapter explores the anti-fossil fuel movement’s influence on climate change activism in the United States, focusing on four pivotal campaigns: anti-Keystone XL, fossil fuel divestment, anti-coal, and anti-fracking. The movement has successfully framed the fossil fuel industry as the primary cause of climate change, mobilizing significant public support. The anti-Keystone XL campaign delayed and eventually halted the Keystone XL pipeline project, showcasing the movement’s ability to influence policy through grassroots activism. The divestment campaign, inspired by Bill McKibben’s “terrifying new math, " aims to delegitimize the fossil fuel industry by convincing institutions to divest. This campaign has garnered support from universities like Harvard and Stanford, and state pension funds such as New York’s, though its impact on the industry remains uncertain. The anti-coal campaign, led by organizations like the Rainforest Action Network and the Sierra Club, has successfully halted numerous coal-fired power plants and influenced policy changes. The anti-fracking campaign highlights the environmental risks of hydraulic fracturing, including aquifer contamination and methane emissions, and has mobilized opposition through awareness campaigns and petitions. However, federal regulation has been inadequate, with exemptions under the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and inconsistent policy responses.
