Climate change talk sparks controversy | News | ocolly.com - Daily O'Collegian

Climate change talk sparks controversy | News | ocolly.com

With talks of climate change becoming increasingly present in recent years, tensions can be high when it comes to the future of our planet.

Fossil fuels have been named the main contributor to climate change. However, some believe that the benefits outweigh the negative impacts they have on the environment.

Alex Epstein, writer and fossil fuel expansion advocate, gave a talk on Monday advocating for the expansion of fossil fuel usage. This has proved to be a controversial topic given Epstein’s background.

With a major in philosophy, Epstein doesn’t have the typical background someone might have if they were going into a field regarding fossil fuels and their impact on both people's lives and the climate.

“I wanted to be a practical philosopher outside academia,” Epstein said. “I got a philosophy degree because that was the easiest degree to get so I could train to become a writer.”

After writing about various topics over the years, Epstein landed in the energy industry.

“I was fascinated by energy because energy is the industry that powers every other industry,” Epstein said. “Our energy choices make arguably the biggest difference because if you make good energy decisions, then everyone gets wealthier, and everything gets better.”

During Epstein’s lecture, he stressed the idea that fossil fuels should be expanded in order to help people in low income countries. Without fossil fuels, people in already energy depleted areas won’t have the necessary resources to survive.

Epstein said in higher income countries, like the United States, it is affordable to try to cut out fossil fuels and use more energy efficient sources like wind and solar power. However, in countries that experience higher rates of poverty, they need fossil fuels to raise the quality of life.

In energy-rich countries with the resources to take out fossil fuels, it’s easy to see how they should be removed because of the negative environmental impacts.

However, Epstein said citizens of poverty-stricken countries need those fossil fuels to stand a chance against the various hardships they experience.

Epstein stressed that it is important to take into account both the negative and positive effects.

Because fossil fuel usage has been named the main contributor to climate change, students were left confused as to why a fossil fuel expansionist would be asked to give a talk. A protest was organized to voice concerns.

Gavin Lara, an entomology major, was one of many who thought that having Epstein talk was poor taste for OSU.

“I think it’s really stupid that they’re having someone with a BA in philosophy come to a place that claims to foster higher education,” Lara said. “This is where you’re supposed to go to be the top of your field eventually, so I think it doesn’t make sense that they’re even offering him a platform.”

Lara wasn’t the only one who thought this. It was a common argument made by the protesters that Epstein wasn’t qualified to be talking on such a serious issue.

Many of the students in attendance felt drawn to voice their concern because they will someday be working in fields that deal with the impacts of climate change.

Lana Daniels, an environmental biology major, is learning first-hand the effects fossil fuels have on the climate. Daniels, along with many others attending the protest, believe that having Epstein talk about fossil fuels negatively reflects OSU’s ideologies.

“I think it’s frustrating for OSU to promote something so anti-science at a place of higher education,” Daniels said.

His busy schedule didn’t stop Sam Wilson, a zoology major, from attending the protest.

“I have a test this week but if I fail the test then I fail the test,” Wilson said. “We only have one chance with our planet.”

While there were plenty of people opposed to Epstein’s views in attendance, there were also people who were there to learn more about the subject and hear Epstein's point of view.

Eason Pinney knew who Epstein was from a book he was given to read at an internship. Even though Pinney has varying views on the subject, he still attended the lecture to broaden his understanding.

“I like to be educated about things that are impacting our world,” Pinney said. “I like to be someone who’s educated on both sides so that if there are people arguing, I can insert myself and just be knowledgeable about my future, the future of our country and the world.”