Why the global energy transition is not a replacement but an additive process
In short: We often assume that moving toward new energy sources means abandoning old ones. History suggests otherwise. Energy transitions are typically additive, meaning we simply pile new sources onto existing ones. Understanding this pattern is essential to grasping the true roots of our current climate crisis and the history of oil.
Adam Hanieh, Professor of Political Economy and Global Development at the University of Exeter, argues that the global shift from coal to oil in the 20th century did not eliminate coal but rather expanded the total volume of energy consumed. This additive nature of energy transitions is a critical, often overlooked, aspect of how fossil fuel dependency has become entrenched. Oil is not merely a transport fuel; it is a fundamental component of material production, including plastics and petrochemicals, as well as a cornerstone of military power and global financial systems.
The rise of oil as the world's dominant fossil fuel was inseparable from colonial strategy. Following the shift from coal to oil in 1911 under Churchill, Britain prioritized control over oil-rich territories, notably through the Anglo-Persian Oil Company in Iran. This imperial strategy was reinforced by the 1916 Sykes-Picot Agreement, which solidified British and French influence across the Middle East. Meanwhile, the United States bolstered its own oil dominance through state-backed subsidies, such as the 27.5% depletion allowance, and aggressive expansion into Latin America.
Decolonisation movements in the mid-20th century sought to reclaim sovereignty over these national resources. However, these efforts faced significant resistance. When Iranian Prime Minister Mohammed Mossadegh nationalized the oil industry in 1951, a U.S.- and UK-backed coup in 1953 reinstated the Shah to maintain Western control. These historical power dynamics, from the 1955 Bandung Conference to the formation of OPEC in 1960, reveal the complex interplay between national independence struggles and the global fossil fuel order. Understanding these roots is vital for addressing the contemporary climate emergency.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Oil, Decolonisation, and the Future of the Climate Emergency - Adam Hanieh
- Also: Oil, Decolonisation, and the Future of the Climate Emergency
- Also: podcast.gresham.ac.uk — Oil, Decolonisation, and the Future of the Climate Emergency - Adam Hanieh - Gresham College Lectures
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