Outlandish climate protests are a privilege

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If media attention and outrage is the goal, Just Stop Oil is certainly a successful organization. After all, we’re discussing its work right now. But discussion alone is not a benchmark of success; the context of those conversations matters. Presumably, members of Just Stop Oil would like observers to link arms and join their cause. What they don’t seem to understand is these acts don’t win anyone over to their stated goal of stopping new fossil fuel projects, chiefly because the protests are flagrant displays of privilege.

In 2019, it’s estimated that 931 million tons of food were wasted around the world. As climate change makes agriculture and food production more difficult, it’s entirely counterintuitive that climate activists would waste food during their demonstrations. Yes, throwing tomato soup all over an original Van Gogh gains attention, but it’s not the right type of attention.

Imagine a farmer watching climate activists waste food for the sake of media attention. It’s immediately alienating and feels like a movement that agriculture could never be part of. It’s not enough to open up dialogue on the issue of climate change; it matters how people are talking about the issue. For real impact, people must discuss solutions they believe in, not just what the “crazy activists” did last week. If the entire conversation is about the methods of climate protesters, we’re failing at acting on climate in a pragmatic, effective way. To put it simply, we need more productive conversation and less protesting.

Fighting climate change requires all hands on deck, and climate activists’ insistence on being outrageous and alarmist doesn’t encourage the kind of collaboration we need. By continuously alienating the oil and gas communities with these outlandish protests, those activists are only creating deeper divides within our society.

Those who are already skeptical of climate action are not going to be convinced it’s a serious issue because a teenager threw mashed potatoes at a priceless painting. Changing minds on the issue requires good faith conversations in which both parties come to the table with open minds.

Recently, a few of my colleagues and I took a trip to Midland, Texas, to meet with oil and gas professionals. Contrary to the caricature climate activists may have in their head, we were not met by sinister fossil fuel barons out to destroy the planet but by hardworking men and women who were eager to share the love they had for their communities and environment. The innovation and efficiency of the American oil and gas industry was on full display, and after seeing it up close, it’s no wonder why American fossil fuels are so much cleaner than others.

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By the standards of today’s mainstream climate movement, our trip to Midland was a controversial move. And yet, while there, my team learned more about the industry in three days than all of our previous knowledge combined. The truth is, we can’t power the world without fossil fuels, so as climate activists, we can and should work with the industry on solutions that prioritize people and the planet. It’s this type of industry collaboration that the environmental movement desperately needs more of.

My team and I should not be the exception. The climate movement needs activists who are willing to learn from those with whom they may have disagreements. Just as some climate skeptics are stuck in climate skepticism bubbles, climate activists are often stuck in alarmist bubbles. Breaking out of these respective groups is crucial if we’re going to make real environmental progress. Flaunting climate privilege won’t build a movement.

Danielle Butcher (@DaniSButcher) is the executive vice president of the American Conservation Coalition.