The human benefits of hydrocarbon energy are undeniable.
The world is a better place, the environment is better and mankind is thriving thanks to hydrocarbons.
Renewables are leading to increased mining, environmental destruction and poverty for humans.
The deserts are shrinking thanks to the increased CO2. The Earth is more green than ever before.
But the unreliable renewables are causing Europeans to strip forests down for backup energy. This is damaging.
Whenever the discussion turns to “evil oil”, remind them that the benefits to humanity cannot be matched by renewables and that the population will decline (on purpose) because there is no dependable alternative for hydrocarbons.
Banning hydrocarbons is depopulation.
True story, as the author Michael Chrichton would call it, you can’t mess with nature. Paraphrased of course. It will follow the course it follows. When our civilizations are gone and mankind is no longer on this Planet, Earth will not show the marks of our scratches.