In a bid to protect its interests, the American Petroleum Institute (API), the top fossil fuel interest group in the United States, has launched an extensive media campaign this week advocating for the essential role of fossil fuels in global energy security. However, this initiative has left climate experts alarmed, as it comes amidst record fossil fuel extraction in the country and attempts to leverage the war in Gaza to further increase production.

Dubbed the "Lights on Energy" campaign, the API aims to counter policy threats to the fossil fuel sector and maintain its influence in shaping energy policies. According to the campaign's website, US natural gas and oil are touted as crucial in supplying cleaner and more reliable energy worldwide.

Timmons Roberts, a professor of environment and sociology at Brown University, expressed concerns that the campaign employs tactics commonly used by the fossil fuel industry to delay climate action. Roberts highlighted a video ad released as part of the campaign, emphasizing the growing demand for energy and the need for American oil and natural gas. Such messaging positions the sector as indispensable for human prosperity, a strategy that Roberts refers to as an "appeal to wellbeing."

Mike Sommers, the CEO of API, defended the role of fossil fuels in the interview with CNN, asserting that while renewable energy had a part to play, oil and natural gas would still be needed for decades. This claim, described by Roberts as employing the "change is impossible" discourse, denies the possibility of large-scale transformation and contradicts the mounting evidence supporting the need to transition away from fossil fuels to address climate change.

Caleb Heeringa, campaign director of Gas Leaks, a nonprofit organization countering pro-gas messaging, argued that the industry is expanding fossil fuel infrastructure and dependence despite the rapid advancement of clean energy technologies. Heeringa emphasized that the world can begin phasing out fossil fuels to mitigate the worst consequences of the climate crisis.

One notable aspect of the campaign is its assertion that increased gas usage has contributed to a decline in US carbon emissions. However, this argument overlooks the significant rise in methane emissions, a potent greenhouse gas, which outweighs the temporary benefits of reduced carbon dioxide emissions. Furthermore, the campaign's emphasis on the "reliability" of gas-powered energy glosses over the failures of the gas system during severe weather emergencies such as winter storm Elliott in 2022 and winter storm Uri in 2021.

Adding to concerns about the campaign's intentions, Patrick Galey, a senior investigator at Global Witness, highlighted how the fossil fuel industry often exploits crises to maximize profits. In this case, the industry suggests that Israel's conflict in Gaza could threaten energy security by disrupting the flow of oil from the region. Galey suggests that until countries rapidly transition away from fossil fuels, consumers will remain vulnerable to the influence of petrostates and the lobbying activities of the oil and gas industry during crises.

API's CEO, Mike Sommers, emphasized in a press release that the US is the leading producer of energy globally, but also highlighted the importance of favorable policies from Washington to sustain this position. API chose not to directly address questions from The Guardian regarding the scientific consensus on the necessity of phasing out fossil fuels and the concerns raised by experts about the campaign.

The launch of the "Lights on Energy" campaign by the American oil lobby underscores the ongoing struggle between the fossil fuel industry and climate advocates. As the world grapples with the urgent need to address the climate crisis, the debate surrounding the future of fossil fuels and the transition to cleaner energy sources remains contentious and critical.