Los Angeles is on fire and big oil are the arsonists

The community's loss and disruption are too severe to be measured.

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These influential groups are choosing to ignore the root cause of raging wildfires - climate change fueled by fossil fuels - and are instead trying to shift the focus elsewhere. It's no surprise, as denying scientific facts and pushing false claims is a tactic commonly used by the fossil fuel industry and its supporters. As we've seen, this includes statements like "climate change is a hoax" and threats to renege on the Paris agreement by former US President Trump.

For decades, oil, gas, and coal companies have deceived us with false information. In 2015, an investigation by Inside Climate News showed that ExxonMobil's own scientists were aware as far back as the 1970s that burning fossil fuels would lead to global warming and make severe weather conditions more likely. However, instead of switching to cleaner energy alternatives, Exxon and other major companies have spent money on campaigns to spread misinformation and cast doubt on the scientific evidence, thus slowing down action on the crisis and making it worse.

California is one of several states and local governments that are using lawsuits to combat misinformation. Litigation has been filed against six oil companies and the American Petroleum Institute, claiming they have misled the public about the link between fossil fuels and the climate crisis and profited from those false claims. The goal of these lawsuits is to redirect the companies' profits to compensate for the damage caused by the climate crisis in California. The legal battles are continuing.

The cumulative area burned by forest fires in the western United States and south-western Canada from 1986 to 2021 was [insert data].

There's no doubt that morally, these companies are accountable for their actions. By choosing to expand their operations despite the looming threat to the planet, fossil fuel companies are putting financial gains ahead of the well-being of both people and the environment. As Naomi Oreskes notes in her book Merchants of Doubt, this isn't just a careless oversight – it's a deliberate choice to ignore the potential consequences.

The California state government has implemented new laws to restrict the growth of old energy sources and phase them out. Several cities throughout California are following their lead. Los Angeles, which has areas within its boundaries where oil is produced, has banned any new oil and gas drilling within its borders and has pledged to eliminate the use of coal and gas in its infrastructure through various initiatives.

These leaders acknowledge that tackling the challenge of the oil and gas industry alone is no longer an option. That's why they believe international cooperation is required to ensure that oil and gas companies are held accountable and to promote a fair transition away from oil, gas, and coal – a transition that shouldn't leave anyone behind. To this end, California, Los Angeles, Richmond, and other local communities where fossil fuel extraction is taking place, have united with other states and cities worldwide, as well as 14 countries, to advocate for a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty.

It's unacceptable for fossil fuel companies to avoid responsibility while cities like Los Angeles struggle. Elected officials must take bold action to gradually eliminate fossil fuels and move towards cleaner, more sustainable energy options that are accessible to everyone.

Meanwhile, legal frameworks must also hold these corporations responsible for the harm they've inflicted. A global fossil fuel accord would promote international cooperation behind a legally-binding agreement to cease the growth of fossil fuels, gradually phase down existing production to manageable levels, and work towards a fair transition to cleaner energy.

Fossil fuel misinformation confuses and downplays some essential facts. The truth is that fossil fuels are not required to drive this transition because there's enough renewable energy available in every part of the world to provide stable, affordable energy for everyone. Moreover, half of the energy from fossil fuels is lost due to the industry's poor production and transportation methods. Furthermore, a staggering one in eight annual deaths is caused by fossil fuel-related air pollution.

All the oil burned in barrels, gas consumed in cubic meters, and coal consumed by the ton draws us closer to environmental disaster. The wildfires blazing through Los Angeles are not simply natural disasters - they are a direct result of our own decisions. And fossil fuel companies, who've long been aware of the consequences of their actions, need to accept the repercussions of their pursuit of profit.

The people of Los Angeles, and indeed the entire planet, deserve no less.