Fossil fuels are not only linked to high emissions and climate change, but are also part of a social identity that is faltering: masculinity, argues Cara Daggett, a political scientist who coined the phrase “petro-masculinity”. The transition to a more climate-friendly future is connected to the future of fossil fuels and also to challenges to (white) male privilege. This struggle is evident when talking about the current decision-making landscape, which is predominantly male and has scant room for diverse perspectives. Kathrin Meyer draws a line between threatened masculinity and the stagnation of key energy and climate issues. Since the 19th century, fossil fuels formed the basis for economic development worldwide. Although the international power balance is shifting as the energy transition is unrolled, fossil fuels such as oil, gas, and coal are still widely perceived as essential economic drivers. Fossil fuels have contributed significantly to the privilege of the Global North, which has consumed supposedly infinite amounts of energy, while extraction processes and the strongest climate effects are predominantly outsourced to the Global South. The … Continue reading Threatened masculinity as an obstacle to sustainable change