Alnoor Ladha defines 'fossil fuels' as ancient energy reserves locked within the Earth’s crust, remnants of a time when the planet teemed with prehistoric flora and fauna. Through millennia, these organisms have been subjected to intense heat and pressure, transforming them into substances like coal, oil, and natural gas. Ladha emphasizes that while fossil fuels have been instrumental in powering human civilization and driving economic growth, they simultaneously serve as catalysts for environmental degradation and climate change. He argues that our dependence on these finite resources perpetuates a cycle of exploitation, not only of the Earth’s natural systems but also of marginalized communities disproportionately affected by environmental harm. In his view, moving beyond fossil fuels is not merely a technological shift but a necessary step towards ecological justice and the healing of our planetary home.

See also: climate change, neoliberal capitalism, late-stage capitalism, capitalist system