Third OPEN debate: Addressing the anti-fossil fuel lobby in Mundus
The meeting is the first since the recent expansion of the organization which saw the Kingdom of Clysperis joining. All four members of the organization: the Emirate of Royal Seleucid, Empire of Tamora, Empire of Quintelia and Kingdom of Clysperis are expected to attend. The VP of OPEN
Thanasis Polakis, with the full support of the Tamoran government, invited the members of OPEN to debate in the OPEN HQ in Ipsus (Royal Seleucid) what Thanasis Polakis and by extension Tamora viewed as a threat to the organization as well as the economy of the member states. Officially described to the press as a meeting about “The future and risks of the Oil and Gas Industry of Mundus”, behind closed doors the debate was described as addressing the anti-fossil fuel lobby and sentiment growing in Mundus.
The meeting to which all OPEN members were invited was publicly announced to the press but would be held behind close doors allowing the participants to speak freely and should they agree a press statement would be issue afterwards about the results of the talks.
Since the meeting was called by the Tamoran side, Mr. Thanasis Polakis opened the talks:
“Ladies and gentlemen, first allow me to thank you for attending this meeting. I have asked you to convene to discuss and hopefully propose a course of action regarding what Tamora sees as a growing threat in Mundus for OPEN: the anti-fossil fuel lobby and the hold it has on many governments all over Mundus. Just a few days ago we have seen the Odinic rite of Nya Aland start a campaign which aims to “
get rid of fossil fuels by 2020”. Last year, we have seen the adoption of “
The Environmental Treaty of Wellow” which aims and let me quote:
“4. Remove all fossil fuelled road vehicles by 2030
8. Nations with a GDP per capita of $40,000 or more to produce at least 70% of their electricity from non-fossil fuel sources by 2050. Nations with a GDP per capita lower than $40,000 to aim for 50% by 2060.”
All these initiatives and I just quoted only two examples: one purely national, another with international reach numbering among its signatories even a member of OPEN, the Empire of Quintelia, have several things in common: they aim to force consumers to choose something else than fossils fuels (whether it’s through quotas, extra taxes, subsidies) and heavily favor green alternatives by providing subsidies or outright banning other alternatives. The effect of those measures are a lower demand of oil and gas, lower prices for oil and gas, jobs losses in the oil and gas industry throughout OPEN member countries, lower tax revenues for our governments( depending on each member's method of taxation of course) and lower influence of the whole OPEN organization. I would also add that in many OPEN member countries the oil and gas industry is one of the few industries that keep our best minds in their countries and helps stop the brain drain. Should this industry suffer the brain drain phenomenon will only worsen and our nations would lose precious talent that will go aboard to work for other countries. Now I understand of course that protecting the environment is important, I also understand that it is the right of each country including member states of OPEN to set their own energy agendas. This meeting is not meant as an attack on the governments of the countries that pursue a “green agenda” but to discuss and see if there is something that can be done to also help the oil and gas industry, the hundreds of thousands of jobs it employs thought OPEN member countries, the billions of investments and the billions they produce for the government budgets.
With your permission I would like to propose for further discussion two measures. Of course, each member can also add their ideas for discussion.
1. Establishing an international lobby group, funded by the governments of OPEN, that will seek to participate in debates regarding international initiatives such as The Environmental Treaty of Wellow and present the point of the view of the Oil and Gas industry. That would include presenting how much being “free of fossil fuel” would cost the economies not just in subsidies but also lost jobs. It would also lobby to governments and international organizations to let the consumers choose so it will argue against banning products: cars etc as being both undemocratic and against consumer choice.
2. Provide help for our own Oil and Gas industries to innovate by providing tax breaks for them if they spend on R&D. Few industries in OPEN member economies spend so much of R&D as oil and gas so it would be a shame to not level the plain field by giving tax breaks to an industry that is hammered by taxes and restrictions in so many Mundus countries.
So with your permission I would like to hear each member’s opinion on the matter, to see if there is agreement that there is indeed a threat to the organization. Also,I would greatly appreciate it if members could share their opinions on whether the proposals put forward by the Empire of Tamora are reasonable and would be supported, and any other comments or amendments you may wish to make.
Thank you."
The meeting is behind closed doors so members can talk freely. Other players wouldn’t know what is being discussed.
Feel free to say whatever you want regarding the oil and gas industry, ideas about how to stop the green lobby or be against the whole idea of the meeting to begin with.
I assumed the first meeting was the Slavan embargo and the second the proposal to name President and VP of OPEN so this would be the third.
