Moving away from fossil fuels can lower greenhouse gas emissions, strengthen our economy, and ease international tensions.

• Unhealthy relationships. The dangerous dynamic of oil dependency creates a foreign policy problem for the globe, not just the U.S.
  
  All too often, foreign policy finds itself filtered through the lens of oil. Oil-producing nations (such as Iran, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Venezuela, and Nigeria) have the oil-consuming U.S. and European Union at a significant disadvantage. Western countries are forced to compete for resources with Japan, India, and China, and experience pressure to compromise on important policy measures.
  
  In the U.S., hunger for fossil fuels also requires high defense budgets (that contribute to increased deficit spending), and draws attention away from the domestic agenda. 
  
  
• Use and abuse. Global oil consumption is growing, especially in developing nations, and related human rights abuses are increasing as well.
  
  

  Chaos. Oil revenues can wreak havoc on developing economies where democracy is fragile and/or authoritarian, corrupt regimes pose significant threats. Those who control the oil reap the profits while the rest of the population struggles with poverty, human rights abuses, civil unrest, radicalism, and terrorism.
  
  Cycles and Complications. During the last century, this destructive cycle became apparent in the oil-rich Middle East. Today it is occurring in Africa, as that continent too becomes a growing source of oil exports.
  
  With extreme weather like droughts and flooding, plus increased famine and disease, climate change is likely to complicate and intensify these problems. 
  

• More than Oil. Problems of oil dependence are not just about transportation.
  
  Fossil fuels and their by-products are the basis for a disproportionate amount of our economy. The manufacture of many other valuable products – plastics, fertilizers, medical technologies, etc. – also depends on petrochemicals.
  
  Our economy is far too dependent on a fossil fuel model in general - burning fossil fuels of any kind produces some amount of greenhouse gas emissions, which in turn contributes to climate change. This is always risky. 
  
  
• Solutions. We can begin the transition toward a new energy economy not dependent on fossil fuels.
  
  

  Plan Ahead. Increased incentives are needed to encourage more research, development, and demonstration projects – such as for biorefineries, technologies for carbon sequestration and compressed air storage, batteries for hybrids and electric vehicles, etc.
  
  One way to finance these incentives is to implement a revenue-neutral carbon tax. The proceeds can be split between research and development of renewables, and tax credits (or dividends) that mitigate the carbon tax’s impact on lower-income people.
  
  Consume wisely. Reducing consumption of all fossil fuels helps to lower greenhouse gas emissions and avert radical climate change. Switching to alternative fuels and technologies like plug-in hybrids will help decrease oil and gas dependence. Increasing CAFE standards, offering tax credits for fuel-efficient vehicle purchases, and supporting public transportation helps as well.
  Energy prices should accurately reflect the true costs of energy security, environmental impacts like climate change, and the need to preserve fossil fuels – which are non-renewable resources - for future generations.