As the presidential election in the United States — the world’s largest producer and consumer of energy — approaches, the tug-of-war between the fossil fuel industry and those asserting that the world needs to overcome its addiction to oil is intensifying.

The future of fossil fuels, the emerging global energy picture and climate issues are emphatically back on the US political agenda, and the outcome would carry global consequences. Pakistan won’t go unaffected.

In a meeting last month with top US oil executives at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump vowed to reverse dozens of the Biden administration’s environmental rules and policies, ‘provided’ they raise $1 billion for his presidential campaign. Trump’s campaign is reportedly trailing behind President Biden in raising funds, and desperation on the issue seems to be creeping into his camp.

A report by The Washington Post, citing unidentified sources familiar with the meeting, said that in the discussions with US energy executives, Trump promised the oil industry executives he would end the Biden emissions rules that were aimed at promoting electric vehicles (EVs) and halt the current administration’s freeze on permits for new liquefied natural gas exports, among other actions.

Plans of reversing US net-zero and clean energy policies could have far-reaching effects on global oil production, setting back sustainable energy efforts by a lot

He further said he would auction........

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