As the world is experiencing yet another oil supply crisis, this time initiated by Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu’s bombing campaign in Iran, and as our planet has suffered from human-caused pollution resulting in considerably higher surface temperature since the 1970s, let us use this crisis as an opportunity to significantly advance the funding for research and installation of clean renewable sources of energy.

Though not an exact translation, the Chinese word for crisis, wēijī (危机/危機), is often cited as combining “danger” (wēi) and “opportunity” (jī), implying that danger contains opportunity to emerge stronger.

Toward the end of President Jimmy Carter’s administration in 1979, the world suffered an energy crisis triggered by the Iranian Islamic Revolution, which caused global oil production to plummet and oil prices roughly to double. This led to severe gasoline shortages and long lines at service stations.

Carter initiated a phased deregulation of domestic oil to encourage production. He also promoted conserving energy, and he advocated for renewable sources such as solar energy. He even installed solar panels on the roof of the White House to lead by example. In addition, he enacted a “windfall profits tax” on oil companies to inhibit them from making exorbitant profits at the public’s expense.

The conservative Republican battle cry, seemingly coined by Sarah Palin of “Drill Baby Drill” domestic sources of oil, unfortunately, is what Trump has pushed during both of his administrations.

This, however, is simply unsustainable. In the words of President Barack Obama in 2012: “But you and I both know that with only 2% of the world’s oil reserves, we can’t just drill our way to lower gas prices – not when we consume 20% of the world’s oil.”

Trump’s call to “Drill Baby Drill” and his repealing of regulations on fossil fuel emissions and on limits of gas and oil drilling, mining, and deforestation will severely increase the chances of the death of planet Earth.

To “Drill Baby Drill” by continuing and increasing U.S. dependence on fossil fuels, reduced or eliminated research and funding for renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, and hydroelectric, will increase the already alarming global climate change rate thus placing all living things at increased risk for extermination.

In addition to the over 70 environmental regulatory rollbacks under Trump’s first........

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