Business as usual in the way we consume and produce energy is simply not an option anymore. In addition to catastrophic climate change due to rising carbon emissions, our resources on the planet are limited.

The oil industry would have us follow a path towards increasing oil consumption, vast environmental damage and global temperature rises that take us well beyond what’s safe for human life. But it doesn’t have to be like this. Instead of chasing the last drops of dirty oil, we need to kick-start the clean energy age.

The place we’re heading for - the world beyond oil - will be cleaner, healthier and more peaceful. We won’t get there overnight, but we’re already on the way. Many of the solutions are out there. Others need greater political support and investment to make them happen. Ultimately we need to transition to a zero carbon transport system where pretty much all our vehicles run on electricity, powered by the sun, sea and wind - energy that won’t run out. In the meantime we need to start reducing the oil we use.

We also need to stop our money - whether through our pension funds or our taxes - being used to keep us stuck in the oil age. Currently direct government subsidies to fossil fuel industries are 10 times the amount to clean energy – we need to reverse this trend and put clean energy technologies on a level playing field with fossil fuels so that clean energy can complete in the market place.

We can put pressure on governments to make this switch. And because many of our pension funds are invested in big oil companies, we have the power to push oil companies to speed up the switch.

We will need to embrace new technologies, increase car efficiency, improve public transport and be better organised so we don’t have to make unnecessary journeys. The clean energy age will also bring many benefits to our lives, cleaner air, increased energy security and new jobs.

Over the coming months and years, we all need to work together to go beyond oil. We have one planet, and if we’re going to protect it, everyone - from local communities, to businesses and governments - will need to come together to make the switch.

It’s time for the clean energy age to begin.

Read our transport solutions page.