Climate activists, oil executives, atmospheric [scientists](https://time.com/section/science/), and investors are all trying to make sense of the same picture using completely different language and with vastly different priorities. And this week was a particularly striking example of this split screen.
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Climate activists, oil executives, atmospheric [scientists](https://time.com/section/science/), and investors are all trying to make sense of the same picture using completely different language and with vastly different priorities. And this week was a particularly striking example of this split screen.
Policymakers and [climate](https://time.com/section/climate/) advocates gathered at a [global summit to phase out fossil fuels](https://time.com/article/2026/04/24/why-countries-are-attending-fossil-fuel-transition-summit/). Meanwhile oil and gas producers are trying to maximize their returns in this quickly evolving world. The two groups seemingly have little overlap. But both climate advocates and sophisticated oil producers are now operating from the shared premise that unbounded [fossil fuel](https://time.com/article/2026/04/03/iran-war-energy-crisis-clean-tech-investment/) demand growth will not continue forever.