If we phase out fossil fuels, what are the real alternatives for all these products?

[CyberGhost615]

Below is a list of all aspects of critical derivatives from fossil fuels. I don’t see anyone suggesting alternatives to these. We cannot achieve true climate change at the expense of modern society.

-Gasoline
-Diesel
-Jet fuel (kerosene)
-Marine bunker fuel
-Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG / propane / butane)
-Asphalt / bitumen
-Lubricants & greases
-Ethylene, propylene, butadiene
-Benzene, toluene, xylene (BTX aromatics)
-Solvents, detergents, surfactants
-Fertilizers (ammonia-based, urea)
-Pesticides and agrochemicals
-Pharmaceutical intermediates
-Adhesives, resins, paints, coatings
-Photoresists (the light-sensitive polymers used in every photolithography step) — complex organic polymers derived from petrochemicals.
-Specialty solvents and strippers used to clean and develop wafers.
-Epoxy molding compounds that encapsulate the die.
-Dielectric polymers and underfill materials.
-FR-4 laminates (the green boards everything sits on) are fiberglass soaked in epoxy resin — and that epoxy is pure petrochemical.
-Solder masks, conformal coatings, and most plastic chip packages.
-Connectors, sockets, and cable insulation — almost entirely thermoplastic and thermoset plastics from oil.
-Device housings, laptop/phone cases, keyboard keys, mouse bodies, server chassis plastics.
-Thermal interface materials and many heat-spreader compounds.
-Data-center cabling, cooling-system plastics, and the endless miles of polymer insulation.

[FreyaRed]

Removing coal, natural gas and oil from energy production and replacing transportation with hydrogen and electrification is achievable. Products need to be more sustainable and hold much longer, recycling must become more effective. However without standardization and coordinated efforts worldwide to bring sustainable and CO2 free energy generation and storage, this task isn't achievable.
Now look at people in power who are dumb and aggressive Baboons and think if they are capable to achieve worldwide energy transformation. I'm sure the answer is no.

[slatyb]

We're not trying to eliminate all uses of petroleum -- only the burning of fossil fuels where renewable alternatives could be used instead, e. g. for electrical power and vehicle propulsion.

We also need to eliminate single-use plastics except in medicine.

[RavVid]

Yes we are in the Plastics Age. I do think it is sad that natural gas is burnt to generate CO2 as a feedstock to produce polyethylene.

It should be possible to co-locate with CO2 producers like cement factories.

[strateguy632]

But trees need co2 to breathe if we love nature we can't choke trees and plants,

[RavVid]

@strateguy632 That is a very serious issue that climate change fanatics are not willing to talk about.

During the last two ice ages, atmospheric CO2 plunged to 180 ppm. The majority of plants (C3 plants) are impacted at that level and die at 150ppm. Only C4 plants like maize and sugar can survive at lower levels. Google CO2 and C3 plants if interested.

We nearly had an earth extinction event because no C3 plants means no herbivores, no cattle and only maize to eat.

I think we should stockpile enormous quantities of coal, ready to burn off when the next ice age begins which is a certain thing

[strateguy632]

israel uses batteries for busses. maybe that can be expanded.

[strateguy632]

Also u. s. we are a major sun solar electric producer. Like

[strateguy632]

Production: Utility-Scale Solar: Reached 296 TWh in 2025, marking a 34% increase from 2024.
Small-Scale Solar: Estimated at 93 TWh in 2025, an 11% increase from the previous year. Total Share: Solar and wind combined accounted for 19% of total U. S. net electricity generation in 2025, with solar alone expanding more than seven-fold over the decade.
Atomic too Annual generation reached 816 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity, far more (3×) but solar grew.