Royce William Warren

Every Human Has Rights...and Responsibilities We are consumed by our demand for rights: the right to free speech, to assemble, to health. Rights give us the freedom to move about in safety and to choose our friends. These are the benefits of a modern, democratic society. Others cannot simply come along and deny us these rights. Less conspicuous in this partially written social contract is the fact that our demand for rights must also allow for - and protect - those same rights for others. We...

Dozens of country flags stand outside a building I’ve followed COP negotiations since the very first Council of the Parties in Berlin, and one thing has remained true throughout: words are cheap, and actions speak louder. Across three decades, the COP process has often felt painfully disappointing - particularly in years when oil-producing states or fossil-fuel companies dominated the agenda. Yet when we look back now, especially in light of the COP30 outcomes, it’s undeniable that these...

Pipelines, Pipelines, Oil Pipelines! To What End? Do oil pipelines across the heart of a nation make the world a better place - or do they make us worse off? If we follow the medical dictum “Do no harm,”  then we have a dilemma. An oil pipeline may be good for business or politics, but does it make the world a healthier, safer, or more sustainable place? The answer is no. The Illusion of Necessity The argument that business keeps society functioning is accurate. But must that business depend...