85% of the world's population will live in the grip of stringent austerity measures by next year

None of thos things happened, so none would have.... You fully avoided the question.

Alternative renewable power sources were already being considered all they way back in 1878 during the Paris expo (where the statue of liberty was also displayed). Progress may have been slower, but it would have continued with out being ignored due fossils.

Not to mention all the other reprehensible things oil and coal Barron's have done throughout history, they have at minimum have suppressed and criminally profited from lies related to climate change.

Regardless as fun as alternative history is, we're here and the important thing is working the problem as a species. Spending time assigning blame does no good while we choke to death together.

https://www.bie-paris.org/site/en/blog/entry/expo-1878-paris-the-revelation-of-sun-power

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exposition_Universelle_(1878)

https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CHRG-116hhrg38304/html/CHRG-116hhrg38304.htm

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/exxon-knew-about-climate-change-almost-40-years-ago/

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