The term “clean energy” is generally used to refer to energy from certain sources, like wind, solar and hydro.

But what about fossil fuels? Does the use of fossil fuels make the environment cleaner or dirtier? The answer depends on who you ask.

If you ask federal Environment Minister Catherine McKenna (who recently posted and since deleted an online video saying, “We’ve learned in the House of Commons, if you repeat it, if you say it louder, if that is your talking point, people will totally believe it”), the answer might well be: FOSSIL FUELS ARE BAD, FOSSIL FUELS ARE BAD, FOSSIL FUELS ARE BAD.

But people who give the matter some thought might have a greater appreciation for how fossil fuels have made the environment cleaner and safer for humans. Indeed, affordable sources of modern energy, including from fossil fuels, are essential to the standards of living and environmental cleanliness enjoyed by just about everybody in the developed world.