OPINION: It may seem contrarian to claim a week was good for oil companies when Shell had its London headquarters daubed in graffiti, the industry was criticised by school student activist Greta Thunberg and wildlife TV guru David Attenborough while central bankers in both France and the UK warned investors about climate threats.

Yet it is constructive from this perspective: the world needs to have a no-holds-barred conversation about energy, fossil fuels and a lower carbon future.