I don't think the fundamental problem is burning oil, it's that we've developed a society that depends on it so much, and make so much money from it, that it's going to be extremely difficult to change.

We can't just say "don't burn this" and "don't do that" if people can't buy fuel to heat their homes or run their machinery - a gradual transition is needed, with incentives and not punishments.

Ultimately whatever replaces fossil fuel has to be cheaper, that's the only way it can be displaced in our dire economic system.