In the past, oil and gas helped make some countries wealthy, but they are not a precondition for potential economic growth. Oil and gas will, directly or indirectly, affect economic growth in both positive and negative ways. Since energy systems may take time to adapt to technological changes, in the near term, oil and gas may play a role. In the medium and longer term, however, the availability and lower costs of renewable energy make the growth of economies dependent on oil and gas.