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Craig Hayes
beigetreten: Jul 25, 2004
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Peak Oil
June 10, 2008 - 10:30 AM
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I am surprised no one has mentioned the interesting times we face with the world fast moving towards the point where the production of oil will peak to its consumption.
Free flowing oil exists now in less than 30% of oil reserves in the world. We are now sifting oil from sand in many of the near empty reserves left. the USA and China are increasing there intake of oil weekly and many Governments around the world are demanding that OPEC increase oil production to stave off further price hikes like the US$11 extra a barrel which just transpired.
Middle Eastern countries are understandably in no rush to increase production because they know what we know but what no one is talking about. They haven't got much left and they will milk it for all it is worth before they run out.
But when Peak oil is here, we as consumers should be worried about more than rocking up to the petrol pump and seeing high prices. The time for "No Petrol Available" signs being put up is nigh, and western Governments seem to be glossing over this point.
What's the solution?
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Azellica
beigetreten: Apr 1, 2008
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Country: Canada
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Re: Peak Oil
June 10, 2008 - 11:45 AM
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Indeed, with oil reserves peaking it is going to become more costly and less efficient to keep trying to squeeze oil from the ground.
I believe that this should be a time of transition- improving stable and renewable sources of energy and gradually shifting our dependence to them before we face a peak oil crisis. Inevitably, the move to sustainable energy sources is going to have to be made as world energy demands grow and we begin to face environmental repercussions. If action is taken to transfer our energy needs onto renewable resources and to invest in technology to make our use of energy more efficient then we should be able to avoid a serious energy crisis; we'll be able to adapt more easily as the oil runs dry.
Rather than seeing peak oil as a looming economic disaster, I think it has potential to provide the incentive for a shift towards more sustainable development.
That is, of course, provided that the problem is addressed in time; and as you rightly say, our governments are glossing over the issue. But I reckon that sooner or later the problem will become too urgent to be ignored.
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areej
beigetreten: May 16, 2008
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Re: Peak Oil
June 17, 2008 - 08:48 PM
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I believe that oil producing countries should restrain themselves from being so caught up in making money out of scarce soon to be depleted resources, and with countries with booming economies should also stop to realize, this train theyr on will crash pretty soon. So these countries should start to create energy free cities(also called transition cities), like the one Britain has built in order to prepare people for an energy-free world.
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prieten47
beigetreten: Oct 26, 2006
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Country: Japan
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Re: Peak Oil
June 27, 2008 - 08:53 AM
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Part of the Peak Oil scenario is that economic collapse will result from the gradual running out of oil. Globalization will no longer be possible because it will become too expensive to ship anything anywhere. Petroleum intensive sectors of the economy like transportation, industry and agriculture will be severely affected. Ethanol and biodiesel will come no where close to satisfying the current or future demand for gasoline. Everything made from plastic will become too expensive to make. Big agriculture, which is heavily dependent on petroleum for fertilizer and mechanization will collapse.
Will science come up with some miracle substitute for petroleum? It doesn't look like it. We are going to have to watch everything get more and more expensive as all the substitutes for oil being mentioned are very expensive or just not going to be available in sufficient quantities. Food will again take up the largest share of the family budget. Regional sources for food and fuel will have to be developed.
The poor nations will not be able to adjust as well as the rich countries, resulting in massive migration from the desperate "have-not" countries to the "have" countries. Did I forget Global Warming? I don't think that is going to help things either.
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Robert Margolis
beigetreten: Nov 15, 2000
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Re: Peak Oil
June 30, 2008 - 09:47 AM
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If we curtail fossil fuels they will be available for plastics and pharmeceuticals. As for transportation, Russian icebreakers have not used fossil fuel for years and we could probably find substitutes for airplanes. Cars could go from hybrid to all-electric.
The Industrial revolution survived "Peak Wood" and likely our post-industrial economy will develop beyond "Peak Oil" as well.
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Prachy Mohan
beigetreten: Jan 13, 2006
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Re: Peak Oil
August 11, 2008 - 11:09 PM
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It's true that most things will get expensive. But I think with the whole baby boomers retiring thing, wages/salaries will increase too with the rising prices of everything. So it'll be a LITTLE easier deal with the rising cost of living.
I think we need to cut our consumption truly in half if we want to the next few years to be somewhat sustainable. We really have to "go green" to the max!
And yes, global warming isn't going to help either. Because as it gets hotter people will use air conditioners even more and thus using more energy.
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