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Wrington Businesses 3 Tincknells Row, Station Road, Wrington |
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Wrington Businesses 3 Tincknells Row, Station Road, Wrington |
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Peak Oil - What's that? We hear on a daily basis about the dangers of global warming, but there is another aspect of our use of fossil fuels that has the potential to affect us just as greatly and very much sooner than rising sea levels or major climate change. This problem is known as" Peak Oil". "Peak Oil" is a name coined for the time at which production of the world's oil supplies will reach its maximum and then go into permanent decline. It won't instantly destroy cities or kill thousands of people so what is the big deal? The consequences of this decline will have far-reaching and potentially catastrophic effects on our world. Since the 1950s we have enjoyed over fifty years of almost constant economic growth and increasing wealth due to continued availability of cheap oil and gas. There is still an awful lot of oil in the ground, and we are unlikely to completely run out in our lifetimes. The problem lies however, not in running out, but in not having enough. The oil era began only 150 years ago, since when large reserves of oil have been found in various parts of the world. As we grew more prosperous and demand increased, the oil companies and nations just opened the taps more to match it. But having now used about half of all known oil, the taps are fully open and the flow is slowing down. To add to this, what oil is left takes more and more energy to extract. Most oil nations have already passed the peak including the USA in 1970 and the UK in 1999. The world peak is predicted within the next ten years, and in 20 to 30 years production is likely to be just half what we use today. When supply can no longer match demand major economic and social changes will occur. Prices will rise, and continue to climb ever higher. The rich and powerful will grab more than the poor and weak. Finally even amongst the rich and powerful choices will have to be made. Houses or hospitals? Plastics or chemicals? Cars or aeroplanes? We won't be able to have them all because there simply won't be enough oil. Peak Oil is not a maybe, it will happen, and the brief age of cheap energy is over. It is how we act now in order to cope with it that will make all the difference to our and our children's lives. And by the way, if you think gas or nuclear power will replace oil, think again. Peak Gas and Peak Uranium are not far behind. Further information "The Long Emergency" by James Howard Kunstler |
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