Twin Threats - Climate Change and Peak Oil

by James Lea, 29 September 2005

Climate change and oil depletion

As well as climate change there is a simultaneous threat emerging: the imminent worldwide peak and then decline in fossil fuel production, in particular oil and gas. Our world economy (and climate change) is driven by the fossil fuel harvest we are reaping - what will happen when the wells start to run dry, and fuel prices rise? One likely outcome will be a global switch to coal with its greater reserves. Unfortunately coal is a heavily polluting fuel, and will do little to curb our greenhouse gas emissions, particularly when it is remanufactured into aviation and transport fuel to keep our world economy afloat on a rising tide.

The Future

Many gloomy thoughts for the future - I wish they weren't true. However I take heart from human ingenuity, and the growing environmental movement, now mainstream and a considerable threat to the establishment and their entrenched ways and views. If we act now, on a personal level, I believe we can avert climate disaster and move our civilisation forward into a post-carbon age.

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-- (c) James Lea, www.GreenLiving.co.uk, 2005 - 2007 --