ECOSPECTIVE: Peak oil

Conservation of resources is preservation of the species.

For example, peak oil.

Most of us understand the results of peak oil. It isn’t when we run out of oil, it’s when demand is higher then production. It’s called Hubbert peak theory and has been around since Mr. Hubbert used it to accurately predict America’s oil production peak between 1965 and 70.

Peak oil is reached when we can no longer pull as much out of the ground as the world demands. At that point the national oil reserves are used make up the shortfall until they are quickly depleted. This is followed by a massive jump in oil prices, as nations that produce oil cut exports to keep their own needs filled. Then our economy, that we have allowed to become dependant on this single finite resource, suddenly and abruptly changes.

This single resource, that gets us to work, our product to market, our groceries to the store, and is the prime ingredient in every plastic item we own or use, becomes rationed, or replaced. But what efforts, real efforts are being made to replace our dependency on oil?

Almost none.

Why?

London Topic