Michael Klare: Life at the summit

Energy experts continue to debate whether the world has already reached a peak in global oil output or if the moment of maximum yield still lies years ahead. But if we could look back to today from 50 years hence, the difference between a peak in 2008 or, say, 2015 is largely immaterial: for all practical purposes we are now perched on the summit of the depletion curve of world petroleum, and will remain in this territory


One might naturally assume that life on the summit would be especially comfortable. After all, there is more oil being pumped today than ever before. It is likely, moreover, that we can count on continued high levels of output for another decade or so, probably augmented by additional liquids derived from Canadian tar sands, Rocky Mountain shale, biofuels and other