No New Zealand ‘Oil shock response plan’

BY now everybody has heard of climate change and peak oil.

It is unlikely that anyone interested can genuinely be undecided on whether these things are threats or not.

Attempting to convince those resisting change is probably pointless, but here I go again.

First, Alan Nicholl’s Thermodynamic Atmosphere Effect report by Joseph E. Postma. I have read it and understand it well enough to see that the link with the greenhouse effect is very weak. Check it out for yourselves.

John Stroup in his recent “Worried? You are not alone” column rubbished both peak oil and climate change forecasts, and said there was enough coal left for two more centuries.

If he is right and we can extract it and use it all, it is dangerous business-as-usual thinking. We must get off the carbon fuel habit, the sooner the better.

There is ample evidence that fossil fuel burning, pollution and desperate extraction methods are causing much damage to oceans, land and freshwater.

Fatih Birol, the chief economist at the International Energy Agency, said recently: “The age of cheap oil is over and high prices are here to stay.”

Norway’s oil expert Farouk Al Kasim, here last year for an energy conference, warned us to get ready for an oil crunch next year.

UK Secretary for Energy and Climate Change Chris Huhne is to establish an Oil Shock Response Plan to cope with some of the consequences of peak oil.

So why is there no urgency from our government or business leaders to respond to these warnings?

It is so obvious that our practices are unsustainable, whatever your views on climate change, peak oil or peak growth.

I agree with Marcus Williams in his latest column that the ETS really is a “Claytons” solution.

A draft of the Government’s energy strategy, accidently released two months back, revealed plans to expand oil exploration and coal industry activities.

This is proof that our Government’s commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions is just “a sham”.

I see this absolution of any commitment to our country’s long-term future as dishonest and stupid. Why forsake our children and grandchildren’s future with such a feeble excuse as forcing short-term economic growth?

Our National-led Government is failing us by ignoring advice from our PM’s own science adviser Sir Peter Gluckman, and not listening to oil experts or anyone else.

We can only deal with our greenhouse gasses by slowing or negating emissions.

Producing more coal, natural gas and oil will do exactly the opposite.

We have been warned many times that the cheap oil that has driven all the world’s economies for the past century is about to become much more expensive. The outcome will be a slowing of growth and harder times ahead.

In spite of the early warnings, alternatives are still not available in quantities needed to continue living the way we have become accustomed.

We are now at a hinge-point in human history where we have a choice — to burn the remaining oil, coal and natural gas and hoe into what is left of remaining rainforests and other resources, or to protect humanity’s habitat by collectively taking a different, more sustainable path.

Continuing with no change, business-as-usual is not a wise option.

We share the responsibility. It is up to each of us individually to play our part.

We need not fear change, exciting times are ahead as we explore the alternatives — living more in step with nature and less reliant on fossil fuels.

You will not be alone. Millions worldwide in the Transition Movement have already taken the first steps to more sustainable lifestyles.

gisborn herald