by steam_cannon » Thu 29 Nov 2007, 16:48:27
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Lighthouse', 'O')ne more question:
Lets assume for a moment there were no peak oil. Population overshoot would still become a massive problem?
Good question, the answer is: Yes
As it's often mentioned on this site, we are seeing "
peak everything". Metals, food production, and that big dog oil.
I'm simplifying here but, in past human history food production / food gathering would peak and famines would hit. Just like with every other creature. It happens with yeast, deer and people too... Europeans traditionally dealt with these periodic famines by declaring war on their neighbors. That way, as they lost lives the famine would be over and if they won land the famine would be over. Sort of a grim win win solution. And sometimes plagues would wipe out population instead of a famine.
Why does oil matter? We boosted our diets and lives with the energy in oil using all sorts of cool means (cheap cars, fertilizers, harvesters, refrigerators, drying ovens, packaging...). And once the oil can't keep up with demand, it's very hard to replace it. Other countries with oil shortages haven't been able to.
Also, though it's unlikely "if" there is enough material that can be mined easily to make battery cars for everyone, first everyone has to lose their car. If roads get replaced with canals, everyone has to move. If natural gas fertilizers get replaced with humanure, it's going to suck bringing buckets of this stuff to farm fields. So even if we can find ways to live without oil, this transition logically will involve a great deal of hardship.
Regarding metals...
As the price of oil goes up the cost of mining metals follows. This is for several reasons. First being mining and refining metals is very energy intensive. Second metals have been getting mined out just like petroleum. Some metals like Manganese are well past peak production. And for most metals the price is skyrocketing.
U.S. Manganese Production
U.S. Arsenic Production
Peak Coal Production (world trends)
http://www.fromthewilderness.com/free/w ... _peak.html
The US has more coal left then most countries, but there are limits to how much this will help. Plus increased mining costs and deeper coal deposits will mean the trend of rising coal prices will continue.
Peak Copper
http://www.321energy.com/editorials/wat ... 21605.html
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Peak Oil is just the big dog. But with 6 billion people on the planet everything is peaking. The punch bowl at the party is running low and so are the pretzels and dip.