‘Peak wood’ gives a history lesson in Abu Dhabi

‘Peak wood’ scuppered the Roman Empire just as peak oil will strike us, delegates at Abu Dhabi’s World Future Energy Summit hear

…Prince Willem Alexander says our aim should be “nothing less than revolution” with regard to tackling climate change and weaning ourselves off oil.

He also does a bit of history teaching himself, claiming the Roman Empire came to grief partly because it deforested Europe.


The Romans apparently ignored “peak wood” forecasts and used up all their primary energy sources! Well, I have learned something unexpected today.

The prince then went on to please the locals by saying the world’s deserts held the key to the future. While some worried about water-stress, deserts were actually the perfect places to put in place massive solar installations linked to intercontinental grids, he said.

Guardian