Reality Check

We are facing three intertwining challenges: peak oil, climate change, and economic instability.  Our response to one will affect the others.

Peak Oil

Peak oil is the point in time when the maximum rate of global oil production has been reached, after which the rate of oil production follows an inevitable decline. Many experts in the field, including the International Energy Agency, say production of conventional crude oil has already peaked^.  Read more…

Peak Oil + Climate Change

Peak oil and climate change have been referred to as the Hydrocarbon Twins. They are so intertwined that seen in isolation, a large part of the story remains untold.

Both, of course, are symptoms of a society hopelessly addicted to fossil fuels and the lifestyles they make possible. It is, however, too simplistic to assert that peak oil will mean climate change will be brought under control because we will run out of access to affordable liquid fuels; the situation is much more complex.  Read more…

Economy

The current global economic system has to grow in order to remain healthy – that’s just the way it’s designed. During the past century, however, the world economy has grown as never before, coinciding with the ever increasing availability of cheap energy.   Read more…