The Issues

It is almost certainly true that everybody is aware on some level of Climate Change and the threat it brings. But another danger looms on the horizon. An energy crisis is developing, particularly with regards to the fossil fuels of oil and gas that is destined to change our world in fundamental and far reaching ways. This crisis goes by the name of Peak Oil.

Below is a brief overview of Climate Change and Peak Oil. To find out more please visit our Links page.

Peak Oil

'Peak Oil' refers to the maximum extraction rate of oil, after which the rate of extraction will decline. It has been found that the extraction of oil always follows a more or less bell-shaped curve: first the oil is discovered and once it starts to be pumped out, the rate increases steadily until it reaches a peak, after which it becomes impossible to pump at the same rate: production will inexorably decline.

World discovery of oil peaked in 1964 and has been declining ever since, despite considerable improvements in technology, and there is no prospect of any significant large discoveries. We are currently consuming more than six barrels of oil for every one we discover. There is a growing consensus that we are now approaching, or are even at, the world oil peak.

It's not always clear what the implications of Peak Oil are. Suffice it to say that it will have a huge impact on our transport system, food production systems and our economy. In fact it will impact all aspects of our lives.

Climate Change

Whereas Peak Oil is somewhat 'under the radar' for many, Climate Change is now a mainstream topic. In fact, it might be fair to say that there is a bewildering amount of information in the public sphere such that it is sometimes hard to know what it all actually means.

The short and simple point is that, as a species, we are heating the planet through our very behaviour.