Today I’ve been thinking about “Peak Oil.” Basically, the Earth will run out of oil someday. “Peak Oil” is the concept that before we run out of oil, we will reach a period of peak extraction. Many scientists believe we are reaching that point. I found this video explaining the concept:
In about 1970, the U.S. reached peak oil. Before peak oil, we extracted MORE domestic oil each year than we had the previous year. After 1970, we extracted LESS domestic oil each year than we had the previous year. As the graph below shows, to meet our shortfall in domestic production, we have relied on oil imports (rather than decreasing demand).
Sometime this century, we will reach global peak oil—each year after that, the world will extract less oil than it did the previous year. Unless demand drops with supply, there will be extremely high prices and severe oil shortages. Transportation, agriculture, the manufacture of goods, even the production and delivery of medicine will all be drastically effected.
Why should Christians care?
When there are limited supplies of necessary resources, people have a predictable reaction: war. The winners of conflict will have oil; the losers will go without. If we do nothing to reduce demand before supply begins running out, a generation will be thrown into a world of war and poverty. Will this be the legacy we leave future generations?
The transition away from a petroleum-based economy will happen by the end of this century. The question is whether we Christians take action to make this a peaceful transition to renewable resources; or, will we ignore the suffering we will cause future generations by continuing our complete dependence on oil.
What got me thinking about peak oil today is this Honda commercial/documentary. Interestingly, the commercial casually mentions the end of oil as a known fact. It’s surprising we don’t hear more about this in the national energy conversation.
Enjoy.
One Comment
Very interesting. Thanks for the info!