Peak Oil In Europe: A Preview
As the price of oil continues to climb, we are beginning to get a glimpse of what the post peak-oil world may look like, and it’s not entirely pretty.
Protests in Europe have been widespread, as Europeans who already pay twice that of our US cousins for fuel begin to feel the financial consequences of consistent price increases.
Truck drivers in Spain and France have blockaded major roadways and paralysed traffic on major city arteries. Meanwhile in the UK, similar protests by truck drivers - who claim they are rapidly being forced out of business by high fuel prices - have taken place across the country.
Adding to the chaos, Shell tanker drivers chose the same weekend to strike over pay disputes, causing many petrol (gas) stations to run out of fuel. Government calls to avoid panic buying have predictably caused a peak-oil dress rehearsal, with long queues forming on many petrol station forecourts.
Data released last week showed that British motorists have been driving less during the past year, with the volume of fuel sales falling by 20%. Considering the diabolical state of the UK’s public transport infrastructure we have no idea how motorists have been getting around in the meantime and can only assume they are simply staying at home.
With some pundits forecasting oil prices of over $200 a barrel by the end of the next year this situation is only likely to get worse, with governments having little opportunity to intervene in a crisis that holds them to the mercy of world markets.
So is there an upside? Many people seem to think that there is.
Sales of hybrid cars are booming. With record sales of Toyota’s hybrid Prius being forecast, rivals must be cursing themselves at their tardiness in entering this market. Even the most die-hard petrol heads are checking fuel economy figures in motoring magazines, and considering - heaven forbid - a diesel engine.
Many people are trying out public transport for the first time, finding it’s not as bad as they thought it was, although many others are finding that it is actually worse than they thought it was. Others are rediscovering the positive aspects of cycling, along with some minor bad ones.
But most importantly, high prices are starting to focus people on the value of energy, and the need to conserve it. Whilst energy is cheap the environmental impacts will remain distant for many, but high prices are forcing people to measure their energy usage and consider alternatives.
However, we should rejoicing the environmental benefits of high fuel prices with caution as many are suffering. In the meantime, let’s hope that some of the hardship can be offset by some positive change for good.
More from Green Options on High Oil Prices:
3 Hidden Costs of High Oil Prices
Obama’s Plan to Reduce Foreign Oil Dependence
Image credit: Frazer Nash at Flickr under a Creative Commons license
While this article is good, it could go much further. The US may be merely getting a “glimpse” of oil alternatives, but Cuba has already faced the problem due to oil embargoes. I encourage you to read into this and the steps the country had to take. I know there is a video out there and I wish I had the time to find the name.
If the US or other “developed” nations were to put more effort into developing the same trends that Cuba has the results could possibly be outstanding.
The movie you are thinking of is “The Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil” by a group called “Community Solutions”
http://www.powerofcommunity.org/cm/index.php
Good information about what it will take to meet the coming challenges.
who claim they are rapidly being forced out of business by high fuel prices
Who by, I wonder? Rail? Donkeys? Haulage needs won’t go away overnight, except for very short periods.
I personally believe in peak oil and that it is here. But there are other factors to consider when talking about the subject, in terms of our world economy. While oil is a main ingredient in running nearly everything. There are still other factors. This article I was reading explains this idea. Its called Energy Q&A Part I: Peak Oil and Oil Price Spikes and really gave me a better idea what peak oil really means. Its more than just what what peak oil, the issue is what it means for the world. Check it out. Thanks!