Scientists At Basel University Warn On Lack Of Peak Oil Awareness

[hatrack]

Swiss scientists say politicians and the public should have a greater awareness of "peak oil" – the moment when the world's maximum crude oil output is reached. Researchers at Basel University warn that although climate change is grabbing more headlines than the possible exhaustion of fossil fuels, a conflict is brewing over crude oil.

"The question is not for how long we will have crude oil reserves, but for how long output can grow," warned Daniele Ganser, a historian and peace researcher at Basel University, who says the significance and explosive nature of the issue is underestimated by politicians and the public.

No one can agree on when exactly the moment of "peak oil" will be – some experts say 2010, others say 2020 or 2030 – but it is a serious problem as crude oil output has grown for decades and positively boomed with the industrialisation of the emerging nations. An end to the spiral is not in sight and once the global peak is reached, a further increase is simply not possible.

"Conflict over crude oil will increase in proportion with its scarcity – the global economy is facing a recession," said Ganser. "We are running to the oil limit without thinking. It's as if we planned to climb the Matterhorn to get to the summit at midnight, leaving it much too late to descend."

EDIT

http://www.energybulletin.net/33666.html

[phantom power]

1. It was on public radio yesterday. That means everybody know now.

It means that. Right?

[IDemo]

2. And some experts are saying 2005

Very few that I'm aware of, or at least those not connected to the Energy Disinformation Administration, are speaking of a 2030 peak.

[phantom power]

3. I think our position here on E/E...

(to the extent that we ever have one position on anything, ever) is

2005 all the way baby!!1111!