Climate change in the face of peak oil: An unconventional view
Climate change in the face of peak oil: An unconventional view

Summary/Abstract: Global warming and climate change pose an increasing risk to human society through disrupting long-term weather patterns. Mitigation strategies through deploying low-carbon technology generally assume a functioning global economy and continuous economic growth. However, there is growing evidence that people are entering a declining phase of global oil production. Business-as-usual (i.e. growth-based) policies will be increasingly difficult to implement and sustain, since economic growth is increasingly difficult to achieve and sustain with peaking or declining oil production. With peak oil it is impossible to solve climate change with highly complex and expensive technology (such as nuclear power) and, conversely, it is impossible to solve peak oil with implementing high carbon emissions intensive alternatives to oil (such as unconventional oil). Peak oil will mean a significant challenge for global food, energy, and geopolitical security.

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