Climate & Environment – July 10
A deal on climate change – but then the backlash
The art of embarrassment: bring back the dunce’s cap?
Water pollution, supply issues top environmental concern in China (video and transcript)
Consumption & Demand
Peak oil and the Olduvai catastrophe: is there a link?
The Olduvai Theory is about the declining total world energy supplies and the catastrophic consequences. Peak Oil is a more confined thesis about oil supply declining due to the looming exhaustion of oil reserves in the ground. So Olduvai addresses all energy sources, but Peak Oil is only about one of the energy sources – oil.
In a recent article (Leigh, 2008), I failed to explain the Olduvai and Peak Oil relationship fully and clearly, and I would like to do so in this brief article. So what is the relationship between Olduvai and Peak Oil? Indeed, is there one at all?
Africa – July 9
Gambia: Biofuel – A ploy, says President Jammeh
Nigeria: Yar’Adua seeks concerted efforts against trade in stolen oil
Nigeria: Nationwide blackout: PHCN begins power rationing today
Prices & supplies – July 9
Are We in the peak of an oil bubble?
Are big bets by speculators driving up oil?
Oil majors: Oil price hike due to fundamentals, not speculation
Analyzing the analysts (Part 1 of 2)
Oil: the new reality
Biofuels – July 9
Bad juice: World Bank blames biofuels for high food prices
Bad juice II: biofuels maybe not quite so bad, World Bank says
Rising food prices: policy options and World Bank response
Is oil independence an illusion?
Robert Bryce’s new book, Gusher of Lies, provides a refreshing counterpoint to many simplistic, political discussions about energy, but in the end, his blithe optimism about fossil fuel availability, U.S. financial resources, and global warming’s consequences leaves his arguments as dangerously deluded as those he criticizes.
Housing & urban design – July 8
With gas over $4, cities explore whether it’s smart to be dense
Will gas prices drive homebuyers away from suburbs?
Suburbia’s not dead yet
Asia – July 8
Japan sees a chance to promote its energy-frugal ways
Various measures to tackle Korea’s soaring energy costs
South Korea sets fuel-saving measures
Oil price shock means China is at risk of blowing up
What to do? – July 8
Richard Heinberg: Want Cheap Oil? Reduce Demand!
Cooling a fevered planet; Economics, policy, and vision for fighting global warming
Daniel Ellsberg: Learning from past disasters, preventing future ones
What lifestyles without oil?
At the Tällberg Forum in Tällberg, Dalarna, Sweden, Chief Jake Swamp from the Akwesasne Mohawk Tribe and I had a conversation about “What lifestyles without oil?”.
Transportation – July 3
Airbus And Boeing face a dark and painful future
Big job cuts announced at American
Car sales at 10-year low
SUV drivers burned twice: at the pump, on the car lot
Consumerism – July 2
China Watch: Plastic bag ban trumps market and consumer efforts
Australia: Gimme shelter from affluenza
Sex and the City and handbag insanity
