Insight and inspiration in turbulent times.
While researching the topic of sustainable agriculture for a paper, high school junior Rhian Moore came across the work of PCI Senior Fellow Richard Heinberg. Rhian reached out to Richard for more information on the topic. Below are Rhian’s questions and Richard’s brief responses. We think they make for a nice primer of sorts.
Long story short, I believe that a strong case can be made that the decline in world transportation fuels will mark a major turning point in modern economies, because of the importance of such fuels to essential human activities.
A weekly update, including:
•Oil and the global economy
•Middle East
•Europe
•The climate summit
•Quote of the week
•Briefs
Is Superstorm Sandy a game changer for the national conversation about climate disruption? In the wake of the hurricane, activist Bill McKibben and oil industry veteran John Hofmeister face off on the topic of global warming.
Thursday saw the long awaited UK energy bill finally presented to parliament. Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Davey described the bill as "good for the British economy, good for consumers, and good for the planet". So what is it good for?…
•The IEA announces the decline of a number of major oil producing countries •Oil Watch – OPEC Crude Oil Production (IEA) •Offshore Oil-Drilling Primer for Concerned People of All Ages [new textbook’s chapter]
There is a growing disconnect between forecasts of prodigious amounts of oil coming out of the Middle East in coming decades and what is likely to happen in the region.
A week of brutal bombing and rocket fire between Israel and Hamas pushed oil prices back to around $110/barrel this week. A fragile ceasefire is now in place, but there is much concern that it will be short-lived. Oil market news may all be about US production, but it is primarily the politics and geopolitics of the Middle East that is still driving global oil prices.
A mid-week update.
Recent US news reports have highlighted the fact that US oil production has been rising and is now higher than it has been in years. Reports that highlight the recent US oil production increase don’t mention that oil production outside of Texas and North Dakota has actually declined in the last few years.
•US shale oil abundance: Bernstein vs the IEA •US limits oil-shale development in Rocky Mountains •Fracking: A new dawn for misplaced optimism •Nigeria Exxon spill spreads for miles along coast •Thousands Protest Keystone XL Oil Pipeline Outside White House •The World Running on ‘E’: The Coming Oil Crisis
A weekly update, including:
•Oil and the global economy
•The Middle East
•The IEA’s forecast
•Quote of the week
•Briefs
