World energy crunch as nuclear and oil both go wrong

StevieJ

So where do we go from here?

Dr Euan Mearns at the Oil Drum said Fukushima has shattered democracies' faith in the safety of nuclear power. If Japanese engineers had prevailed despite the worst that nature could muster, it would have vindicated the industry. "Alas, this is not the case. The future of the human global energy system has just changed course with potentially far reaching consequences for civilisation," he said.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/globalbusiness/8386829/World-energy-crunch-as-nuclear-and-oil-both-go-wrong.html

ninky_2

world war three?

PeterZ_2

Hard times ahead I'm afraid. There is no easy answer, but I have faith that we will find solutions. What is needed is action from the world governments to address the issues. At the very least the disaster in Japan and the current oil price and trouble in the middle east is making the general population aware of the issue.

ILW

Possibly, just try to avoid building nuclear power stations on major fault lines could be a start.

ninky_2

the oil crisis is not just an energy crisis. just about every product manufactured relies on oil and other non renewable raw material. too many are seeing nuclear as the answer to these woes but you can't make a computer out of uranium. nor a car. nor polyester. nor telephones. nor electric wiring. nor a chair. nor a plastic bottle. nor a refridgerator........

TOO. MANY. HUMANS.

PeterZ_2

ninky wrote: »

the oil crisis is not just an energy crisis. just about every product manufactured relies on oil and other non renewable raw material. too many are seeing nuclear as the answer to these woes but you can't make a computer out of uranium. nor a car. nor polyester. nor telephones. nor electric wiring. nor a chair. nor a plastic bottle. nor a refridgerator........

TOO. MANY. HUMANS.

Dont forget fertiliser as well.

Oil is in entwined with every aspect of a modern lifestyle. Even a single disposable nappy uses a cupfull of crude oil in its manufacture.

ILW

ninky wrote: »

the oil crisis is not just an energy crisis. just about every product manufactured relies on oil and other non renewable raw material. too many are seeing nuclear as the answer to these woes but you can't make a computer out of uranium. nor a car. nor polyester. nor telephones. nor electric wiring. nor a chair. nor a plastic bottle. nor a refridgerator........

TOO. MANY. HUMANS.

Think you can make chairs out of wood.

Kohoutek

StevieJ wrote: »

So where do we go from here?

In the medium term, I would imagine governments will suggest further reductions in consumption/efficiency and more "clean coal" and natural gas.

ninky_2

ILW wrote: »

Think you can make chairs out of wood.

wood is not sustainable if demand outstrips speed to replace. again....too many humans.

vivatifosi

PeterZ wrote: »

Dont forget fertiliser as well.

Oil is in entwined with every aspect of a modern lifestyle. Even a single disposable nappy uses a cupfull of crude oil in its manufacture.

It wouldn't kill us though to go back to terry nappies. Or to take glass bottles back to the point of sale for reuse. Or to recycle more plastics, glass and paper. Or to walk to the nearest supermarket with a shopping trolley.

Reality is that we in the west will still have it relatively easy while those in the developing world will find living at the margins even harder.

ILW

ninky wrote: »

wood is not sustainable if demand outstrips speed to replace. again....too many humans.

I agree, but probably more a fact of too many humans in the wrong places.