Insight and inspiration in turbulent times.
Planner Richard Gilbert’s vision for Hamilton, Ontario. Part one looks at the implications of peak oil and peak natural gas for Hamilton’s growth strategy. Part two discusses transportation, goods movement, and building energy use in more detail, focusing on Hamilton’s opportunities in energy production and conservation.
The next green revolution (bright! green!) / Special NYT section: “The Business of Green” / Biodiversity report released
It’s a big disappointment to see papers like the New York Times or the Guardian peddle the Cheney/Blair “war of the worlds” vision of energy markets. This is the vision whereby, in order to make people forget that it is … their refusal … to reduce demand through conservation or efficiency that has brought about the current energy crisis, they invent external enemies to blame for that situation.
Distinguished scientists and policy makers presented their most recent research on the current state of global warming at 17th Annual Global Warming Conference last April. Our roving correspondent reports.
This week the New Statesman has released a special supplement on energy. More than 20 articles on different aspects of the energy crisis are available free, online.
Most colleges and universities are treating the situation as a short-term problem, one that should go away within a year or two as energy prices decline to more “normal” levels. Few are anticipating is a permanent or long-term change in the level of oil and natural gas prices.
Military looks for ways to trim soaring energy costs /
It’s a waste (nuclear in Australia) /
Stiglitz: Drain America first (energy policy) /
Asphalt shortage delays paving /
Adam Feeley on New Zealand oil reserves
The current world energy situation poses a national threat unparalleled in 225 years… Concurrent with rising demand [for oil] are indications that world production may soon peak, followed by permanent decline and shortage. Moreover, most of the remaining oil is concentrated in distant, politically hostile locations, inviting interdiction by enemies.
Europe is currently undergoing a massive upheaval in the energy sector – a complete reorgansation tirggered by a round of mergers and acquisitions. This is all part of the ongoing worries about future energy security and policies, and it’s quite enlightening.
Following a severe reduction in oil supplies and the implosion of the Irish development bubble, there will be a wide range of distress sale, stranded assets up for grabs at knock down prices.
The Swedish Commission on Oil Independence
is a broad-based expert council that will provide the Prime Minister and the Government with facts and advice in the work to significantly reduce Sweden’s dependence on oil and other fossil raw materials by 2020.
Sweden is to take the biggest energy step of any advanced western economy by trying to wean itself off oil completely within 15 years – without building a new generation of nuclear power stations.
