The Oil Depletion Analysis Centre (ODAC) is an independent,
UK-registered educational charity working to raise international public awareness
and promote better understanding of the world's oil-depletion problem.
Preparing for Peak Oil - a new report from ODAC
ODAC has prepared a Peak Oil report aimed specifically at local government in the UK called Preparing for Peak Oil (PDF, 428 Kb). From the report Policy Summary:
"The purpose of this report is to summarize which authorities are doing what, and to draw together the most promising polices for tackling peak oil, so that all British local authorities can benefit from best practice being developed both at home and abroad. Almost every area of policy is affected, from public transport to planning, and the report is especially relevant for councils affected by the planned expansion of Britain's airports: mass air travel could be an early casualty of peak oil. The suggested policy changes are usually complimentary to those required to combat global warming, but there are also important distinctions that may affect the conclusions drawn by local authorities. This is particularly true of natural gas, where supply difficulties are also expected in the relatively short term. But whatever the motivation of a particular council - climate change or peak oil - many of the suggested policies would also reduce expenditure almost immediately simply by saving energy."
Copies of the report can be ordered, free of charge, from ODAC for either members of local government, or Councillors. e-mail: info@odac-info.org (please give details of your role) or telephone: +44 (0)20 8144 8359.
What's New on the Bulletin Board
The Myth Of Biofuels
The Myth of Biofuels is an excellent, relatively new DVD discussing the pros (none) and cons (many) of biofuels. The myths include: Large-scale biofuel production is sustainable; Biofuels are environmentally friendly and reduce CO2 emissions; Biofuels will help us (the USA) achieve "energy independence"; Biofuels will help the farmers; "Second-generation biofuels will save us"; Biofuels will let us continue our current way of life. See more ...
Nuclear Energy
Nuclear Energy is going thro a global renaissance at the moment, especially in places such as China and Russia. Now might be a good time to reflect on whether it really is CO2-free, and how much uranium reserves are left. See more ...
The Efficiency Paradox: Does Energy Efficiency Save Energy?
Another excellent energy paper from CIBC World Markets. In their November issue of StrategEcon, CIBC World Markets discuss the bizarre tendency for increased energy efficiency to lead to greater energy consumption, so far. See more ...
Peak Oil and Climate Change - An Integrated Policy Response
Ian Dunlop (ASPO-Australia) has outlined the need for an integrated policy response for Australia to the twin challenges of Peak Oil and Climate Change. Above all, visionary, principled, long-term leadership is need from government, the community and business. Short-term political or corporate expediency is no longer acceptable; bi-partisan cooperation is essential. Action is required in the next 6-12 months, not in the 3-5 years favoured in political debate. See more ...
Oil Peak and Gas Peak as cross cutting issues
Brian Davey of the Feasta Energy and Climate Working Group gave the following PowerPoint presentation to Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Local Authorities Energy Partnership in Matloc on 24th November - Oil Peak and Gas Peak as cross cutting issues. See more ...
UK Oil and Gas Production Forecasts: An Overview
The London-based Energy Institute held its annual Oil Depletion conference on Nov. 14th. ODAC's contribution was a talk on UK oil and gas depletion, UK Oil and Gas Production Forecasts: An Overview. See more ...
A Failure of Leadership
Global Witness is a group that: "exposes the corrupt exploitation of natural resources and international trade systems, to drive campaigns that end impunity, resource-linked conflict, and human rights and environmental abuses." Over the last year or two they have been paying increasing attention to Peak Oil. This week they launched their first report on Peak Oil. See more ...
Transport and post-Peak Oil - Updated
As Peak Oil approaches, we see modern industrial countries persuing transport developments that just do not make sense, major new roads and airports spring to mind. Even for those (in the UK) local governments that have sustainable development in mind (think climate change), optimum use of energy is rarely considered. James Skinner discusses/promotes ultra light rail, while Richard Gilbert and his colleague Anthony Perl release a new book Transport Revolutions: Moving People and Freight Without Oil. See more ...
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New Articles
The Peak Oil Crisis: Decision at Abu Dhabi
Tom Whipple, Falls-Church News Press, gives an excellent summary of the reality of OPEC. One point is worth expanding on: "Over the last 30 years, the influence of OPEC has waxed and waned". OPEC has very rarely been able to control oil prices. This implies a level of self-control that OPEC just does not have, but it has suited 'the West' to give the impression that it does and always has done, so it can be blamed for high oil prices (as Gordon Brown, until recently the UK govt's money-man, now Prime Minister, has done repeatedly over the last couple of years). It has a high level of control now because only one country has any spare capacity, maybe, as Tom explains: <<... Ten years before production peaked in Texas, however, several of the then major oil exporters, who were tiring of the international oil companies dictating what they were paid for their oil got together. In 1960, they formed the Organization of Petroleum Exporters (OPEC) and the world was off on a different course. After oil production in the U.S. peaked, OPEC controlled the world’s marginal oil tap... As the century turned, however, so did the fortunes of OPEC. Around the world giant oil fields started to decline leaving only a few OPEC members with much or any spare production capacity or prospects for growing output. More importantly, the world’s two most populous countries, China and India, which had been dormant for centuries, got their economic acts together and began to import ever increasing quantities of oil. The price of oil that in 1998 was $10 a barrel soared to nearly $100. OPEC members were not only getting rich, they were back at the center of world affairs... Its 13 members are an eclectic group with widely varying amounts of oil production and, more importantly, widely varying prospects for ever producing more oil. A few members have large dirt-poor populations and a few are small and filthy rich... When OPEC gathers in a closed room to discuss a production increase, only one country (the Saudis) can do much about increasing production. Most of the rest just want to see higher and higher prices, in some stable currency, so as to get the most real return for their oil before it runs out. Thus, it is the Saudis who carry the trump card for only the Kingdom (or so they would like us to think) can increase production. The other 12 are really just there for window dressing that gives the appearance of a “group” decision...>>
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What Is Progress?
George Monbiot on climate change / cutting carbon levels. He argues convincingly that we still do not understand the nature / seriousness of the problems facing us. Ditto Peak Oil / Gas / Coal/ Uranium: <<The numbers show that this should be the real question at the Bali talks. When you warn people about the dangers of climate change, they call you a saint. When you explain what needs to be done to stop it, they call you a communist. Let me show you why... The government proposes to cut the UK’s carbon emissions by 60% by 2050. This target is based on a report published in 2000(3). That report was based on an assessment published in 1995, which drew on scientific papers published a few years earlier. The UK’s policy, in other words, is based on papers some 15 years old. Our target, which is one of the toughest on earth, bears no relation to current science. Over the past fortnight, both Gordon Brown and his adviser Sir Nicholas Stern have proposed raising the cut to 80%(4,5). Where did this figure come from? The last G8 summit adopted the aim of a global cut of 50% by 2050, which means that 80% would be roughly the UK’s fair share. But the G8’s target isn’t based on current science either... An 85% cut means that (if the population remains constant) the global output per head should be reduced to 0.537t by 2050. The UK currently produces 9.6 tonnes per head and the US 23.6t(9,10). Reducing these figures to 0.537t means a 94.4% cut in the UK and a 97.7% cut in the US. But the world population will rise in the same period. If we assume a population of 9bn in 2050(11), the cuts rise to 95.9% in the UK and 98.3% in the US... To stabilise temperatures at 1.5° above the pre-industrial level requires a global cut of 100%. The diplomats who started talks in Bali yesterday should be discussing the complete decarbonisation of the global economy... The real issues in Bali are not technical or economic. The crisis we face demands a profound philosophical discussion, a reappraisal of who we are and what progress means. Debating these matters makes us neither saints nor communists; it shows only that we have understood the science.>>
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Site last updated: 17-December-2007