Thus in the face of peak oil and its multiple consequences, which are bound to impact upon almost all aspects of our human standards of life, it seems imperative to get prepared to face all the inevitable shockwaves resulting from that. Preparation should be carried out on individual, familial, societal and national levels as soon as possible. Every preparative step taken today will prove far cheaper than any step taken tomorrow.

I suggest federally supported massive R&D efforts to develop real permanent solutions to energy, as well as large public works projects to develop infrastructure that can use the new energy. Possible energy sources for consideration include Generation 4 nuclear reactors, as well as the environmentally benign and infinitely abundant potential source of energy from magnetically confined Nuclear Fusion. With adequate R&D budgets these technologies can be made realities and propel the future.

Great Presentation. My only criticism is that the problem is being understated. Not only is our food supply dependent on oil and other finite sources of energy, but also our entire infrastructure. From the drywall in our homes to the concrete and steel in our roads, and buildings. Growing locally and the other suggestions don't come close to sustainable living. Without technological solution to energy scarcity all of modern life must be forfeited, including modern medicine.

Yes, I imagine so. Dr. Hubbert presented the idea in 1956 or 1957. The question is when the economic consequences associated with peak oil started to become apparent.

The idea was named "Peak Oil" back in the 1950's.

And that is just this video. An understanding of peak oil and its impacts has been known for probably a decade or more.

wow and this was 2 years ago.

Actually, peak oil already did happen in three important ways. 1. Conventional oil -- drilled on the land, comes up the pipe on its own, peaked in 2005 2. Net oil exports -- how much oil is actually available to purchase on the export market, peaked a few years ago 3. Per capita oil -- amount of total oil per person on the planet, peaked many years back #2 and #3 are probably the most important. The actual "all time global 'oil' peak" is almost irrelevant by comparison.

Thank you for your information. I think Peak oil now is happen.

They won't fly and resources will not be delivered. Localize.

I do see what your saying. I've been looking at Peak Oil research for a few years now. You always hear people like Kuenstler talk about $200 barrels.Most people assume consumers will pay what they have to pay. Bit what about in addition to rising food costs and job losses. Makes Sense.

Barlett gives talks every month or so in the House of Reps for CSPAN. I haven't heard Diane's interview with Simmons, but he is on CNBC every couple of months.

Diane Rheim (sp?)on NPR has had a couple of shows addressing Peak Oil with Matt Simmons as a guest. Also,Congressman Roscoe Bartlett presented peak oil to congress in March 05

It is a problem for anyone that relies on oil for a major part of their livelihood; in particular, net oil importing countries, of which there are more every year.

Technically, it is not a theory, since oil is non-renewable, exhaustible, and non-recyclable. There will be a peak, the question is simply "when?" and "what will be the impacts?"

That's an interesting theory.

us us us us, peak oil is not only a problem for americans.

And, yes, because people have not changed their lifestyles, and there are no substitutes out there, they have to have their gas to drive all over the place. (the demand is inelastic) On the supply side, the rate at which the oil can be supplied starts to drop because all of the easy oil is gone. They have to move to more challenging and expensive places to drill. E.g. deeper, offshore, hot climate, cold climate... (the supply is inelastic) Prices will keep going up. I want my plastic fork.

OIL is basically a NECESSITY. Demand WONT go down cos there is NO ALTERNATIVE. How else can ANYONE fly? How else would FOOD and RESOURCES be delivered? Prediction: $170 within 2 months. $250 sometime in 2009.

i did some research on the subject and you are right we are peaking and it started at the end of 2004, things are going to get a lot worse if hubbert is right on this down curve of oil production, even if they discover new fields it will just hold a plateau for a year or two it will never meet the increasing demand unless there is a major economic depression, our way of life will never be the same

That is called a monopoly. If there was one single oil company in the world, then this could certainly be the case. But the prices ARE NOT SET!!! by the oil companies. They are set AT AUCTION on the NYMEX. AUCTION... bidding, less contracts, same demand, higher price. Period. See "Peak Oil in the Pit" and the CNBC vids on the NYMEX. The one thing that CAN happen is that a national oil company can limit exports (less contracts), but that is their right, because it is their oil.

if you could sell a widget that everyone needed... and kept raising that price and made more and more money while it still cost you the same to make that widget... would you raise your prices constantly and still see everyone purchasing it... yes... i would.

People said the same thing about $50 oil, and $75 oil, and $100 oil, and $125 oil, etc. There is absolutely no reason that oil will not eventually get to numbers that no one is even willing to discuss right now. Keep in mind that net available exports are already falling, and that the USA is just one of many purchasers of this oil. For every 1% increase in demand, price increased by 20%! Demand is going up at 1.5-2.0% per year. Prediction: $200 oil within 12 months.

oil will never get to 200 a barrel because the majority of the world will not be able to afford it, the demand will go down causing a plateau in the price

Protests have erupted across the world and oil is only in the mid $130's a barrel. The first of the emergency summits are here already. Can you imagine the world when oil hits $170, $200, $250, $300 dollars a barrel and then goes higher still? And what will happen when oil producing countries start pulling their oil off world markets for there own domestic use? The chapter on the energy crises of the 21st century will be an intesting read for students of history 300 years from now.