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Major UK Peak Oil conference
Added: (Mon Jul 11 2005)
On 11 October 2005, in London, a major conference will look at the peak oil problem and its impact on climate change, the world's food supply and the world economy. Speakers include Michael Meacher MP, Tim Lang and Andrew Simms (of NEF), and the chair will be Dr Ian Gibson MP. The conference is being organised by East Anglia Food Link, CRed, Sustain and PowerSwitch.org.uk.
The world’s oil supply is running out.
Most analysts agree that once we pass the half-way point in the world’s oil reserves, production will begin to drop off as the remaining reserves are more difficult to extract. Some believe that point will come in the next 12 months, others think we have 10 years or more left. But either way, we need to prepare now by reducing our dependency on this finite resource.Oil and gas supply 85% of the energy used in the UK. By comparison, nuclear supplies 4% and renewables 1%. Can nuclear be expanded by a factor of 20, or renewables by a factor of 85? Will coal fill the gap, and at what cost to global warming? Do we have enough coal left to expand its use 12 times over?
We rely on energy to produce, process and transport food. As energy becomes more expensive, will our food system revert to local production and organic methods? Can the world continue to feed itself at all without cheap energy? What steps should we be taking right now to avert future hunger?
Does the end of cheap oil herald the end of globalisation? Is the notion of continual economic growth consistent with a shrinking energy supply? Some observers predict a recession of 1930s proportions, but lasting much longer. Others believe the economic system could be reinvented along sustainable lines.
For more information on peak oil, see www.peakoil.net or www.odac-info.org. To join a network of individuals concerned about peak oil go to www.powerswitch.org.uk. Good books on the subject include Richard Douthwaite’s When the Wells Run Dry, Matthew Simmons’ Twilight in the Desert, and Colin Campbell’s The Coming Oil Crisis..
One-day Conference, 11 October 2005, London
This conference will aim to discuss the problems arising from a peak in oil production, and to begin to plan responses to ameliorate those problems.
It is aimed at policy-makers, business people, NGOs and individuals who use energy or eat food.
The event will be chaired by Dr Ian Gibson, MP, Chair of the Science and Technology Committee of the House of Commons
Speakers include
Michael Meacher MP - Former Environment Minister
Chris Skrebowski - Editor, Petroleum Review
Tim Lang - Professor of Food Policy, City University
Andrew Simms - Policy Director, New Economics Foundation
Richard Douthwaite - Author of “When the Wells Run Dry”
Keith Tovey - Reader in Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia
The conference will take place at The Insurance Hall, London EC2 from 09:30 to 4:00.
The fee (including lunch) is
* £50 for private-sector and public-sector organisations
* £25 for NGOs and individuals
Book early to avoid disappointment!
For more information and a booking form, visit www.eafl.org.uk/oil.