What Happens When the Oil Runs Out?

When petroleum does run out the world’s population will have exploded to the point that providing sufficient energy to everyone to sustain a reasonable lifestyle will be impossible.

Even today “alternative” energy sources simply don’t even come close to providing the output necessary to maintain today’s population at the same levels as burning hydrocarbons does.

Quite simply, there is only one energy source that can provide similar energy output levels but its consequences, as demonstrated a couple of years ago in Japan, make it unattractive to most.

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Originally Posted by 555-04Q2

Indeed. problem is the oil companies has squashed many attempts already at alternative solutions to oil (they must have a vault with patents they have bought people out for) and until they really start running out of oil, they wont look at alternatives for now either.

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A selfish and potentially dangerous attitude.

That's why I've always said governments need to control their populations. Why some people feel the need to have 5,6,7,8,9,10 children etc and overpopulate the earth is beyond me :crazy:

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Originally Posted by BDunnell

A selfish and potentially dangerous attitude.

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Indeed it is, but sadly, a reality.

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Originally Posted by schmenke

When petroleum does run out the world’s population will have exploded to the point that providing sufficient energy to everyone to sustain a reasonable lifestyle will be impossible.

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We may think that now, but one must surely live in the hope that, as advances are made to bring about viable alternatives to fossil fuels, so other advances will allow us to consume less energy while performing the same tasks.

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Originally Posted by 555-04Q2

That's why I've always said governments need to control their populations. Why some people feel the need to have 5,6,7,8,9,10 children etc and overpopulate the earth is beyond me :crazy:

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Freedom of choice.

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Originally Posted by BDunnell

Freedom of choice.

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Is often a bad thing when people are involved ;)

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Originally Posted by 555-04Q2

That's why I've always said governments need to control their populations. Why some people feel the need to have 5,6,7,8,9,10 children etc and overpopulate the earth is beyond me :crazy:

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That's one of the major issues with the energy problem and, as pointed out earlier in this thread, the problem with fresh water. In fact, all natural resources are finite. Over population is the biggest long term problem facing mankind. I don't think it's the governments that should control this - encourage restraint for sure though. I fault most of the world's major religions for telling people to go out and breed like roaches.

It's because of the demographic transition model. GCSE Geography stuff ;)

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Originally Posted by 555-04Q2

By then we would have found a viable solution. Look what we've done in the last 100 years. From riding on horses to the invention of the motorcar to putting a man in space, a robot on Mars etc. Finding a solution to replace oil will only take will (the oil companies are obviously against alternatives for now), the science is already there to take us forward now someone just needs to perfect it and do it.

We will be fine without oil one day :)

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There are already lots of alternatives available.
In fact we could live without oil right now if we really wanted it.