Does anyone else think the whole reduce emissions mantra is a cover up for "We are running out of Oil, Fast!"

Question

No Governments, Big Corporations ever talk openly about "The Coming Oil Crisis" Becuase they are scared of the panic it will cause.
But they are ever so keen to talk about, reducing emissions, saving energy, recycling etc... etc...
Do you think this is there way of getting us to reduce our non renewable energy source consumption without actually telling us that oil is actually about to start to run out and run out fast?

Answer 1

Back when I were a wee lad in the late 80's, we were taught that the world's fuel reserves would run out by the year 2020.

It would seem someone was fibbing about the reserves they had under the ground. then there are all these deposits people keep "finding", the cut-backs in oil production "because oil is too cheap" and other factors that will make oil stay around for quite a longer time than mankind will, at the rate we are consuming it.

It is to keep alive that we need to find other means of producing energy. To keep alive and rich enough to buy the fuel and all the plastic and other products that come from the oil industry.

Solar power and wind power are good alternatives now, but what if we go too far on the oil consuption? Will we bend nature so far that the rain clouds will cover the skies too often to make solar power effective? Will wind stay where we put all the turbines? Will the floods lay waste to the fields of rapps-seed oil producing plants when someone bothers to plant them?

Or will the African lands, empty of Western wastage be a good place to put up alternative energy production plants and agriculture? Will the ultimate laugh be on the western world when we have to beg the third world to help us?

And don't forget we're living longer (cancer aside) so this will affect US TOO when we're 80 or 90 years old. Not just our children.

Answer 2

No, we have enough oil to consume at current rates for hundreds if not thousands of years. The reducing emissions talk is generally for two reasons: efficiency and pollutions/climate change. The more energy we save and efficient are vehicles become the more money there is in the economy to buy other goods, invest, save, etc. Decreasing our emissions decreases acid rain, decreases the CO2 pumped into the atmosphere, etc.

Answer 3

I think the two arguments are important. We need to reduce emissions too help the environment. Those who don't care about the environment per se should be convinced by the ecconomic argument and the threat of running out of oil. I don't think anyone is hiding the fact that our oil supply is limited - that would only help there argument. Interesting film:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=klooRS-Jjyo

Answer 4

Not a cover up, more like being in denial. Everyone knows oil will not last forever, but nobody wants to think about it. It is some future problem that has not hit yet. On the other hand, air pollution is all too obvious here and now.

Answer 5

No, I don't think that is the case. It does raise an interesting point though about global warming, the main driver for which is the burning of fossil fuels. Once those fuels are exhausted there will be a drastic reduction in Carbon dioxide emissions and hey presto, no more global warming. Every cloud has a silver lining!

Answer 6

no, there is so much oil its insane. The problem is the oil is in places we dont yet mine, and may cost a little more to extract than current sources. The oil in the middle east is just very pure and easy to convert to fuel for your automobile. In comparison Canada has lots and lots of oil, but it has sand mixed into it. We can take out the sand and use this oil but it would reduce the large profits oil companies are earning with the current set up.

Answer 7

When I was a school some time ago, we were told that oil reserves would run in 50yrs, but people are still being told the same.

I think people are being more responsible with their emissions, so want to reduce their usage.

Answer 8

No we are not running out of oil. I do think we should reduce the amount of oil we get from the middle east and start using our own oil.

Answer 9

The US in particular appears to be in total denial when it comes to either "Global Warming" or any upcoming "Oil Crisis". I assume everyone is going to head for higher ground in their Hummers while US forces invade Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Venezuela, Canada.......

Answer 10

No oil wont run out for hundreds of years. I say waste all the oil you want.