The Coming
World Energy Crisis

view of Earth from space

Overview

This is the homepage of Planetforlife, a family of websites devoted to aspects of the coming world energy crisis and the concept of peak oil. You are invited to visit them all, in any order.

The "world energy crisis" and "peak oil" have become common topics of conversation. That was not the case in 2004 when this website was first uploaded.

chevron logo Energy prices have increased greatly during the past year--maybe the crisis has started already. Major oil companies have placed prominent ads explaining the situation. To pick only one of many possible examples, the November 2005 Chevron ad states "One thing is clear: the era of easy oil is over." The April 2006 ad states "Russia, Iran and Qatar have 58% of the world's natural gas reserves. The U.S. has 3%."

People in the modern world depend on the availability of economical and abundant energy. The United States is especially vulnerable to an energy shortage because we use so much and because North America has only a small fraction of the world's oil and natural gas. Most of the world's oil and natural gas are found near the Persian Gulf, on the other side of the Earth.

Everyone realizes that oil and gas are finite resources which will become scarce and expensive some day. There will be a transition to sustainable energy sources. The only question is when and how--and how orderly.

The new era of expensive energy will be very difficult for everyone on Earth but it will be even more difficult if it is not anticipated. It is of utmost importance that the public and especially policymakers understand the coming world energy crisis and the underlying science.

If there is a group that can be characterized as unaware of the energy crisis, it is politicians in the United States. No potential presidential candidate has mentioned it. Yet the energy crisis is going to shape events for decades to come.

Google can search this site. Try searching for "Limbaugh" or "Greenspan."

The Science of the World Energy Crisis

Scientific thinking requires two things: undamped curiosity and a strong desire not to be fooled. There is a widespread belief that scientific thinking is not useful for everyday practical things or that it is only for elites. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Planetforlife will try to explain the science of the world energy crisis with objectivity, conciseness, and detachment. Physics, chemistry and geology provide the framework for the explanations. Any solution to the energy crisis must consider politics, ethics and much else but any solution that does not get the science right will fail.

Planetforlife welcomes skepticism because skepticism leads to examination of the facts and that leads to understanding.

Personal

Comments, suggestions and encouragement are welcome. I will try to reply to all questions. I would very much like to know about errors in facts, errors in logic and broken links. Click the icon or e-mail me at:
jack@planetforlife.com