“We are on the path to climate chaos, Big Oil has admitted.
“Both BP and Exxon have conceded that progress on climate change is totally insufficient to stabilize CO2 emissions.”
Though Big Oil is aware of climate chaos ahead, don’t expect members of the Big Oil league to work too hard toward climate change solutions. They’re busy.
And of course, in an oil-based, consumption-centered world (“Bigger is better, ain’t it?”), one shouldn’t expect progress related to climate change and carbon emissions until oil consumptions declines.
Currently, however, our global record on that front appears to be set in concrete.
Since 1984 (after a few years of decline), global consumption of oil has grown steadily each year for which I was able to find records, or for over two decades and until 2006.
E.g., Year 1984
Oil consumption, thousands of barrels per day - 57186.54 (or 57.2 million barrels)
Increase from previous year - 1.96 %
2005
Consumption - 84002.86 thousand or 84 million barrels
Increase - 1.94 % (The jump from 1984 to 2005 is huge!)
2006
Consumption - 84977.35 thousand or 84 million barrels
Increase - 1.16 %
[Source: United States Energy Information Administration]
I assume the growth has continued since 2006, along with carbon emissions and climate change concerns.
Though I'm not proud to say it, Canada - my home country -and the US are front and center when consumption records are considered.
According to Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, “The United States is the largest energy consumer in terms of total use, using 100 quadrillion BTUs (105 exajoules, or 29 PWh) in 2005.
“This is three times the consumption by the United States in 1950.
“The U.S. ranks seventh in energy consumption per-capita after Canada and a number of small countries.”
["Rising oil prices will affect our consumption habit"]
I wasn’t aware that US energy consumption tripled in the last 55 years but I predict that it won’t triple again in the next 55 years or by 2060. Canada’s growth record is likely much the same, but because of the trend toward significantly higher oil prices in the last ten years, I think that during the next ten we’ll see a significant change in our consumption habits.
Perhaps then we can begin to hope for a future with less climate change chaos.
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More information at the Oil Barrel here.
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1 comment:
I suspect those interested in oil investments won't say much in a negative vein re oil consumption. In the same way, those connected to the beef industry will not say much in a negative way re their water consumption. Self-interest and preservation will dominate their thoughts, and writing. Let's add beef and water then to the list of items we should dearly conserve, along with oil and gas.
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