The End of Oil: On the Edge of a Perilous New WorldHoughton Mifflin Harcourt, 2005 - 399 pages Petroleum is now so deeply entrenched in our economy, our politics, and our personal expectations that even modest efforts to phase it out are fought tooth and nail by the most powerful forces in the world: companies and governments that depend on oil revenues; the developing nations that see oil as the only means to industrial success; and a Western middle class that refuses to modify its energy-dependent lifestyle. But within thirty years, by even conservative estimates, we will have burned our way through most of the oil that is easily accessible. And well before then, the side effects of an oil-based society--economic volatility, geopolitical conflict, and the climate-changing impact of hydrocarbon pollution--will render fossil fuels an all but unacceptable solution. How will we break our addiction to oil? And what will we use in its place to maintain a global economy and political system that are entirely reliant on cheap, readily available energy? Brilliantly reported from around the globe, The End of Oil brings the world situation into fresh and dramatic focus for business and general readers alike. Roberts talks to both oil optimists and oil pessimists, delves deep into the economics and politics of oil, considers the promises and pitfalls of alternatives, and shows that, although the world energy system has begun its epoch-defining transition, disruption and violent dislocation are almost assured if we do not take a more proactive stance. With the topicality and readability of Fast Food Nation and the scope and trenchant analysis of Guns, Germs, and Steel, this is a vitally important book for the new century. |
From inside the book
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Page 4
... China , a rapidly industrializing giant with more than a billion people and plans to build an economy as powerful and energy - intensive as anything in the West , now uses more oil than its own fields can produce and has begun courting ...
... China , a rapidly industrializing giant with more than a billion people and plans to build an economy as powerful and energy - intensive as anything in the West , now uses more oil than its own fields can produce and has begun courting ...
Page 7
... China and India, whose leaders see vo- racious energy consumption as the key to industrial success. Yet while the future energy demand seems certain, no one is clear where all this energy will come from. Consider oil. Quite aside from ...
... China and India, whose leaders see vo- racious energy consumption as the key to industrial success. Yet while the future energy demand seems certain, no one is clear where all this energy will come from. Consider oil. Quite aside from ...
Page 8
... China and India have essentially declared a state of emergency , sidelining environmental concerns to build hundreds of cheap coal - fired power plants , whose emissions may make it impossible even to slow climate change . And China and ...
... China and India have essentially declared a state of emergency , sidelining environmental concerns to build hundreds of cheap coal - fired power plants , whose emissions may make it impossible even to slow climate change . And China and ...
Page 11
... China Sea , in Alaska and Chad , multinational energy companies comb the earth and ocean beds in search for the next big oil and gas plays . And around the world , the diplomatic , economic , and military strategies of nearly every ...
... China Sea , in Alaska and Chad , multinational energy companies comb the earth and ocean beds in search for the next big oil and gas plays . And around the world , the diplomatic , economic , and military strategies of nearly every ...
Page 14
... China and India , two energy paupers whose enormous popula- tions and growing economies will nonetheless make them the biggest en- ergy players of the twenty - first century . I have examined Japan and Ger- many , countries that ...
... China and India , two energy paupers whose enormous popula- tions and growing economies will nonetheless make them the biggest en- ergy players of the twenty - first century . I have examined Japan and Ger- many , countries that ...
Other editions - View all
The End of Oil: The Decline of the Petroleum Economy and the Rise of a New ... Paul Roberts No preview available - 2005 |
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alternative American analysts auto automakers automotive Ballard barrels a day become build burn Bush carbon century China Chinese climate change climate policy CO₂ CO2 emissions coal coal-fired power plants conservation consumers costs countries decades dollars electricity energy companies energy economy energy efficiency energy order energy policy energy poverty energy security energy system energy technologies engine environmental ergy Europe example expensive experts ExxonMobil fossil fuels fuel cell cars fuel efficiency future gallon gas-fired gasoline geopolitical global energy growth huge hundred hydrocarbons hydrogen economy investment Japan Kyoto less long-term megawatts Middle East miles million barrels nations natural gas nearly non-OPEC nuclear oil companies oil fields oil markets oil prices oil production OPEC peak percent Personal communication pipeline political pollution produce renewables reserves Russia Saudi Arabia says sector simply solar energy supply tion U.S. energy United utilities Venezuela White House wind farms wind power world oil