Comments on: Exclusive to Transition Culture – An Interview with Tony Juniper – Part 1. Peak oil, climate change and the role of local communities. http://transitionculture.org/2007/02/23/exclusive-to-transition-culture-an-interview-with-tony-juniper-part-1-peak-oil-climate-change-and-the-role-of-local-communities/ An Evolving Exploration into the Head, Heart and Hands of Energy Descent Mon, 13 Feb 2012 00:35:27 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: mark http://transitionculture.org/2007/02/23/exclusive-to-transition-culture-an-interview-with-tony-juniper-part-1-peak-oil-climate-change-and-the-role-of-local-communities/comment-page-1/#comment-24840 mark Fri, 23 Feb 2007 20:57:25 +0000 http://transitionculture.org/2007/02/23/exclusive-to-transition-culture-an-interview-with-tony-juniper-part-1-peak-oil-climate-change-and-the-role-of-local-communities/#comment-24840 <p>There is a real lack of awareness about peak oil and peak resources in general. I know this from my MSc course in Environmental Systems Engineering where we have to consider the whole system and understand the context within which designs can be sustainable. However many people are only aware of climate change and in the academic world this is resulting in huge investment into research which is not appropriate because of peak resources and linked issues.</p> <p>As I've said before the problem with peak oil is that the issue is its so directly linked to the economy. It's obviously a problem which is only going to get worse, as more of the stuff is consumed. I think it's the case that is is a major problem and no one wants to address it because it's already too big a cat to let out of the bag. But it won't go away which means the shock when it hits the economy will be that much worse.</p> <p>I think in the future the two issues of resource depletion and climate change will be fundamental learning blocks for any engineer. But this may take another 10 years to happen.</p> There is a real lack of awareness about peak oil and peak resources in general. I know this from my MSc course in Environmental Systems Engineering where we have to consider the whole system and understand the context within which designs can be sustainable. However many people are only aware of climate change and in the academic world this is resulting in huge investment into research which is not appropriate because of peak resources and linked issues.

As I’ve said before the problem with peak oil is that the issue is its so directly linked to the economy. It’s obviously a problem which is only going to get worse, as more of the stuff is consumed. I think it’s the case that is is a major problem and no one wants to address it because it’s already too big a cat to let out of the bag. But it won’t go away which means the shock when it hits the economy will be that much worse.

I think in the future the two issues of resource depletion and climate change will be fundamental learning blocks for any engineer. But this may take another 10 years to happen.

]]> By: Jason Cole http://transitionculture.org/2007/02/23/exclusive-to-transition-culture-an-interview-with-tony-juniper-part-1-peak-oil-climate-change-and-the-role-of-local-communities/comment-page-1/#comment-24733 Jason Cole Fri, 23 Feb 2007 17:17:33 +0000 http://transitionculture.org/2007/02/23/exclusive-to-transition-culture-an-interview-with-tony-juniper-part-1-peak-oil-climate-change-and-the-role-of-local-communities/#comment-24733 <p>....and Nuclear Fission for electricity (something that CC followers enthuse without considering the resource availability/flow issues).</p> ….and Nuclear Fission for electricity (something that CC followers enthuse without considering the resource availability/flow issues).

]]> By: Jason Cole http://transitionculture.org/2007/02/23/exclusive-to-transition-culture-an-interview-with-tony-juniper-part-1-peak-oil-climate-change-and-the-role-of-local-communities/comment-page-1/#comment-24680 Jason Cole Fri, 23 Feb 2007 15:37:21 +0000 http://transitionculture.org/2007/02/23/exclusive-to-transition-culture-an-interview-with-tony-juniper-part-1-peak-oil-climate-change-and-the-role-of-local-communities/#comment-24680 “The peak oil thing can turn to “OK what other oils can we get?â€?, alright the biofuels is one side of it etc”
Indeed, that’s what would happen if one fails to make the point properly. The main point to get across is that all of the alternatives don’t scale.

You could equally argue that not getting the CO2 emissions point across properly will lead to people suggesting that the man-made component of climate change is not significant.

Suggesting CC being “bigger than” PO is dangerous IMO. It’s like saying Christianity is bigger than Islam. There are people who don’t believe in CC and do believe in PO. I see CC (specifically AGW) as being the “carrot” and PO being the “stick”.

I believe it’s more to the point to focus on what the solutions to CC and PO have in common, rather than focussing on their differences. By taking the “whole system” view, the ridiculous CC solutions proposed such as “mirrors in space” would not fit the PO dimension.

]]>