The End of Retirement
The hidden link between money and energy means that as fossil fuels deplete the relatively recent phenomenon of retirement is in its waning days.
Archive for Energy
Making society forecast-proof
Because forecasts of abundant fossil fuel supplies far into the future have been embedded in public policy and business planning worldwide, we have made our entire global society dependent on getting these forecasts right. If they turn out to be too optimistic, then we could all be in for serious trouble. Since long-term energy forecasts–and really any long-term forecasts–are difficult if not impossible to get right, perhaps we should consider making society forecast-proof insofar as that is possible.
Holiday postings
Postings will be very light/minimal over the Christmas/New Year period. Regular postings will resume on January 12. Please take some time during this period to dig into our voluminous archives and reread some of our classic articles from 2009. Happy Holidays to all our EB readers and contributors from the Energy Bulletin co-editors, Simone, Kristin, and Bart!
Energy Bulletin survey results
Thanks to all who took the time to take part in our recent survey. We promised you a summary of the results…and we like to keep our promises!
Top Ten Sustainability Stories of the Decade
It’s the end of the decade 2000-2009, and there has been progress as well as potential disaster for sustainability. In chronological order, I’ve chosen these ten stories to show a range of relevant global and national issues and events on climate, business, government, media, design, technology, language and demographics.
No “hope” in Copenhagen? - Dec 18
-President Obama warns leaders over climate summit deal
-Obama’s Copenhagen Speech: Some Reactions
-Copenhagen climate summit: talks to go on overnight
-Copenhagen heading for meltdown as stalemate continues over emission cuts
-Obama as White Knight: Naked Ambition at COP15
-Better to have no deal at Copenhagen than one that spells catastrophe
Deep thought - Dec 17
-Fairness, Personal Action and Al Gore’s House
-Do Panels Dispense Advice or Rationales?
-Unschooling & Unworking: Confessions of a stay-at-home family (Part 2)
-COP15: Climate ’scepticism’ and questions about sex
-Can Obama Stop America’s Gas-Guzzling Ways?
Food & agriculture - Dec 16
Why Britain faces a bleak future of food shortages
-Sinking Feelings About Storing Carbon Emissions on the Farm
-California’s Troubled Waters
-L.A. cooperative provides communities with produce
-Farmers Reclaim Power!
-Free lunches handed out to highlight food waste
-Setting the Table (report)
GAO study: Energy-Water Nexus of Biofuels
Three weeks ago the US Government Accountability Office released a 50-page analysis of the nexus between biofuel production and water resources.
Canadian Oil Sands Misses Unrealistic Projection – Issues Another
Canadian energy authorities have done it again. They missed their last rosy projection of future oil sands production, so they issued a new one: they merely pushed the big surge in production 5 years into the future.
Peak oil, prices, and supplies - Dec 9, updated Dec 11
-Approaching peak oil
-Copenhagen talks could leave oil industry with a sinking feeling
-IEA forecasts stir debate
-The peak oil debate: 2020 vision
Is “Clean Coal” a Dead End?
Many energy experts, politicians on both sides of the aisle, and representatives of the coal industry agree on the need to spend billions to develop technologies to capture and store the carbon from burning coal, thus making coal “clean” from a climate standpoint.
The UK, millionaires, bankers, and tax - Dec 9
-The millionaires who want to pay more tax
-This tax on the City is a bonus
-Tax rebate plan for ‘green’ drivers and homeowners
Web & media - Dec 8
-Wikipedia shows signs of stalling as number of volunteers falls sharply
-Car culture: Some snapshots
-The story of cap and trade
-Available Now! The 2 Disc Special Edition of вЂIn Transition 1.0′!
-Christmas insanity unwrapped
The Complexity Myth
I’m looking forward to the rhubarb growing season; it happens when you least expect it, as tiny shoots start to emerge from the soil, embellished in the most delightful crinkles, and bursting with every shade of pink, red and green you could imagine. You can almost smell it stewing in the pan as its red shoots push upwards and outwards.