“ Shell estimates that after 2015 supplies of easy-to-access oil and gas will no longer keep up with demand.”
      Jeroen van de Veer, CEO of Shell, 22 January 2008

“ Underpinning the long-term price of oil is the fact that the world is consuming over 30 billion barrels a year and replacing only a fraction of this with new discoveries.”
      James W. Buckee, President and CEO of Talisman Energy Inc., 13 March 2007

“ We’re seeing the beginnings of a bidding war for Middle Eastern oil between east and west.”
      Dave O’Reilly, CEO of Chevron, 15 February 2008

“ In the longer run, unless we take serious steps to prepare for the day that we can no longer increase production of conventional oil, we are faced with the possibility of a major economic shock – and the political unrest that would ensue.”
      Dr. James Schlesinger, former US Energy Secretary, 16 November 2005

“ We should not cling to crude down to the last drop – we should leave oil before it leaves us. That means new approaches must be found soon....The really important thing is that even though we are not yet running out of oil, we are running out of time.”
      Fatih Birol, Chief Economist, International Energy Agency, 2 March 2008

“The easy, cheap oil is over. Peak oil is looming.”
      Shokri Ghanem, head of Libya’s National Oil Corporation, 8 June 2008

Climate Change

If you asked me to name the three scariest threats facing the human race, I would give the same answer that most people would: nuclear war, global warming and Windows.
      Dave Barry

Observations show that warming of the climate is unequivocal. The global warming observed over the past 50 years is due primarily to human-induced emissions of heat-trapping gases. These emissions come mainly from the burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil, and gas), with important contributions from the clearing of forests, agricultural practices, and other activities.

Climate-related changes have already been observed globally and in the United States. These include increases in air and water temperatures, reduced frost days, increased frequency and intensity of heavy downpours, a rise in sea level, and reduced snow cover, glaciers, permafrost, and sea ice. A longer ice-free period on lakes and rivers, lengthening of the growing season, and increased water vapor in the atmosphere have also been observed. Over the past 30 years, temperatures have risen faster in winter than in any other season, with average winter temperatures in the Midwest and northern Great Plains increasing more than 7°F. Some of the changes have been faster than previous assessments had suggested.
      U.S. Global Change Research Program report, June, 2009.:

"Climate change and sustainable energy supply are crucial challenges for the future of humanity. It is essential that world leaders agree on the emission reductions needed to combat negative consequences of anthropogenic climate change". "Climate change is happening even faster than previously estimated; global CO2 emissions since 2000 have been higher than even the highest predictions, Arctic sea ice has been melting at rates much faster than predicted, and the rise in the sea level has become more rapid."
     Thirteen Signatories of the National science academies of the G8+5 nations

Networking

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The Growing Family of Transition

Transition Bloomington is part of an international movement.

Begun in Totnes, England in 2006, the Transition concept has spread rapidly around the world. To date there are nearly 323 towns /cities / villages in North America alone who’ve initiated a Transition movement (Bloomington is the 54th in the US). This model is “going viral” and waking communities to a co-creative, joyous , and effective response.

History

The Transition movement emerged from the work of Permaculture educator, Rob Hopkins, and his students at the Kinsale Further Education College in Ireland. In early 2005 they created the Kinsale Energy Descent Action Plan, which was later adopted as policy by the Town Council. It was the first strategic community planning document of its kind, and went beyond the issues of energy supply, to look at across-the-board creative adaptations in the realms of food, farming, education, economy, health, and much more.

After moving back to the UK to complete his doctorate, Rob decided to take the Peak Oil preparation process beyond the classroom and into the community. He started Transition Towns Totnes in early 2006, and it took off like a rocket. It has since spread virally across the world as groups in other communities quickly copied the model and initiated the Transition process in their own locale.

The Transition Network was established in the UK in late 2006, to support the rapid international growth of the movement. In 2007, increasing high levels of interest in the States led to the launch of Transition US which was established as a national support network, in partnership with the Transition Network, to take on the role of providing co-ordination, support and training to Transition Initiatives as they emerged across the States. The process of “officiating” Transition Initiatives in the States was also handed over to Transition US.