Converging Events

There are two global events converging to create the most significant crisis of modern times. The first of these is the escalating consumption of energy and resulting depletion of fossil-fuel resources. The second major event threatening our planet is global warming.

The US peaked in oil production in the 1970’s (Figure A). We have since exhausted 75% of all the known oil reserves in the US, and we are now on our way to consuming the remaining 25%.

The US peaked in natural gas production in 1973, and in order to keep gas production steady in the US, we have had to drill thousands more wells every year. We have very little remaining oil and gas reserves.

Currently, global warming is at 0.7°C above pre-industrial levels (Figure B). Scientists tell us that in order to avoid dangerous climate change we must keep global warming under 2°C above pre-industrial levels. If we reach 3°C, we could potentially cause catastrophic climate change.