United Nations Environment Programme

Oil Crisis

Rising levels of welfare are an important driving force behind many of the world’s most pressing environmental threats. For example, the 2005 Millennium Ecosystem Assessment concluded that over the past 50 years, humans have changed ecosystems more rapidly and extensively than in any comparable period in human history. Since its discovery in the second half of the 19th century, oil has become one of the largest export products worldwide. With a daily global consumption of over 87 million barrels per day, it is safe to say that oil is our staple diet. Ironically, the same product that facilitates our daily life, causes tremendous damage to the environment.

On the 22nd of April 2010 the Deepwater Horizon Drilling Platform sank, resulting in what would be the largest oil spill in history. In the following months the platform leaked over 3 million liters of oil into the Gulf of Mexico. The immediate consequences of the spill were painfully visible. Ten thousands of animals were at risk, natural habitats were destroyed, fish were killed and when dolphins started blowing oil through their blow holes, the situation had reached a shocking low. The spill has left nature with scars of pollution so grave that she might never recover. But not only animal life is suffering from the oil disaster. Fishermen lost their jobs and the quality of seafood is at risk. Also the prices and sales of real estate in the Gulf have decreased significantly.

This recent oil disaster left us wondering what to do with our consumption drift, when it is slowly destroying the environment that we are so dependent on. In the meantime oil reserves are running dry, leaving us with questions as are we investing enough in alternative sources of energy, like solar power and wind farms? The black gold, meant to safeguard the future, now appears to be ignorant to do so.

Each region, each political party, each organization, and each individual has a particular approach to crisis management and addressing the current and future climate related issues.

In-committee lecture

The committee topic will be introduced by Simon Kalf, member of the board of the Dutch chapter of ASPO (the Association for the Study of Peak Oil and Gas). This is an international Network Organization of research groups, universities and individuals. Peak oil is the point in history whereby the production of oil, in all its forms, will reach its maximum level and thereafter structural declines. In other words: The moment that oil is starting to leave us.
Simon Kalf is an educated economist, followed by 28 years in IBM (in 7 different jobs and 4 levels of management) and 7 years as consultant/interim manager. He joined ASPO Netherlands in 2007 and quickly became an energy expert.