Response of Professional Societies and Conservation Organizations to Peak Oil and Economic Growth

Abstract

Peaking of the world’s oil supply is resulting in economic, social, cultural, and environmental instability on a global level. Individuals, businesses, and entire countries are attempting to maintain economic growth and preserve our current way of life for as long as possible. Government attention is turned toward averting economic collapse and obtaining energy resources, while the people are concerned about job security and subsistence. Environmental concerns are receiving the least attention by the majority of people. The environment is being ravaged by an aggressive quest for more fossil fuel resources to support a growing population and sustain economic growth by a society that knows no other way to live and is utterly dependent on oil. Addressing current environmental problems is already a challenge for conservationists, because societal priorities reside elsewhere or resolving these issues directly impacts certain powerful economic interests. The environmental community, including many professional societies and conservation organizations, as well as a number of government agencies and private companies, will need to step up their efforts to address global impacts of oil depletion if they hope to continue to protect living natural systems and the environment. Unfortunately, societal capacity to support these vital efforts is diminishing due to the buildup of pervasive economic pressures from escalating higher costs of living in response to higher prices for energy.