Energy from fossil fuels is too cheap.
I think that petrol/gas is still incredibly cheap, when taking into account, that we don't have real alternatives and the increased likelihood that supply can't keep up with the demand in the near future.
I think only much higher costs for petrol/kerosine will be able to curb our demand, which would have at least two major advantages for our and future generations:
- Reduction of CO2 in the atmosphere
- Longer supply of fossil fuel within agriculture*
First thing to do is to tax kerosine/aviation fuel.
It's one of the most ridiculous things I could think of: Trains are one of the most energy efficient transport, therefore low impact on green house gases. Planes are less efficient and they exhaust their green house gases in the worst possible area in our atmosphere (no vegetation to process the CO2 back into C and O2). Yet, the energy used in planes is nearly tax free, while the energy used for trains/buses is taxed.
Higher tax on petrol/gas used by cars.
I find it again ridiculous that each year the average power and consumption of cars sold is increasing**. Why don't we put technical innovation into low consumption cars instead of more power? Exactly, petrol is so incredible cheap that still nobody is interested in the consumption figures of the car.
It also would stop people from doing unnecessary car rides. As long as Richmond, U.K., is congested with cars on a sunny summer Sunday afternoon, petrol is definitely way too cheap.
I cannot see that those two steps will ever be taken in Industrial Countries, which is very sad, because it's like a good kick in the arse of future generations. Therefore I hope that we will be hit as hard as possible by an energy crises, which most likely will happen in my lifetime... maybe mankind will be able to learn.
I also agree that many countries should rethink their budgets. All the billion of pounds the U.K. government wants to invest in Trident, nuclear submarines/weapons, program is just unworthy for an intelligent society. The real problem of the future is enough renewable energy sources, including the possibility to feed the people, which would most likely also solve the green house gas problem. There is no long term future relying on finite sources like oil, gas and uranium.
* Search for articles containing "Eat fossil fuels" on the net
** In Germany last year the average power of a car sold was 129 hp and the cars in advertising consume an incredible average of 9 litres per 100 km.
I think that petrol/gas is still incredibly cheap, when taking into account, that we don't have real alternatives and the increased likelihood that supply can't keep up with the demand in the near future.
I think only much higher costs for petrol/kerosine will be able to curb our demand, which would have at least two major advantages for our and future generations:
- Reduction of CO2 in the atmosphere
- Longer supply of fossil fuel within agriculture*
First thing to do is to tax kerosine/aviation fuel.
It's one of the most ridiculous things I could think of: Trains are one of the most energy efficient transport, therefore low impact on green house gases. Planes are less efficient and they exhaust their green house gases in the worst possible area in our atmosphere (no vegetation to process the CO2 back into C and O2). Yet, the energy used in planes is nearly tax free, while the energy used for trains/buses is taxed.
Higher tax on petrol/gas used by cars.
I find it again ridiculous that each year the average power and consumption of cars sold is increasing**. Why don't we put technical innovation into low consumption cars instead of more power? Exactly, petrol is so incredible cheap that still nobody is interested in the consumption figures of the car.
It also would stop people from doing unnecessary car rides. As long as Richmond, U.K., is congested with cars on a sunny summer Sunday afternoon, petrol is definitely way too cheap.
I cannot see that those two steps will ever be taken in Industrial Countries, which is very sad, because it's like a good kick in the arse of future generations. Therefore I hope that we will be hit as hard as possible by an energy crises, which most likely will happen in my lifetime... maybe mankind will be able to learn.
I also agree that many countries should rethink their budgets. All the billion of pounds the U.K. government wants to invest in Trident, nuclear submarines/weapons, program is just unworthy for an intelligent society. The real problem of the future is enough renewable energy sources, including the possibility to feed the people, which would most likely also solve the green house gas problem. There is no long term future relying on finite sources like oil, gas and uranium.
* Search for articles containing "Eat fossil fuels" on the net
** In Germany last year the average power of a car sold was 129 hp and the cars in advertising consume an incredible average of 9 litres per 100 km.
