PEAK OIL/FUEL ECONOMIES/ FOOD 2010, MARCH 2010
The ESG is aware and very concerned about the reality of Peak Oil and how this diminishing resource, which has powered the modernisation of societies today, will impact on the not too distant future. There are many organisations and energy experts who dedicate a lot of time into this subject matter so please Google Peak Oil if you are unfamiliar with this term for more information. Our prime concern for Gibraltar is that we rely 100% on oil for all our most basic needs. Our potable water and electricity are produced by burning oil.
A growing arm of our Economy is related to Fuel for land and marine based traffic. Apart from the immediate threat to health from the handling/storage and delivery of oil is the reality that this commodity is facing a decline that will impact on our economy as well as our ability to produce our most basic amenities.
Lets not forget that Climate Change is linked to man made activities and the combustion of fossil fuels highlighted as a key contributor, so our serious efforts at diversifying from this fuel makes a whole lot of sense! (eg Underwater Sea Turbines)
Regarding Food Supplies for Gibraltar, the ESG also considers that serious research and feasibility plans need to be set up in order to ensure that the Gibraltar Community can work towards becoming more sustainable in terms of feeding ourselves. Yes, we do not have land to grow crops but we need to understand how our reliance on food imports (with accompanying food miles) and reliance on oil fuelled traffic, could come under increasing pressure as the price of oil goes up , leaving us vulnerable and exposed without a Plan B.
It’s no point thinking that something that isn’t likely to happen in the next ten years is not an issue for us to bother about- We owe it to ourselves and our families and future generations to start dealing with these issues in a meaningful way.
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Key reports and links will be posted on this section soon-
See “Farm for the Future” by Rebecca Hoskins for a serious look at global food issues today
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