More government rubbish on Peak Oil
Posted: 10 Nov 2008, 16:49
http://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id ... g229871.q0
John Hemming (Birmingham, Yardley, Liberal Democrat) | Hansard source
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the statement of 20 October 2008, Official Report, column 34, on the European Council, what assessment he has made of the feasibility of securing a constantly rising supply of oil; what assessment he has made of the implications of such supply and consumption for initiatives to tackle climate change; and if he will make a statement.
Mike O'Brien (Minister of State, Department for Energy and Climate Change; North Warwickshire, Labour) | Hansard source
The UK's oil demand is expected to rise gradually over the next decade, mainly driven by demand for aviation fuel and diesel while petrol consumption is forecast to fall. However, global demand is expected by the International Energy Agency (IEA) to rise more sharply over this period, mainly driven by increasing demand in developing economies.
The Government do not estimate the timing of peak in global oil production. However, it is our assessment that the global oil reserves are sufficient to prevent total global oil production peaking in the foreseeable future—provided that sufficient investment in both upstream and downstream is forthcoming in order for production to keep pace with the growing global oil demand.
In the long-term, however, unchecked growth of oil demand, both in the UK and internationally, is not environmentally or economically sustainable. The Government are therefore working both domestically and internationally to reduce CO2 emissions from the transport sector which will also help to ease demand for oil in the UK and internationally. This includes policies to reduce the carbon content of transport fuel; improve fuel efficiency of vehicles; enable individuals to make more sustainable travel choices; and explore the use of emissions trading for transport. In particular, the renewable transport fuel obligation, EU standards on vehicle emissions and research into electric and hybrid vehicles are likely to encourage the development and deployment of technologies that provide alternatives to petrol and diesel and/or reduce CO2 emissions.
The Government hope that the forthcoming meeting of Energy Ministers it will host in December will provide an opportunity for consumer and producer nations to discuss these issues.
John Hemming (Birmingham, Yardley, Liberal Democrat) | Hansard source
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change pursuant to the statement of 20 October 2008, Official Report, column 34, on the European Council, what assessment he has made of the feasibility of securing a constantly rising supply of oil; what assessment he has made of the implications of such supply and consumption for initiatives to tackle climate change; and if he will make a statement.
Mike O'Brien (Minister of State, Department for Energy and Climate Change; North Warwickshire, Labour) | Hansard source
The UK's oil demand is expected to rise gradually over the next decade, mainly driven by demand for aviation fuel and diesel while petrol consumption is forecast to fall. However, global demand is expected by the International Energy Agency (IEA) to rise more sharply over this period, mainly driven by increasing demand in developing economies.
The Government do not estimate the timing of peak in global oil production. However, it is our assessment that the global oil reserves are sufficient to prevent total global oil production peaking in the foreseeable future—provided that sufficient investment in both upstream and downstream is forthcoming in order for production to keep pace with the growing global oil demand.
In the long-term, however, unchecked growth of oil demand, both in the UK and internationally, is not environmentally or economically sustainable. The Government are therefore working both domestically and internationally to reduce CO2 emissions from the transport sector which will also help to ease demand for oil in the UK and internationally. This includes policies to reduce the carbon content of transport fuel; improve fuel efficiency of vehicles; enable individuals to make more sustainable travel choices; and explore the use of emissions trading for transport. In particular, the renewable transport fuel obligation, EU standards on vehicle emissions and research into electric and hybrid vehicles are likely to encourage the development and deployment of technologies that provide alternatives to petrol and diesel and/or reduce CO2 emissions.
The Government hope that the forthcoming meeting of Energy Ministers it will host in December will provide an opportunity for consumer and producer nations to discuss these issues.
