It seems that the UK, at least, is finally waking up to the threat of Peak Oil. Sir David King, the UK Government’s former chief scientist has endorsed a new report by scientists and researchers from Oxford University that argue that official oil reserves are exaggerated by 1/3, should be downgraded from 1,350bn to 900bn and that demand will outstrip supply by 2014.

At the same time the UK Industry Peak Oil Task force’s latest report, again citing a supply crunch in and around 2014, has sent alarm bells ringing through Whitehall. In a significant policy shift, the UK energy minister has agreed to undertake more work on whether the UK needs to take action to avoid the massive dislocation that could be caused by the early onset of “peak oil”.

Closer to home FEASTA has published a 55 page report entitled “Tipping Point: Near-Term Implications of a Peak in Global Oil Production”. The paper talks about the likely systemic impacts of peak oil, including the possibility of collapse. Well worth a read.