Vision put forward of world without oil

Nanaimo News Bulletin
Melissa Fryer
13 Nov 2004

Eventually people will have to find a way to live without oil - sooner rather than later.

That's the message author and environmentalist Guy Dauncey brought in his address to a forum on the challenges and opportunities facing Nanaimo in a world without fossil fuels.

He said future historians will identify the current time period as the fossil fuel age. They will say that humans were either very sensible for switching to sustainable energy or that humans had failed, causing climate change and the death of millions of plants and animals.

"We are the people who are going to decide how that goes," Dauncey said.

Climate change, increased heat and dryness are directly related to our use of fossil fuels, said Dauncey.

Evidence comes from the B.C. forest fires and the melting ice in the Arctic.

"The Arctic is the canary in the coal mine for the world," Dauncey said.

"You cannot have polar bears and burn fossil fuels. Polar bears need ice; fossil fuels melt ice."

Dauncey points to initiatives in Europe, for examples, of sustainable energy use in homes and in vehicles.

Some housing developments include solar panels for heat and hot water. Budings are small, making them easier to heat, with stores close by to promote pedestrian trips.

Increasing walking, cycling and use of transit helps to cut down on fuel use. Car share programs allow members access to a range of vehicles, allowing people to choose the right car for their trip.

New vehicles that use fuel sources other than gasoline also help reduce dependence on fossil fuels, said Dauncey.

"We will have to. There won't be the oil and gas to heat ourselves," Dauncey said.

The City of Nanaimo's advisory committee on the environment sponsored the forum. Made up of councillors and members of the community, the committee advises city council and raises environmental concerns in the community.

Guy Dauncey is founding president of the BC Sustainable Energy Association, publisher of a number of books on the challenges of climate change, and publisher of EcoNews. You can reach Guy through BC-SEA or EarthFuture.