49. Questions linked to the care and preservation of the environment today need to give due consideration to the energy problem. The fact that some States, power groups and companies hoard non-renewable energy resources represents a grave obstacle to development in poor countries. Those countries lack the economic means either to gain access to existing sources of non-renewable energy or to finance research into new alternatives. The stockpiling of natural resources, which in many cases are found in the poor countries themselves, gives rise to exploitation and frequent conflicts between and within nations. These conflicts are often fought on the soil of those same countries, with a heavy toll of death, destruction and further decay. The international community has an urgent duty to find institutional means of regulating the exploitation of non-renewable resources, involving poor countries in the process, in order to plan together for the future.
On this front too, there is a pressing moral need for renewed solidarity, especially in relationships between developing countries and those that are highly industrialized[118]. The technologically advanced societies can and must lower their domestic energy consumption, either through an evolution in manufacturing methods or through greater ecological sensitivity among their citizens. It should be added that at present it is possible to achieve improved energy efficiency while at the same time encouraging research into alternative forms of energy. What is also needed, though, is a worldwide redistribution of energy resources, so that countries lacking those resources can have access to them. The fate of those countries cannot be left in the hands of whoever is first to claim the spoils, or whoever is able to prevail over the rest. Here we are dealing with major issues; if they are to be faced adequately, then everyone must responsibly recognize the impact they will have on future generations, particularly on the many young people in the poorer nations, who "ask to assume their active part in the construction of a better world"[119].
Is the Holy See aware of Peak Oil? If petroleum is a common good for all of the human race, and not just those nations that have the economic power to claim it through the "free market," then how do we convince those countries with oil fields to share oil instead of selling it as a private resource?
How much oil is needed for economic development? What would E.F. Schumacher say about this? Oil may be needed for a "traditional" model of industrialization, but if the age of cheap energy is over, shouldn't we be looking at whether industralization is a desirable goal? Where is the awareness of sustainable models of development?
Jason Bradford, Revisiting Relocalization
1 comment:
"Is the Holy See aware of Peak Oil?"
The Economist advising B_XVI re Caritas in Veritate (Zamagni) was exposed to the concept, as have probably also been the people at the Pontifical Council of Justice & Peace. Though I doubt B_XVI (or his advisors) fully grasped the implications of the issue.
"how do we convince those countries with oil fields to share oil instead of selling it as a private resource?"
Since those countries have very little resources other than oil and nat gas, the only way to convince them to share their oil would be if the US, Argentina, etc. shared their wheat, corn and soybean production instead of selling it.
"Oil may be needed for a "traditional" model of industrialization, but if the age of cheap energy is over, shouldn't we be looking at whether industralization is a desirable goal?"
The "development in poor countries" should be like this: use oil to set up a renewable energy infrastructure: dams, wind farms, solar thermal power plants, etc, and of factories enabled by that infrastructure to produce essential items (e.g. farm machinery).
BTW, note the striking similarity between:
1. CinV:
"The international community has an urgent duty to find institutional means of regulating the exploitation of non-renewable resources, involving poor countries in the process, in order to plan together for the future."
and the Oil Depletion Protocol
http://www.oildepletionprotocol.org
2. CinV:
"The technologically advanced societies can and must lower their domestic energy consumption, either through an evolution in manufacturing methods or through greater ecological sensitivity among their citizens. It should be added that at present it is possible to achieve improved energy efficiency while at the same time encouraging research into alternative forms of energy. What is also needed, though, is a worldwide redistribution of energy resources, so that countries lacking those resources can have access to them."
and Heinberg's Powerdown
http://www.richardheinberg.com/Powerdown.html
"The alternative is "Powerdown," a strategy that will require tremendous effort and economic sacrifice in order to reduce per-capita resource usage in wealthy countries, develop alternative energy sources, distribute resources more equitably"
The constrast between B_XVI and Heinberg comes right after the quoted text from Powerdown: Heinberg's "reduce the human population humanely but systematically over time" is at odds with the 2nd paragraph in CinV #44. But that's an issue for another post.
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