Peak oil and transportation

This week I have been thinking about transportation and how to get from A to B. In England this week there was a meeting “Policy Response to potential future oil supply
constraints”, which was run by the Energy Institute and Department of Energy and Climate Change. The question being asked in environmental circles is 'Is this the day that the British Government started to acknowlegde Peak Oil'. But what does this have to do with us in Australia so far away? Well lets start with 'Peak Oil'.

What is 'Peak Oil'? It is the point where production hits it's highest level and then starts to decline in production. Basically the Earth's supply of oil begins to petter out.

And why all the fuss? Because everything in our home is there because of oil. Oil was used in the manufacture and transportation of everything in your home. And lets not forget our own transportation - cars, taxis, buses, trains and trams, boats, planes, tractors, trucks etc...

Prices are expected to soar when peak oil is reached. It is expected that not only production but also transportation costs will rise dramatically. In the supermarket at the moment you can buy oranges from USA, canned tomatoes from Italy and pineapple from Queensland. However it is envisaged that with peak oil the cost of transportation of these items will make them too expensive to import or to transport. But it is not only food that will be affected.

Last night was Earth Hour. We were asked to turn our lights off in a global union of recognition of climate change. Some people turned their lights off and lit candles. Romantic! But stop for a minute and think about the candles you lit. Were they normal wax candles? For most of us - yes they were. But the manufacture and production of wax candles is heavily relient on oil for the production and manufacturing process plus there is also the transportation miles added on (and lets not get into the amount of water and the carbon emissions that simple wax or tea light candles use to make them but I digress).

Natural soy candles do not have the same environmental effects as their wax counterparts. I am lucky that there is a local shop, Burning Passion, in Yarra Glen that make and sell soy candles. There is also Conscious Candle Company but they are located in WA. The drawback with that being they are located on the other side of the continent however preferable to 'cheap' imports. With Peak Oil being in mind purchasing an item from one side of the continent or purchasing local becomes an important point to take into consideration.

So back to transportation. Last year I wrote off my car in an accident. I was faced with the decision of replacing my car or not. For a number of years I had been toying with idea of purchasing an electric push bike. I was idealistic and romantic in my vision of going car-less. But after the car accident I thought it was perfect timing to forgo a motor vehicle.

I have had my electric push bike since October 2009, so 6 months now. I use public transport for nearly all my trips (have great friends and family that give me a lift home). I love it! And while my romantic notions of riding a push bike have been blown out the window I think I would be reluctant to go back to a car.

For starters I have significantly reduced my carbon footprint by not driving. I am fitter and I am now off my diabetic medication (Yay!!! because I was looking at going onto cholesterol medication and insulin injections). Through the summer months it has been tough. Anywhere I ride or walk I end up sweaty and smelly. Not too good when you are going on a first date. Now winter is coming there will be more challenges to uncover. On nice warm days it is a pleasure to ride anywhere.

Don't get me wrong I love driving a car and they are incredibly convenient. My short journey to work takes 9 minutes by car door to door. Using public transport it takes about 40 minutes. So why do it?

I want to be prepared for peak oil. It may not happen this year or next year or even the year after. Heck, it may not happen for another 20 years. But when it does happen I want to be as prepared as I can be. It is not panicking about what will happen. I like being proactive rather than reactive. I want to be in a better position to meet the challenges of the future. My next challenge is making my own dog and cat food....stay tuned.