Depletionists

Many analysts believe that the World will start running out of oil, that Peak Oil--the time when usable supplies begin to decline--has been reached. Simplistically, one might think that declining oil supplies will help reduce greenhouse gases; but a more pessimistic expectation prevails. Rising oil prices may reduce the consumption of oil, but uses of harder-to-produce sources of oil, like conversion from coal, may increase emissions. Generally, the economic stress caused by Peak Oil makes us less able to cope with other problems. Optimists hope that delpetionists and conservationists will make common cause to reduce the consumption of oil.