Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Whistleblower Claims IEA Is Downplaying Peak Oil

Posted by kdawson on from the routine-denial dept.

Yesterday the Guardian ran a story based on two anonymous sources inside the International Energy Agency who claimed that the agency had distorted key figures on oil reserves. "The world is much closer to running out of oil than official estimates admit, according to a whistleblower at the [IEA] who claims it has been deliberately underplaying a looming shortage for fear of triggering panic buying. The senior official claims the US has played an influential role in encouraging the watchdog to underplay the rate of decline from existing oil fields while overplaying the chances of finding new reserves." Today the IEA released its annual energy outlook and rejected the whistleblowers' charges. The Guardian has an editorial claiming that the economic establishment is too fearful to come clean on the reality of oil suppplies, and makes an analogy with the (marginalized, demonized) economists who warned of a coming economic collapse in 2007.

5 of 720 comments (clear)

  1. On the plus side! by fuzzyfuzzyfungus · · Score: 5, Funny

    We might manage to find some more oil if we all stick our heads far enough into the sand, that is basically where it lives...

    1. Re:On the plus side! by elrous0 · · Score: 5, Funny

      If my sources are correct, all we have to do is kill a bunch of dinosaurs then wait.

      --
      SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
  2. Re:If True, Fascinatingly Bizarre Logic by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    People who bought oil future loose their shirts.

    Why? Did they get too hot?

  3. Re:Bah! by postbigbang · · Score: 3, Funny

    What soot? Are you blind, man?

    And you think that catalytic converters all are in fine condition, and none of the trucks and trains and airliners in this country exhaust rosewater?

    For a moment, let's just say that all of that CO2 and water are healthy emissions. We'll ignore using coal to generate electricity. The long term effects are here.

    Would nuclear generation of power be useful? Yes, save we haven't figured out how to deal with the waste products, contamination, and safety issues. I invite a cogent redesign of nuclear power. I'd love it. I'd enjoy better hydro generation. Better and more efficient batteries.

    The soot issue isn't solved. Just because you can't see the particulate matter doesn't mean it's not there, and that's only in the case of passenger autos fueled in the North American and Brazilian market by gasoline and ethanol (a better but weaker choice). Diesel autos fuel the EU and Asia, as well as much of Africa. Yes, they're improving, but on the whole, not by very much.

    --
    ---- Teach Peace. It's Cheaper Than War.
  4. Re:Bah! by ichthus · · Score: 3, Funny

    Now, don't be a Godwin nazi.

    J/K. That sounds like a good plan. Draw up a petition and I will sign it.

    --
    sig: sauer