Arctic Oil Boom Sparks the Next Great Political and Environmental Battle
19th May 2013
Things are heating up fast in the far north. The lands and sea of the Arctic — which have been ice-filled, inhospitable and treacherous for most of human history — are experiencing the effects of climate change more rapidly than anywhere else on Earth. All of the Arctic’s sea ice is expected to melt completely, every summer, beginning around 2050 or sooner, according to one recent study, clearing the way for unprecedented oil and gas drilling. But oil companies and world governments aren’t waiting until then to spur an oil boom in the Arctic — they’re starting now.
I’m guessing that ‘peak oil’ means ‘have a peak at all the oil we’re gaining access to’.
Human nature aside, I’m still waiting for someone to explain precisely why global warming (if it really exists) is such a bad thing.
And I’m still looking forward to seeing Manhattan, D.C., and L.A. under three feet of water.