Introduction

Energy is central to our existence and our way of life. We use it in virtually all aspects of life: manufacturing the myriads of goods that we have come to depend on, growing our food, transporting goods and people, controlling our environment, communicating with one another, entertaining ourselves, and the list goes on. By and large, the standard of living of a society is directly linked to its energy consumption. Indeed, today’s technological society can be described, quite literally, as “turning oil into everything else that we eat or use.” Energy use is so pervasive that we often fail to recognize its role and are only reminded of our dependence on it when for some reason or another there is a shortage. To be sure, such reminders have occurred and will occur every so often. However, the shortages we have overcome thus far are very minor compared with what may lie ahead. With ever increasing numbers of people and nations striving to improve their standard of living, the demand for energy is soaring. At the same time, traditional sources of energy are being depleted, and even their current level of use poses a serious threat of global climate change. How are we going to provide the vast amounts of energy that we will need or desire in the future? That is the central question that this book addresses. Effective resolution of any major societal issue requires easy access to reliable and relevant information. When an issue is not only complex and multifaceted but also essential to maintaining the very fabric of the society, a lack of comprehensible information makes the public’s role and government leadership less effective, and appropriate solutions become more difficult to implement. This is the situation today with global energy—arguably the world’s largest industry and one central to all our lives. On the one hand, the public is generally unaware that a pervasive, long-term problem exists and that the world is facing a complex and potentially perilous, perhaps even revolutionary, future.