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Expensive oil will be bad for the environment

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 stp 04 Jun 2008
Just in case some optimists think that high oil prices might be good for the environment...guess again.

ERDOS, China (Reuters) - With oil prices at historic highs, China is moving full steam ahead with a controversial process to turn its vast coal reserves into barrels of oil.

Known as coal-to-liquid (CTL), the process is reviled by environmentalists who say it causes excessive greenhouse gases.

Yet the possibility of obtaining oil from coal and being fuel self-sufficient is enticing to coal-rich countries seeking to secure their energy supply in an age of increased debate about how long the world's oil reserves can continue to meet demand.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080604/lf_nm/china_ctl_dc_1;_ylt=AgvDheJCMhFOP...

 woolsack 04 Jun 2008
In reply to stp: Add this horror to the oil shale extraction
 Phil1919 04 Jun 2008
In reply to stp: Cheap oil prices aren't good for the environment either, but theres more to be gained in other ways when its expensive. There are too many cars about. High oil prices equals less cars. Great.
 BelleVedere 04 Jun 2008
In reply to stp:

yeah not ideal

also the ecomomic case for using other oil sources (heavy oil, tar sands and shale oil) becomes greater. This use a lot more energy to extract, and for example in the case of Venezuela's heavy oil which contains lot of sulphur can have there own problems
trevor simpson 04 Jun 2008
In reply to es:

> (in the case of Venezuela's heavy oil which contains lot of sulphur can have there own problems

but doesn't the heavy oil gives off heavy carbon dioxide which is unable to rise up into the atmosphere

 alan wilson 04 Jun 2008
In reply to Deek: Maybe in the UK etc, but do China and India and spots like that not heavily subsidize fuel prices so their populations don't get pissed off ?....I think the West is the only place you will see folk cutting back on car use, at least in the short to medium term...
 John Wood 04 Jun 2008
In reply to stp:

Alternatively oil is now becoming expensive enough to encouage a shift away from a carbon based economy, without becoming so expensive that civilisation grinds to a halt.

The world needs oil to get gradually more expensive.
 Dr Rorlasaurus 04 Jun 2008
In reply to John Wood:

Carbon based economy?

What does DNA consist of?
 John Wood 04 Jun 2008
In reply to laura_ed:

adenine, thymine, guanine and cytosine, IIRC
OP stp 04 Jun 2008
In reply to John Wood:

> The world needs oil to get gradually more expensive.

Unfortunately it's seems its not going to be that gradual.

And for the world economy to carry on growing it needs an ever increasing energy supply. China is going for a dirty option. No doubt other countries will be forced to follow to remain competitive.

As the recession starts to bite, unemployment rises, wages fall, I think governments will give these issues priority over longer term worries like climate change.
 Phil1919 05 Jun 2008
In reply to alan wilson: Thats an excellant start. At least we will start to benefit. Others might catch on with a bit of persuasion.
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