Do you think the world running out of petrol will have advantages?

Question

Will it lead to everyone switching to hybrids/hydrogen cars or use biofuels from plants to power their vehicles?

Will the ocean be fished less, leading to regenaration of the dying waterlife including plants and about every living thing in ocean? Will there be less polution?

Will countries work closer together to share technological advances to replace oil as our main fuel with more suitable mediums?

And so forth....

I would love to hear what you think if a shortage of fuel would have a positive effect on this planet.

Answer 1

Yes it will - it will lead to the release of much less carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, because we will have burned it all - there will be no more to burn.  It should lead to less pollution, because we'll either have to use fewer cars or we'll have to use non-carbon fuels - we can't run cars on coal!

However, before then, the Carbon Wars will mean that the rich nations of the West will plunder the poorer countries trying to eke out the last dregs of oil, gas and coal, rather than face a carbon-free future.  

So, in the short term, it will be worse, at least for poor countries that have oil.  Longer-term, we can try to look forward to cleaner technologies and reducing the carbon dioxide release into the atmosphere.

Answer 2

I wrote a play once where God gave the World a fortnight to work together. They had just decided to form a committee to discuss the proposition when the 14 days were up.

Answer 3

It may have advantages in time ... but before that happens , the oil companies will try to suck our wallets dry .... there is altogether too much greed in this world .