How do you FORCE the world to switch to alternative fuels?

Question

Imagine you are OPEC, you are smart enough to create the largest monopoly in the history of the world, and therefore you quickly realize that climate change is a serious issue and even though you have infinitely deep pockets, you realize that this will be an issue for you too. So how do you, in one simple action, get the ENTIRE world to switch from fossil fuels to alternative sources for their energy needs?

You increase the price of fossil fuels, or rather increase the price of your product. You do so incrementally and slowly to avoid a potential economic DISASTER, which could cripple the world entirely. Paying close attention to the global economic situation and adjusting the prices weekly as needed to maintain an acceptable level of... well panic. At the same time you set aside your record profits for use later. Rather than straining yourself, to find alternative sources, you allow the panic stricken and desperate people to do the work for you, and when a viable solution is produced

Answer 1

First, the U.S. can run on fossil fuels for another 250 years, by using coal to oil plants to make synthetic oil /fuel. We tied doing this a while ago but companies like opec lowered the price of there natural oil so much that it ran the synthetic oil companies out of buisness. The militatry is smart enough now and they are using synthetic oil. But alot of enviromentilists won't let the coal and coal to oil plants be created so we are going through an economical and fuel crisis now. And fuels like ethonal only make things worse, it takes 1.29 gallons of natural oil to make 1 gallon of ethanol, so why are they making this stuff?  But hybrid cars are good ways to save energy and money. The oil companies arn't manipulative evil corporations, they are pawns of the economic crisis too, they also have people they have to pay and answer to, some of them even are making usless alternative fuels anyway.

Answer 2

Running out of oil is really going to be the only way.

Answer 3

If U do that we will be in trouble again. Diversity is our only Chance.

Answer 4

The technology required to reduce or eliminate the energy dependance of the western world is way too simple to be boughtup by oil interests however much USD they have. Its just a matter of doing the job. Granted its a big job but well worth doing.

Answer 5

Sorry it's not a conspiracy nor does OPEC have a monopoly. and oil is running out. If your referring to oil shale and tar sands do a search on what it takes to get the kerogen out and what it costs both financially and environmentally. All the easy to get at oil is gone whats left is in 8000 feet of water and another 3 miles below that all having to be done with ROV's since its well below maned subs limits. as well as switching now instead of 15 years from now will cost OPEC trillions.

coal to oil is a disaster as well.

a good alternative that's happening now bio diesel from algae. Petrosuns Texas algae farm just went on line a month ago it can produce 10000 gallons per acre per year or all of our energy needs on the equivalent of 0.1% of usable farm lands so no one is hungry and using brackish water which is undrinkable plus it sequesters carbon as well. and any one can do it including me, I'm doing extensive research and experimentation now so there's still no monopoly.

Answer 6

What are you the n**i pope or somehting?, you want to force the world to do something??  When alternative sources of energy become available they will be utilized if they are less expensive-until then, we are stuck with what we have-gorw up eco-boy!

Answer 7

well. if we banned all large cars, smart cars are great

im not brave enough to get into a SmartCar with 18-wheelers rearing up behind me.

its like a shoe on a bumblebee...

if we banned everything but SmartCars, we would be fine.

Answer 8

You don't because doing so would be fascism.  Let the free market decide.

Answer 9

Well I was going to say the same thing - you increase the price of gasoline.  But not just for the h**l of it, you increase the financial price to reflect the true price, including environmental effects.

Industry can't dump pollutants into our waterways, yet they can dump as much CO2 as they want into our atmosphere with absolutely no consequences.  They're altering our climate in a dangerous manner, and the financial cost of fossil fuels needs to reflect that.

If we paid the true cost of fossil fuels, alternative energy sources would be far cheaper.  We need to enact either a carbon cap and trade system or a carbon tax to even the playing field.  Fossil fuels have had an unfair advantage for too long.

Answer 10

Money will become worth less and less as commodities become more and more scarce. It's probably the great military powers that will emerge the winners, but only if they have the energy reserves to function properly.

Answer 11

I agree with Mikey.

I would also like to add that  you revealed how incredibly lazy you are " rather than straining yourself......you allow the panic stricken and desperate people to do the work for you".

Another thing, if you don't like OPEC for having a monopoly, why would want OPEC to have a monopoly on an alternative source?   Wouldn't we be pack at square one on the monopoly thing?

Answer 12

I think we should mass produce solar pannels in order for solar power to be cheaper and use it as an alternative, by that time oil prices should become so high no ordinary people could afford it.