What's the world going to do with out Oil?

Question

I don't know how long the Worlds' supply of Oil is going to last or more to the point what’s going to happen when supplies get low or even run dry.

My thinking is that the World is totally driven by Oil, in every sense, be it economically or commercially. I can envisage a time in the not so distant future, maybe even my life time, when prices of a barrel of Crude Oil are absolutely astronomical (Today's prices will be nothing), the economy of the world has collapsed, riots and wars are rife, every nation squabbling over the last few reserves, basically a global meltdown. Am I totally wrong or what?

Answer 1

There's varying predictions about when oil would run out.  I think I heard that it would be completely gone in maybe 40 or 50 years.  But I haven't found consensus...

There are things that can be done to be ready, and/or avoid this crisis.  A short term solution for gas prices would be to pump more oil (but this comes at risk of making oil run out further. but I think oil should be pumped more, but not to the point in which it would cause oil to start running out A LOT.  Rather, it should be only pumped out even more but only at a moderate rate).

But a long term solution, which every nation should do, is to invest in alternate energy.  (and ways to reduce oil usage) First we can increase the miles per gallon for the cars produced.  We can provide incentives for companies that produce cars and get them to make cars with better fuel efficency.  More fuel effiency, less gas used, more oil leftover for everybody.

I know that sounds idealistic, but its a great start.  Other things we can do are not drive cars as much and use public transportation more.  Often times, these switches are only temporary.  It would help more if MORE people decided to bike more, use public transport, and/or walk (if possible).  It'll be a change in lifestyle, but it helps reduce oil usage, improves our enviornment, and improves health.

Lastly, our governments (talking as world citizen) can put money into alternate energy.  We must invest in alternate energy.  We should also give incentives to companies that use alt. energy or research it.  There are a lot of possiblities- hydrogen power, solar power, nuclear power, and wind.  We haven't researched much in them.  Its time we do.  The more alternate energy we use, the less we depend on oil.  It will make the enviornment better and give us stuff to depend on when oil runs out.

Both Barack Obama and John McCain are interested in this and have a history of working for alternative energy.  I think both can be trusted with the enviornment.

Unfortunately, I think there will be many poor nations who won't spend much on alternate energy.  Instead, they'll be competiting for oil...and they already face poverty (so they don't have much to invest in alternate energy.) (its sad) (even if they do, they spend it for themselves, the money they use is often not used to help the people).  There will be much fighting, esp with poor countries. And that can spark genocide and unstable nations.  Furthermore, there will be much bloodshed.  

Developed nations may also fight too.  But if we're EFFICIENT, we will invest in alternate energy.  We should. And we should not just keep it to ourselves.  We should work with other nations in making more alternate energy.  We should work together and develop solutions.  Businesses all over the world can be innovative, and we can develop partnerships.  Hey, CA and Britian did sign an agreement and decided to work together on such enviornmental issues (this was in 2006 and it did happen).  The future is bright, but only if our leaders will be willing to take steps to cause it to occur.