Green - 11/13/22

    In class we mentioned the term “peak oil”: defined as “the hypothetical point in time when the maximum rate of global oil production is reached”, after it is argued that production will decrease. Some have argued that we have already reached peak oil, some say that we are experiencing it now, and some say that we are projected to reach it at a certain point in the future. I want to argue about the phrasing, that “peak oil” is a misleading term and may do us more societal harm than industrial good.

    “Peak oil” insinuates productivity, ingenuity, and that terrible word: progress. We have peaked, our capabilities as a people are the highest we have ever been. Peak is a word with positive connotations: peaking during an experience with drugs, peaking in life meaning you are the happiest you’ve been, peaking in finances, the list goes on. The reality of “peak oil” is that we will have reached a state we cannot come back from, we will be using the most oil ever, and will never use that amount again. The definition of the term paints a very real future where we will no longer have said amount of oil, and will be forced to adjust in whatever way we can to meet demand.

    I argue that the term should be something with more finality, something that draws the attention to change and other avenues instead of continuing to shine the spotlight on the dying oil industry. “Oil depression”, “oil recession”, anything really that expresses the truth of the situation for all rather than the temporary benefit of a few.

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