UK Government to Develop Oil Shock Response Plan. - When Will NZ ?

re-posted from my blog - oilshockhorrorprobe

UK Energy and Climate Change Secretary Chris Huhne has agreed to develop an 'Oil Shock Response Plan', following a meeting with the UK Industry Taskforce on Peak Oil and Energy Security (ITPOES).

Specifically, Huhne agreed that the UK government and ITPOES would work together on peak oil threat assessment and contingency planning. Members of the taskforce said they would also explore steps that would need to be taken now to protect the UK economy from rapidly rising oil prices and possible oil shortages.

Huhne also called on ITPOES to present their concerns to the UK Chancellor and Treasury - a meeting that the group is now seeking.

ITPOES has published 2 authoritative reports on Peak Oil. The latest in 2010 contained a stark warning that the economic impact of the next Oil Crunch will be as bad as, if not worse that the Global Financial Crisis.

As one cynic observed – “Britons can breathe a great sigh of relief. The government is planning to work on a plan to consider contingencies” But it’s a start – a senior UK Cabinet Minister is willingly to talk openly about peak oil, and to seek advice from peak oil experts in the private sector and academia, who only a few years ago were pilloried as doomsayers and fruit loops !

A pleasant and surprising contrast with New Zealand, where ignorance, or at best denial and obfuscation still characterise the attitude of the PM, Ministers and officials.

Here is a fantasy to conjure with…. Gerry Brownlee (or Hekia Parata the new Minister of Energy) and Steven Joyce The Minister of Transport meet with New Zealand peak oil experts in the Beehive, agree to develop an oil shock response plan and invite further discussion with Finance Minister Bill English and Treasury !

But hang on why should this be a fantasy? …This is election year folks. We need to demand from all political parties that they publically acknowledge the threat of peak oil and spell out their contingency plans and policies. A Conservative government in the UK has begun that process, and so must our politicians.