Shift in domestic oil policy must be accompanied by global agreement
One issue that we have not looked at with respect to Al Gore and T. Boone Pickens’ recent proposals to decrease our consumption of oil, is the unintended effect that these plans might have on oil use in developing countries like China and India. Our concern is that if the United States is successful in dramatically reducing our consumption of oil, the resulting decrease in demand and price on the global market could allow developing nations to continue, or even increase, their own reliance on oil.
While it may not sound fair, if the rest of the developing world follows the irresponsible path that America and other developed countries took, there will be dire climate consequences. Therefore, we should not only be concerned with decreasing our own consumption of oil, but we should be aware of the effects of any potential easing of global demand and price on oil consumption in these countries.
While we must shift off of fossil fuels domestically, we should also attempt to involve the rest of the world in the process. Hopefully the next president will be able to undue the ill will created by our rejection of the Kyoto Treaty, and will be able to begin the process of creating some sort of global agreement on steps necessary to shift the entire planet away from the burning of fossil fuels. Otherwise, we may win the battle but lose the war.
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