Is your community officially exploring the impact of Peak Oil?
Maybe this excellent paper written for the City of Moncton by Tim Moerman may help you convince your community to begin thinking. It is clear, short, well written and relevant for any community. A first class piece of work.
Moncton has also set up a task force to explore what could be its plan.
Critically important to assess our situation for each community - the process of just thinking about what very expensive oil will mean will help awaken the intelligence of people and bring your community together.
The first project for Moncton - Urban Farming - Hello Charlottetown!
take action on Peak Oil. In January 2006, the City Council of
Burnaby, BC received a detailed staff report on the issue; Hamilton,
Ontario also commissioned a report. In the United States, the
councils of cities including San Francisco; Oakland, California;
Portland, Oregon; Franklin, New York; and Bloomington, Indiana
have passed Peak Oil resolutions and/or established task forces to
address the issue. Citizens'groups in cities including Dallas, Austin
and Seattle are developing resolutions to be presented to their
respective councils. The Town Council of Kinsale, Ireland has gone
so far as to adopt an "Energy Descent Plan" intended to cope with a
permanent decline in fossil fuels.
Here is the pdf.Download Moncton Peak Oil Report - June 8 2009
To the Post Carbon Greater Moncton community:
1. IMPORTANT NEWS – We have just learned that the City of Moncton has passed the following resolution at its last meeting. This is a critical step for preparing the community’s response to Peak Oil. Attached is the brief that paved the way to this resolution. Tim Moerman, urban planner with the Greater Moncton Planning Commission, authored the brief. We thank him and congratulate him for his work.
Resolution acknowledging the challenge of Peak Oil and the need for Moncton to prepare a plan of response and preparation
WHEREAS, World oil production is nearing or has passed its point of maximum production (known as "Peak Oil") and will enter a prolonged period of irreversible decline leading to ever-increasing prices; and
WHEREAS, The availability of affordable petroleum is critical to the functioning of our transportation system, the production of our food and of petrochemical-based consumer goods, the paving of roads, the lubrication of machinery, and myriad other parts of the economy; and,
WHEREAS, Moncton has already demonstrated leadership in confronting challenges of global climate change, including participating in the Cities for Climate Protection program and establishing an Active Transportation and other policy initiatives, and has a rich diversity of citizens committed to maintaining Moncton 's long-term viability; be it
RESOLVED, That Moncton City Council acknowledges the unprecedented challenges of Peak Oil; and, be it
FURTHER RESOLVED, That Council supports the undertaking of a city-wide assessment study in order to inventory city activities and their corollary resource requirements, evaluating the impact in each area of a decline in petroleum availability and of higher prices, with the aim of developing a comprehensive plan of action and response to Peak Oil; and, be it
FURTHER RESOLVED, That Council hereby requests that the Mayor take steps to establish a Peak Oil Task Force, comprising members of Council, the Planning Commission, City and Commission Staff, and the public, to examine the issue of Peak Oil and to develop a framework for adapting to fossil fuel depletion.
2. On Wednesday June 24 2009 (tomorrow) at 5:30 p.m. our proposal for an Urban Farming Experimental Project will be presented to the Greater Moncton Regional Planning Commission. You are all invited to attend in Moncton City Council Chambers. (Please note…due to a heavy agenda the Commission is not likely to hear our proposal before 7:00 pm)
3. Reminder - Critical Mass Bike Ride this Friday at 5:30 pm at Moncton City Hall .
