Reducing oil reliance key to Britain's future, says Greenpeace
Britain's dependence on foreign oil is set to grow eight-fold by 2030, making the UK transport system more reliant on areas of conflict, particularly Middle Eastern countries, according to a new report.
Analysis by the respected Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP) predicts that under a business-as-usual model Britain will require 56 million tonnes net of imported oil every year by 2030. In 2005 the nation was a net importer of seven million tonnes of oil (estimated). Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Iran account for 43% of the proven oil reserves on which the UK will increasingly rely.
The report is launched today (Thursday) at a panel discussion in central London at which a cross-party group of parliamentarians will discuss UK entrapment in future oil wars and the competition from China and India for foreign oil. Among the participants will be Tony Lloyd, this week elected chair of the Parliamentary Labour Party.
The report "OVER A BARREL" evaluates credible established scenarios in which practical and realistic steps are taken to curtail oil use in transport. A range of scenarios is examined on a 20-30 year timescale. The authors calculate that with simple transport efficiency measures Britainﾴs imports of foreign oil can be restricted from an eight-fold increase to a two-fold increase. (The figures are based on data prior to 2005-6 and projected forward to develop a consistent set of scenarios. 2005-6 figures are not publicly available at the time of writing.) The report says oil use could be reduced by developing:
- Vehicles that are more fuel-efficient
- The use of alternative transport fuels
- A more efficient transport system, ensuring that people and goods are transported in a way that minimises fuel use
- Reducing overall travel by road pricing, congestion charging and more home working
A Greenpeace briefing, also released at today's cross-party panel discussion and entitled OIL AND PEACE DON'T MIX, argues that a dangerous contradiction exists in UK policy, in which energy security is seen mainly in terms of global control over natural resources, 'above all oil' according to the government's 1998 Strategic Defence Review. The briefing argues that a nexus exists between oil, climate change and conflict, and that the most sensible UK policy to deal with both energy security and climate change would be to reduce our dependence on foreign oil. Implementing efficiencies in transport fuel use, like those described in the new IEEP report, is a key way to reduce oil use.
Greenpeace campaigner Dominick Jenkins said: "If Britain's oil addiction goes unchecked we'll soon need eight times as much foreign oil as we do now. The consequences of depending on Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Iran for our energy could not only lead to increased military conflict but will also fuel climate change. Simple measures to improve the efficiency of transport can drastically reduce our oil dependency. Tony Blair's strategy is to be able to fight for Middle Eastern oil, instead of weaning the UK off it."
Among other examples, the IEEP report states that if every car in the EU-15 (the EU minus recent accession states) were an electric hybrid, fuel savings would amount to one million barrels of oil a day.
ENDS
For more contact Greenpeace on 07801 212967 / 0207 8658255
Report launched at panel discussion with Tim Yeo MP, Nick Harvey MP, Tony Lloyd MP, Caroline Lucas MEP, chaired by Baroness Miller. Rennie Room, One Great George Street, SW1.Invite only.
OVER A BARREL was produced by the Institute for European Environmental Policy and commissioned by Greenpeace
Download OVER A BARREL, and the Greenpeace briefing OIL AND PEACE DON'T MIX
