An objective, comprehensive, and accessible examination of today's
most crucial problem: preserving the environment in the face of
society's insatiable demand for energy.
In Energy at the Crossroads, Vaclav Smil considers the twenty-first
century's crucial question: how to reconcile the modern world's
unceasing demand for energy with the absolute necessity to preserve the
integrity of the biosphere. With this book he offers a comprehensive,
accessible guide to today's complex energy issues--how to think clearly
and logically about what is possible and what is desirable in our energy
future.
After a century of unprecedented production growth, technical
innovation, and expanded consumption, the world faces a number of
critical energy challenges arising from unequal resource distribution,
changing demand patterns, and environmental limitations. The fundamental
message of Energy at the Crossroads is that our dependence on fossil
fuels must be reduced not because of any imminent resource shortages but
because the widespread burning of oil, coal, and natural gas damages the
biosphere and presents increasing economic and security problems as the
world relies on more expensive supplies and Middle Eastern crude oil.
Smil begins with an overview of the twentieth century's long-term trends
and achievements in energy production. He then discusses energy prices,
the real cost of energy, and energy linkages--the effect energy issues
have on the economy, on quality of life, on the environment, and in
wartime. He discusses the pitfalls of forecasting, giving many examples
of failed predictions and showing that unexpected events can disprove
complex models. And he examines the pros and cons not only of fossil
fuels but also of alternative fuels such as hydroenergy, biomass energy,
wind power, and solar power. Finally, he considers the future, focusing
on what really matters, what works, what is realistic, and which
outcomes are most desirable.
