Wednesday, July 11

Wow

Posted by at

6 comments:

Brett said...

I don't really like this graph. Look at the dates, the total consumption is from 2003! and the prices are from 2006. In 2003 prices were well below $2 a gallon, there weren't many worries in the U.S. A lot changes in 4 years. I think they need current graphs.

July 11, 2007 3:32 PM
Luke said...

Brett: Our 2006 consumption was approximately 1.5 bn litres per day.

And there's no way the other countries on that graph increased their usage by so much that you could make that graph look respectable. Even if China grew so much that you had to take 6 countries off...it's still really really lopsided.

July 11, 2007 3:53 PM
Luke said...

Brett: For the record, I agree with you. This isn't the best way they could've set up the graph to make their point. However, I don't think the point would change with both graphs showing 2006 data. The only thing that would change significantly is China's slice of the pie.

Here's a graph showing World Oil Consumption Growth (this is a graph of growth, not just consumption) China and Russia are very major contributors to oil demand. However, that doesn't minimize our impact.

July 11, 2007 4:17 PM
c.l.beyer said...

I think this is really interesting... and it makes me feel like a spoiled, wasteful, ignorant child.

"Really really lopsided" is an understatement.

July 12, 2007 1:05 PM
Anonymous said...

Maybe what we really need is even higher gas prices to cure a bit of our self addiction, forcing us to share our rides and use other means of transportation.

-Pepe

July 12, 2007 3:38 PM
Luke said...

Higher gas prices will go a long way in curing our addiction. The big question though is the best way to inact those prices. The people won't let higher taxes raise the price, and we scream if the price increase goes into the pockets of the oil companies (but somehow we don't seem to get as mad if the price increase comes from an increase in the price of a barrel of oil).

It seems odd to me that, if our supply of oil is dwindling as fast as some say, oil producing countries aren't raising the price more dramatically.

I do think we're on our way to curbing our appetite for oil. I think gas prices will continue to creep higher, and people will continue to shift to more fuel efficient vehicles which will drive automakers to build more fuel efficient vehicles. However, I'd much rather see a slow transition than a shockingly quick one. Psychologically it's a lot easier to take. :-)

July 12, 2007 3:47 PM

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)