China’s oil demand soars as reserves fall

THE news that China’s oil consumption rose by 28% last year and the admission by the International Energy Authority (IEA) that the world’s oil reserves are being depleted at 6.2% a year should be a wake-up call.

However, the IEA conveniently avoids the peak oil issue by making absurdly optimistic predictions for yet-to-be-discovered oil.

Sustainable Energy Ireland predicts our greenhouse gas emissions will fall by 80% by 2050. Following Kyoto, they said emissions would rise by less than 13%, but in fact they rose by 25%.

The IPCC, in deference to their political masters, downplay climate change predictions. We should not forget that their previous president was sacked by the Bush administration and replaced with someone more amenable. It’s therefore ironic that they are being accused of exaggeration by the denial lobby, without any possible motive, and accused of some huge conspiracy.

Michael Job

Rossnagrena

Glengarriff

Co Cork