North America, once a sponge that sucked in a significant portion of the world’s oil, will instead be supplying the world with oil and other liquid hydrocarbons by the end of this decade, according to ExxonMobil’s annual long-term energy forecast. In a forecast that might make economists happy but environmentalists fret, Exxon’s two chief products, oil and natural gas, will be abundant and affordable enough to meet the rising demand for energy in the developing world as the global middle class swells to 5 billion from 2 billion and buys energy-hungry conveniences such as cars and air conditioners. -- Jonathan Fahey,
Associated Press, 9 December 2014
The world’s largest oil company sees emissions in the developing world surging 50 percent, a forecast that suggests the diplomatic push to draft an accord to curb global warming stands to fall short. Even as the most advanced economies cut energy use by almost one tenth through 2040 and add hundreds of millions of fuel-efficient vehicles, booming growth in places like India, South Africa and Thailand will boost demand for fuels 36 percent, the Irving, Texas-based company said in its annual outlook. Emissions will surge as an expanding middle class in poorer nations demands electricity, schools and hospitals. --Joe Carroll,
Bloomberg, 10 December 2014
Low oil prices and the inaction of OPEC may well result in a shale crash next year. Many analysts now expect falling oil prices to throttle the US shale boom. The theory goes that, if high prices helped create the oil boom in USA and Canada, then low prices will inevitably result in a shale crash. That’s certainly what Saudi Arabia, the leading member of OPEC, are hoping. However, according to The Economist, ‘adversity will make shale stronger.’ The success of North American shale has been recognised globally and now many other countries are now hoping for similar success (Mexico and the UK being two of the most prevalent). And, when oil prices recover, new wells can be purchased within weeks – it won’t take long to get North American shale production creaking back into action again. --Jeremy Coward,
Shale World, 10 December 2014
A $200 million government backflip on an international green climate fund will come at the expense of Australia’s foreign aid budget. In a bittersweet victory for green groups, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop today announced to a UN climate change conference in Lima that Australia would now contribute to a $10 billion fund that aims to help developing nations tackle global warming. The decision is a reversal of its stance at the G20 summit in November. Mr Abbott said money from the fund would be “strictly invested in practical projects in our region” including energy efficiency, better infrastructure, reforestation and carbon offsets. --Dennis Shanahan,
The Australian, 10 December 2014
