what's going to happen when we run out of fossil fuels?
103003
There will be other energies. Only way we will run out of them is if the powers that control them (Oil men in many countries) say to. "Fossil" fuels themselves may not even be quite what we think they are.
116488
Oil prices will never stop going up because we are running out of it. It goes up by about 2.6% each year.
678716
A plan that is diversified is the best plan. We are dependent on fossil fuels because it was seen as a great source of power, so that is what every one went to, now we are addicted.\n\nA plan that uses multiple sources of fuel, rather than putting all our eggs in one basket, might include geothermal, wind, solar, hydroelectric, or even tidal power to generate electricity. Electricity can then be easily stored for use in planes, cars, and trains in addition to running such appliances as the computer that I am using at the moment.\n\nTo offer up only one suggestion is to lead us down the road to another addiction. Diversification is the plan that has the most potential for kicking the oil habit, and securing a more stable future.
639722
Yes. In about 150 years there will be no oil if we continue this way.\nAnyway .. there are unlimited resources, at least for energy, ... solar/eolian/waterfall energy.\nHope this helps
406078
well we will start using alternative energy resources. Like wind, solar, hydrogen etc
623808
Nature will take care of that problem. Once the Earth's resources are depleted and human population starts to wane then economies will crumble (a healthy economy is built around a growing population), famine and disease will be rampant. At least 80% of the human population will perish.\n\nNow aren't you glad you asked.
937075
I hope that in 5 billion years. We have somewhat evolved beyond this planet. Besides we won't have enough land or fossil fuels to last the next five hundred. I can hardly imagine five billion years from now.
229410
Everything in life has a limit. There's only so much petroleum in the world, as well as resources. If you don't save or recycle them, then your future relatives will have a rough time living. It's vital to save resources.
1186528
At least one of the answers.  If we can break ourselves of our dependency on fossil fuels, it will benefit both our economy and the environment.  \n\nPlus, it's going to have to happen eventually; fossil fuels are finite.
424640
First, we'll start running out of it.  Prices will go up.  It will be more expensive to drive, and everything will cost more because it takes gas to ship stuff everywhere.  Airplane travel will skyrocket in price because planes use so much gas.\n\nSecond, there will probably be more wars over oil in the Middle East.  Saudi Arabia has so much oil- it seems like a likely target, either through inciting a civil war or from the outside.  The US will probably be involved in whatever war starts, because we need so much oil here and we have such a big military- we feel like we can take what we need without caring about the people who actually die for it.  China may also be involved in some of this conflict, for similar reasons- big military, huge oil consumption.\n\nThird, people's lives will start to change.  If oil is used up, people may start actually using the altnerative technologies we have available- wind, solar, natural gas, and coming up with cheap ways to spread it around.  More hybrid cars, windmills, solar panels, but maybe a new system to dispense natural gas nationwide at gas stations, if that ends up powering our cars.\n\nFourth, eventually the environmental costs of all our oil consumption will start to catch up to us.  Global warming is already a problem: warming means ice melting, and when the polar caps melt the oceans will rise.  Coastlands will be submerged gradually, first with little islands vanishing(already happening) and then with flooding in coastal wetlands and places like Venice (also already happening).  Despite all this extra water around, it's going to be salty water.  Warming also means droughts and desertification as temperatures rise in tropical regions, especially.  Lots of people will die in sub-Saharan Africa because of a lack of clean drinking water (also already happening).  Fertile land will diminish worldwide, and more people will die from starvation than do already.\n\nThe next wars won't be fought over oil, they'll be fought over water.  Look at the American southwest, and the controversy over the Colorado River/ LA and you'll get an idea of how much water rights mean already.  Dams and river diversion will cause international incidents, and we'll have to make some fast advances in desalinization technology if we want to fight back against these rising tides.\n\nIt's not hopeless, just really, really difficult.  And it gets harder the longer we wait to do something about it- so start today and try to conserve oil.
547632
it will be by the year 2053.when the last drop of oil is sucked.
8045
we are running out of oil it has been caluculated by knowles that we are due to run out of oil in 2021.  so basically buggar.  however seaweed farms let off methane and this can be used as a natural resource helium in not sure
1112176
Not if someone or some country can find a source of energy other than fossil fuels. A source so vast that it cannot be depleted. The history of the world is dominated by search for energy. Pretty soon China or India will come up with an alternate fuel that won't require the burning of fossil fuel. With that event will come the end of corporations that are built around the fossil fuel business. And that will bring about the end of capitalism. It is all about energy and the manipulation of energy.
300396
When oil is almost depleted and the cost to process and distribute is exuberantly high.\n\nEither that... Or when people around the world starts refusing to use cars that exacerbate the effects of global warming.... Nahh...it'll never happen.\n\nThe oil companies will just run incessant commercials that will emphasize the "benefits" of global warming...
561541
Try Reading the END OF OIL by Paul Roberts.\nIt'll run out a darn-sight sooner than we thought!\nOIL companies have/did lie about the amount of oil they have left.\nThe oil that is being pumped now has 2 go thru more refining than ever B4 & is down 2 the amount of Sea water they pump in 2 the fields.\nEverytime a alternative 2 oil is investigated the Oil companies surpress the data.  They R not going 2 give up on oil until every last drop has been extracted & no-one can predict exactly what affect this will have on the Planet. I'm sure that any warnings would proberly supressed by the oil companies 2.
1144949
Absolutely.  There is plenty of oil, enough to last for 100's of years.  Actually if you look at it logically, we will never really run out of oil.  Supplies will dwindle, we will tap into other sources, like oil shale, and oil sand, but the production cots will go up.  Eventually we will get to a point, where the cost is high enough, to make alternative energy sources, profitable.  Once that happens, competition and the free market system will find a cheap efficient substitute, and we will leave oil usage to the third world.
1154881
Well, it depends on your definition of "end." Are you referring to when humans can't live here anymore? Do you mean when the planet itself is utterly disintegrated? Are you referring to a Biblical apocalypse?\n\nTo any of these conditions, no one can say. However, to the first one listed, our continued destruction of the environment continues to lead to more polluted air, ground, and water. And, while the melting of the ice caps will raise water a great deal and wipe out coastal cities and land, it certainly can't cover the entire planet. Stubborn as humans are, we'll probably find some way to survive through technology if we mess things up that badly, which would be extremely sad to have destroyed such beauty. We also might start a nuclear war that kills everything but cockroaches, but the planet itself would still be here. \n\nCondition two, where the planet is disintegrated, could be brought about by several ways, as well. A large comet, asteroid, or meteor might smash into earth, breaking it apart and causing it to no longer technically be a planet. When the sun finally goes nova (estimated to be 5 billion years away), if it reaches this far out, which his possible, it would swallow the earth, likely blowing it to bits. Then there's always the "Hitchhiker's Guide" route, where we'll be destroyed for an intergalactic highway.\n\nAs for the Bible, only the Father knows. Not even Christ knows when it'll happen. People have been incorrectly interpreting the signs for hundreds of years, so all the tabloid doomsday people are probably just as wrong now.\n\nIn short, no one can see the future, and you're right. We don't take good care of our planet. We really should appreciate it more while we still have a planet to enjoy! Who knows, tomorrow someone might throw a nuke, so go out and enjoy earth! And just in case someone doesn't start World War III, go and take care of it, too, so that generations far into the future can look back on this time and say, "Wow, look at all they did for their children and their children's children," instead of, "How on earth could they be so selfish and uncaring?"