Security Council
Global Energy Shortage
It is currently predicted that the world’s oil production will peak within the next 10 years. After it peaks, oil production will become more difficult and more expensive due to steady demand and depletion of the resource. Countries that control most of the oil in the world, therefore, are becoming more and more powerful. It is dangerous for one region to have too much control over the energy supply of the world, especially one as volatile as the Middle East. Meanwhile, due to an increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, the global temperature is slowly becoming more extreme towards both the hot and cold spectrums.
Recently, the Copenhagen Climate Conference was held to attempt to lower greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. Unfortunately, the conference failed to address many of the issues concerning energy problems throughout the world and failed to stipulate sufficient consequences for nations that disobey the guidelines that were established. In the meantime, incentives for new energy sources and collaborations to find or perfect viable alternative energy sources have been appallingly lacking.
The United Nations must address this issue, as the climate conferences have clearly failed to provide adequate guidelines and measures to be taken. A global effort towards alternative sources of energy is also imperative, and will almost certainly have to take place if the world is to avoid strife due to oil shortages.