• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Earth Wise

A look at our changing environment.

  • Home
  • About Earth Wise
  • Where to Listen
  • All Articles
  • Show Search
Hide Search
You are here: Home / Episode / Bursting The Carbon Bubble

Bursting The Carbon Bubble

July 25, 2018 By EarthWise Leave a Comment

https://earthwiseradio.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/EW-07-25-18-Bursting-the-Carbon-Bubble.mp3

One way or another, the fossil fuel industry seems to be destined to shrink away.  A combination of technological advances and climate policies are going to drastically reduce the global demand for fossil fuels over the course of time.   New research shows that the demise of the fossil fuel industry will have profound consequences.

The decline in demand for fossil fuels is the result of alternative technologies for power generation, the adoption of electric vehicle technology, and increasing energy efficiency in businesses and households.  On top of these things, climate policies seeking to reduce carbon emissions will further decrease demand for fossil fuels.

Among countries, the transition will result in both winners and losers.  Clear winners will be countries that are major importers of fossil fuels such as China and the European Union.  Losers will be exporters such as Middle Eastern countries, Russia, the United States, and Canada.  If these countries keep up their fossil fuel investments and production levels despite declining demand, they could experience massive economic losses.

The U.S. is the only country that has withdrawn from the Paris Climate Agreement and the Trump administration seems determined to continue to invest in fossil fuel assets rather than diversifying and divesting from them.  According to a new study published in Nature Climate Change, the results could be disastrous.  Continuing investment in fossil fuels will create a dangerous “carbon bubble” that could burst with massive economic and geopolitical consequences.  If countries keep investing in equipment to search for, extract, process and transport fossil fuels, even though their demand decreases, they will end up losing money on these investments on top of their losses from limited exports.

**********

 

Web Links

‘Carbon bubble’ coming that could wipe trillions from the global economy

Photo, posted March 19, 2014, courtesy of Steven Straiton via Flickr.

 

‘Bursting the Carbon Bubble’ from Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio.

Tagged With: alternative, bubble, Canada, carbon, carbon bubble, carbon emissions, china, Climate Change, climate policy, demand, Divest, economic loss, electric vehicles, energy efficiency, equipment, eu, fossil fuels, industry, investment, middle east, nature climate change, paris climate accord, power, production, reduction, russia, Technology, transition, United States

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Recent Episodes

  • Volcano monitoring
  • Finding peatlands
  • More eco-friendly desalination
  • Tracking atmospheric mercury
  • Fighting honey fraud

WAMC Northeast Public Radio

WAMC/Northeast Public Radio is a regional public radio network serving parts of seven northeastern states (more...)

Copyright © 2025 ·