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Commentary: Could falling oil prices spark a financial crisis?

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When oil prices were high and production was relentlessly climbing, energy related junk bonds looked highly profitable. The situation will compound itself if oil prices stay low. Without the ability to finance drilling, smaller or more indebted oil companies may not have a future.

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Annual Increase in Global CO2 Emissions Halved in 2008; Decrease in Fossil Oil Consumption, Increase in Renewables Share

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in 2008, against 3.3% In addition to high oil prices and the financial crisis, the increased use of new renewable energy sources, such as biofuels for road transport and wind energy for electricity generation, had a noticeable and mitigating impact on CO 2 emissions. billion tonnes in 2008. Source: PBL. Click to enlarge.

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Worldwatch Institute report finds global energy intensity increased in 2010 for second year in a row

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Between 2004 and 2008, global energy intensity experienced its sharpest decline in 30 years, with an average annual growth rate of 1.87%. Starting in 2008-09, however, energy intensity again bumped up, experiencing the first rise in three decades. Increases in economic energy intensity are especially discouraging, even when temporary.

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Study Finds That CO2 Standards for Vehicles Can Reduce Price of Oil

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A new study by the French institute Enerdata, commissioned by the European Federation for Transport & Environment (T&E), suggests that the European CO 2 standards for new vehicles due to come into effect in 2012 will lead not only to a European savings on oil (mainly via lower oil import volumes) but also to slightly lower global oil prices.

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New UC Davis market-based sustainability forecasting approach concludes supplanting gasoline and diesel with renewable fuels could take 131 years

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We would expect that new reserves of conventional and unconventional oil may become available for exploration due to geological exploration and advances in oil extraction techniques or that extraction from less feasible oil fields becomes more economically attractive. All of these factors would change our predicted outcome.

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Perspective: Government Leadership Needed for Electric Vehicles to Succeed

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That’s where government comes in.only the government can help influence [change] by having a price for carbon and technical incentives. ”. Mr. Immelt’s point is that the spike in oil prices to $147/barrel in 2008 is not enough on its own to get automakers to make electric vehicles.

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Perspective: Ending Oils Monopolya Blueprint for Mobility Choice

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Volatility hurts us too, for as we’ve learned the price of oil can rise sharply in a short period of time. This means our economic stability is at stake because of our reliance on oil. In fact, four of the last five recessions were started by an oil price spike. [ 3 ] NRDC Policy Brief.

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