Growth-based economic models Hubbert peak theory

world energy consumption & predictions, 2005–2035. source: international energy outlook 2011.

insofar economic growth driven oil consumption growth, post-peak societies must adapt. hubbert believed:

some economists describe problem uneconomic growth or false economy. @ political right, fred ikle has warned conservatives addicted utopia of perpetual growth . brief oil interruptions in 1973 , 1979 markedly slowed—but did not stop—the growth of world gdp.

between 1950 , 1984, green revolution transformed agriculture around globe, world grain production increased 250%. energy green revolution provided fossil fuels in form of fertilizers (natural gas), pesticides (oil), , hydrocarbon fueled irrigation.

david pimentel, professor of ecology , agriculture @ cornell university, , mario giampietro, senior researcher @ national research institute on food , nutrition (inran), place in study food, land, population , u.s. economy maximum u.s. population sustainable economy @ 200 million. achieve sustainable economy world population have reduced two-thirds, says study. without population reduction, study predicts agricultural crisis beginning in 2020, becoming critical c. 2050. peaking of global oil along decline in regional natural gas production may precipitate agricultural crisis sooner expected. dale allen pfeiffer claims coming decades see spiraling food prices without relief , massive starvation on global level such never experienced before.