Energy resource conflicts have shaped the world we live in. After humans settled across the planet, growing empires began to compete for resources. First, they competed for wood, then steel and coal. The ability to mine these resources and turn them into trains, ships, and weapons decided which countries would dominate the world. Oil became the most important international resource by the turn of the 20th century and has remained so until the present day. This book provides a comprehensive history of international conflicts over energy resources, including ancient empires, 20th-century wars over oil, and the explosive growth of renewable energy
This volume demonstrates that humans have the technology to transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy for the vast majority of their energy needs, despite corporate fossil fuel interests. Using advanced statistics on the use and growth of all major energy sources, this book is an excellent source of information on the predicted growth of various forms of energy as well as the inevitable transition toward renewable and carbon-free energy sources.
Features
- Delves into past human conflicts over energy and looks to a future when energy will be accessible to all countries regardless of access to fossil fuels
- Suggests a path forward to end the endless energy conflicts that have plagued humanity
- Details chronologically how most human conflicts were a battle over energy resources
- Explains how the exponential growth of renewables is quickly transforming the energy landscape
- Includes statistics on the use and growth of all major energy sources