By Graeme Strachan

A DUNDEE environmental expert last night predicted that the present fuel crisis which has seen queues at filling stations and pumps running dry provides a gloomy taste of the future.

Philip Jenkins, natural resources management lecturer at Abertay University, said the western lifestyle was unsustainable because of excessive energy consumption.

He said there is growing evidence that if present energy consumption and climate change continue, it would represent a threat to society.

There is also the growing belief among academics that future wars are as likely to be fought over scarce water supplies.

Workers at Grangemouth will walk out tomorrow after talks between union officials and bosses broke down with Scotland being urged to remain calm in the grip of a fuel crisis.

“I have been suggesting to friends and colleagues that this present difficulty is a taste of the future,” said Mr Jenkins.

“I am over 50 and I remember the 1973 fuel crisis brought about by the response of Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to the Yom Kippur war, but the effects were identical to today.

“Queues at filling stations, frayed tempers and a 50mph speed limit on motorways. A gallon of petrol lasted many more miles, then oil supplies resumed and all was forgotten.

“The present situation is localised but provides a grim foretaste of what the future might hold. Oil gives us freedom but results in dependency.

“We are addicted to oil, even President Bush acknowledges this fact.

“Crude oil now trades at more than $115 per barrel. Ten years ago it was less than $25. Supply and demand at work.

“Oil and gas and coal reserves are finite. Benjamin Franklin stated that ‘when the well is dry then we shall know the value of water.’ Or oil/gas/coal.”

Mr Jenkins believes there are now very real environmental threats to our society but there are ways to save it by using resources efficiently.

He believes if serious action is not taken to find a balance between ‘green’ energy production and energy consumption, Britain could be back in the dark ages before the end of the 21st century.

“Energy consumption is increasing inexorably—just look at how many electrical appliances are in your house,” he said.

“About 25% of domestic energy is used for water heating and yet the technology for solar water heating is readily available and yes it does work in Scotland.

“Why are such systems not fitted on all new houses? Because it is not compulsory and it does not work in conjunction with a combi boiler.

“What are we doing? Adding 2.5% biofuel for transport, rising to 5.75% by 2010.

“The ethanol in UK petrol is sourced from South America. USA is growing corn for biofuel. Look what this is doing to world food prices already. My biofuel is someone else’s lunch.

“It is now possible to buy cars that exhaust 100 g/km of CO2 and you pay no annual vehicle tax.

“The current western lifestyle is unsustainable for many reasons but the most significant is excessive energy consumption.

“We have few domestic reserves, rely on imported fuels and we all use too much.

“Ask yourself—what sort of world are my children and grandchildren going to inherit?”