Why is the term ‘Energy Descent’ used?

The term energy descent refers to the downward half of the peak oil curve, when the Age of Cheap Oil is over and world energy supplies have entered an impossible to stop decline.As Rob Hopkins quotes from his dissertation titled ‘Energy Descent Pathways’ – evaluating potential responses to Peak Oil as being ‘the continual decline in net energy supporting humanity, a decline which mirrors the ascent in net energy that has taken place since the Industrial Revolution. It also refers to a future scenario in which humanity has successfully adapted to the declining net fossil fuel energy availability and has become more localised and self-reliant. It is a term favoured by people looking towards energy peak as an opportunity for positive change rather than inevitable disaster’. Download the pdf file.