Peak Oil and its Effect on the Industry - A Blunt Discussion with Industry Executives and Experts

Date: Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Time: 10:30 a.m. - 11:45 a.m./10.30 - 11.45

Peak oil is defined by Wikipedia as "the point in time when the maximum rate of global petroleum extraction is reached, after which the rate of production enters terminal decline. The concept is based on the observed production rates of individual oil wells, and the combined production rate of a field of related oil wells. Peak oil is often confused with oil depletion; peak oil is the point of maximum production while depletion refers to a period of falling reserves and supply."

Many experts believe that industries, such as the travel industry, that rely heavily on the low cost and easy access to oil, will cause the post-peak production decline and possible sever increases in the price of oil to have a negative effect on the global economy.

Expert predictions range from optimistic (Peak oil occurring in 2020) to pessimistic (Peak Oil may have already occurred or will occur shortly).  The first two quarters of 2008 indicated that oil prices and access levels directly affected the global economic slow-down.  When Peak Oil officially occurs, the effect will be great on the travel industry and the overall global economy.

About the Presenters

Mike Harcourt
(Moderator)

As former premier of British Columbia, Mayor of Vancouver and City Councillor, Mike Harcourt helped British Columbia earn its reputation as one of the most livable, accessible and inclusive  places in the world. 

His focus on conservation and sustainable development – and his resolve to contribute to the transformation of cities and communities around the world – has played a significant role in promoting quality of life for those in Canada and abroad. 

After stepping down from politics, he was appointed by the Prime Minister to serve as a member of the National Round Table on the Environment and Economy, where he served on the Executive Committee and Chaired the Urban Sustainability Program.  He was  a  Federally appointed B.C. Treaty Commissioner and was Chair of the Prime Minister’s Advisory Committee for Cities and Communities and co-chaired the National Advisory Committee on the UN-HABITAT World Urban Forum in Vancouver in 2006.

Harcourt is Honorary Co-Chair at the University of British Columbia’s President’s Advisory Council on sustainability, as well as Associate Director of the Centre for Sustainability Continuing Studies at U.B.C. 
In addition to acting as Chairman of Quality Urban Energy Systems for Tomorrow (QUEST) www.questcanada.org, he chairs  the Canadian Electricity Association’s Sustainable Electricity Program Advisory Panel.

Mike Harcourt is a trusted Advisor to Translink Transportation, cities and communities, and is a  member of City of Vancouver’s  Greenest City Action Team. He also was part of an advisory group that helped Whistler put together it’s Natural Step based on sustainable cities strategy.

Harcourt’s exemplary career as Lawyer, Community Activist, and Politician has been honoured,  with the Woodrow Wilson Award for Public Service and the Canadian Urban Institute’s Jane Jacobs Lifetime Achievement Award.  He was awarded the U.B.C. Alumni Achievement Award of Distinction for contributions to British Columbia, Canada and the global community in November 2008.

In 1993 Al Gore applauded Premier Harcourt, for permanently preserving the jointly shared ecosystem of the Tatshenshini River and Alaska’s Glacier Bay National Park in Northwest British Columbia. 
He is the author of: A Measure of Defiance and co-author of Plan B: one Man’s Journey from Tragedy to Triumph and co-author of City Making in Paradise.

Mike Harcourt is a Speaker and Advisor  internationally on sustainable cities.

For more information visit:  http://www.keynotespeakerscanada.ca/node/13?id=214

Dr. Mark Jaccard
(Panelist)

Mark has been professor in the School of Resource and Environmental Management at Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, since 1986 – interrupted from 1992-97 while he served as Chair and CEO of the British Columbia Utilities Commission. His PhD is from the Energy Economics and Policy Institute at the University of Grenoble.

Internationally, Mark is known for his work since the 1990s on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (Nobel Peace Prize in 2007), the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development (currently co-chair of task force for sustainable coal use), and the Global Energy Assessment(convening lead author for sustainable energy policy).

He has over 90 academic publications. His 2002 book, The Cost of Climate Policy, won the Policy Research Institute award for best policy book in Canada and was shortlisted for the Donner Prize.  His 2005 book, Sustainable Fossil Fuels, won the Donner Prize for best policy book in Canada.

His 2007 book, Hot Air, is co-authored with Jeffrey Simpson of the Globe and Mail. Mark was named 2008 Academic of the Year by the association of British Columbia faculty members.

Richard Worzel
(Panelist)

Leading forecaster and futurist Richard Worzel challenges organizations to examine the future and plan for it. Changes in politics, technology, leadership, demographics and economics are altering the face and pace of business. Those who are prepared will prosper, while most organizations will flounder or fall by the wayside.  Richard Worzel can equip your organization with the ability to understand the changes to be faced in the years ahead, and the tools to leverage those changes to revolutionize and dominate your industry.

When it comes to his presentations, Worzel is known for his professionalism, enthusiasm and versatility. He works with conference planners to develop a customized presentation that is useful, thought provoking, and entertaining, regardless of the type of industry. Whether it is in a major keynote speech to an audience of two thousand, or an intimate workshop for five, he has proven that he is a speaker who is versatile enough for any audience.

A Chartered Financial Analyst, Worzel is also a best-selling author of Who Owns Tomorrow? and frequent media commentator on business and economic trends.

For more information visit:  http://www.speakers.ca/worzel_richard.aspx

Under Marge's leadership, the Energy Center of Wisconsin trains 6,000 professionals annually in strategies that link environmental sustainability to human performance, economic development, and energy efficiency. Her work at the Energy Center has transformed meetings from an expense line to a major revenue source for the organization. Her background includes green building programs which use research, training, and program design to make buildings perform better for people and the environment. Her responsibilities include business development, strategic planning, needs assessment, program design and implementation, and facilitation. Marge's leadership and industry involvement includes: MPI International Board of Directors (2006-2009) including terms on the Finance Committee and Chair of the CSR Task Force, Global Paragon Award Winner, MPI International Marketing Strategies Committee, Platinum Speaker (ROI), graduate of the first class of ROI for Meeting Professionals, MPI-WI Chapter Past President; 2000 Planner of the Year MPI-WI; American Institute Of Architects Award for Excellence in Continuing Education (1998 & 2002); MPI-WI President's Award (2001, 1999), MPI-WI Journalism Award (1997); and Board of South Central Wisconsin Chapter of the American Society for Training and Development.  Marge also serves on the Education Steering Committee, Green Jobs Work Group, and Education Review Committee for the US Green Building Council and is on the Board of Directors of the New Buildings Institute.