The world is on the brink of an energy crisis that has drastic implications for people in the developing world. As almost every aspect of modern life is sustained by cheap energy, the impacts of rising oil prices will be profound.

Energy security has become a political priority for governments world-wide, a priority which needs to be reflected in the field of international development.


... Many cities1, and some nations2, realise that global Peak Oil is not only inevitable, but imminent. This paper argues that contingency planning now – and subsequent mobilisation of training and adaptation of programme design – must be seen as a high priority.

This paper looks initially at Peak Oil and the likely political and economic impacts. Next it presents a series of proposals for practical strategies to build resilience in a time of sharply rising energy prices. Viable alternatives are offered in food production, human settlement design and local energy security.

Global oil production is reaching its peak, critical decisions are needed to prepare communities everywhere for the dramatic and irreversible changes ahead. Carrying on with ‘business as usual’ is no longer an option.