An Energy Descent Action Plan (EDAP) is a local plan for dealing with peak oil, sustainability and climate change. It goes well beyond issues of energy supply, to look at across-the-board creative adaptations in the realms of health, education, economy and much more. An EDAP is a way to think ahead, to plan in an integrated, multidisciplinary way, to provide direction to local government, decision makers, groups and individuals with an interest in making the place they live into a vibrant and viable community in a low-carbon era.
Oil has fuelled much of the massive population growth and the extraordinary achievements of the last 150 years. It is the lifeblood of industrial society.
According to a growing number of experts, soon the world will reach the ultimate peak in global oil production. After this point, production will begin its slow but terminal decline. ‘Peak Oil’ represents an historical turning point, from an era of growth, to an era of contraction. Peak gas won’t be far behind.
Alternative energy sources simply can’t fill the entire gap that oil and gas will leave behind, at least not without decades of investment. Massive social changes look like a given. We have to learn to be much more energy efficient, with the majority of energy sourced from renewable resources. This is indeed a challenging prospect. (Definition from Eat the Suburbs web site).
Technology has come a long way over the last 100 years; there is no reason why it should not continue to progress over the next 100 years, but in a much more sustainable direction. While we can hope that technology will solve our problems, we as individuals and businesses are responsible for making the small changes in our day to day activities and spending patterns that add up to more sustainable lifestyles and businesses. The content of this EDAP addresses Peak Oil and Climate Change with the resources and technology available to us today.