The Countdown has Begun

According to an article in today's Guardian newspaper, Sweden's Minister of Sustainable Development, Mona Sahlin, says that Sweden is going to completely wean itself off oil by the year 2020.

I know what you're thinking... "Oh those wacky Swedes...imagine having a silly department filled with people working on sustainable development. What'll they think of next? Safe cars?
Decent health care? Affordable child care?

But I digress.

Imagine, little Mona has the stones to say hasta la vista Chevron, BP, Shell Oil et al.

And why are they doing this?

Here's a direct quote from the article: "According to the energy committee of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, there is growing concern that global oil supplies are peaking and will shortly dwindle, and that a global economic recession could result from high oil prices."

Well, so what you say. It's Sweden. Who cares?

Well, I care. No, not because it's Sweden, although having lived there, I am a huge fan. Herring, Volvos and blondes. What more do you need in a country?

No, it’s the source of the quote that has me concerned. And it should have you concerned as well.

The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. These guys know what they're talking about. They're the guys who every year figure out who gets the Nobel Prizes in Physics and Chemistry.

Now you see why I'm a teensy bit concerned.

So, what shall we do?

How about establishing our own Department of Sustainable Development? Or is that just too redolent of sprouts and birkenstock shoes?

Well we better do something, because while I already have my EU passport, the rest of you are going to be standing in a long line in 2020 waiting to get into Sweden where they have electric power to keep the beer cold.