Great article! I’ve been worried about peak oil for the last twenty years, and it’s hard to ignore the link between energy affordability and economic growth. Plus, with global warming looming, fossil fuels clearly aren’t the long-term answer.

That said, humans have a knack for wriggling out of tight spots. Petroleum saved the whales from becoming nature’s candle wax. Mass migration to the U.S. helped Europe dodge an overpopulation crisis. We operate in a dynamic system, and somehow, collective ingenuity keeps pulling rabbits out of hats. You’re right—sitting back and accepting doom just isn’t in our DNA!