Sustainability and policy - Climate Change: Biological and Human Aspects - page 487

Table8.4 Pricesforcarpetrolinthemoneyofthedayinmid-1992and
mid-2005(priortothe2005sharpriseincrudeoil).Note:luctuationsinthe
exchangeratemeanthatcautionisadvisedwhenmakingstrictcomparisonsand
henceanallowanceofaround ±5%isadvisable.Nonetheless,thisprice
comparisonbetweennationsisfairlyrepresentative

Year Automobile fuel Price in UK (London) Price in USA (east)

1992 1 US gallon £1.75 ($3.24) $1.30 (£0.74)

1992 1 UK gallon £2.10 ($3.88) $1.56 (£0.84)

2005 1 US gallon £3.50 ($5.95) $2.04 (£1.20)

2005 1 UK gallon £4.20 ($7.14) $2.45 (£1.44)

objective as securing the nation's energy needs at the lowest cost in real resources,
but consistent with national security, and environmental, social and other objectives.
It highlighted needs to develop guidelines for the future expansion of coal, to ensure
that reactor technology was sound for post-1990 expansion if required, to have regard
for the long-term role of North Sea oil and gas, to secure all cost-effective savings of
energy and to ascertain the viability and potential of renewable energy. It also noted
that 'There [was] an argument for devoting some of the benefits to come from North
Sea oil to investment in energy production and conservation'. This energy paper was
particularly important as it preceded a governmental energy-policy Green Paper. (UK
Green Papers are discussion documents and usually accompany a public consultation
as a precursor to a White Paper 3 that formally outlines forthcoming national policy
and legislative intent.) The subsequent 1978 Green Paper (Department of Energy,
1978) was a landmark in UK energy policy for it represented the next most significant
UK energy-policy official statement since the previous White Paper on fuel policy in
1967.
The 1978 Green Paper outlined the criteria for the formulation of a possible long-
term energy strategy and covered much of the ground presented in the aforementioned
1977 Energy Paper. It addressed each of the primary fuels (gas, oil, coal, HEP and
nuclear). It concluded that there was an urgent need to allow for the dwindling
potential of global oil reserves to sustain economic growth and hence the need to
switch to other fuels. It said:

This change was in no way comparable with previous changes in the predominant
source of World energy - from wood to coal, from coal to oil - since these changes
were not in general dictated by an insufficiency of supply of the old fuel but took
place as and when the new fuel appeared more advantageous. By contrast the change
away from oil will be an enforced change and subject to the constraints in timing.
We may have to accept that the available alternatives will be less convenient, more
expensive or less environmentally attractive than the use of oil. Careful planning
will be required if we are to effect the transition successfully and without damage
to the global economy. (Department of Energy, 1978)

3

A White Paper is a formal policy document of the government. Conversely, a Green Paper is a government
policy discussion document.