Fossil energy agents, in particular crude oil and natural gas, are the prime motors of the developed economies. A change from the present base requires time and constitutes a significant challenge for Science, Engineering and Economy. On the other hand, fossil energy agents are limited resources, and their combustion burdens the biosphere in an ever increasing measure. Our use of it is at variance with the needs of sustainability. A major or complete replacement by other energy sources will be inevitable within a few generations, be it for their increasing value as raw material for the petrochemical industry, be it for environmental reasons.
Decisive improvements are possible without a measurable decrease in our quality of life.
A higher quality of life can be achieved with less energy. The postulated halving of the consumption of fossil fuels may be realised in the various economic sectors distinctively rapid, distinctively simple, and by distinctively different means. In all sectors the political will for action and the presence of suitable frame conditions are necessary. This requires a significant measure of education and time in a direct democracy such as ours.