Able Quote by Jeremy Grantham
“Low-cost, high-grade coal, oil and natural gas - the backbone of the Industrial Revolution - will be a distant memory by 2050. Much higher-cost remnants will still be available, but they will not be able to drive our growth, our population and, most critically, our food supply as before.”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Energy Outlook, 2023
Fossil fuels will decline by 2050, forcing reliance on costlier, less efficient energy for growth and food production.
In simple terms: Fossil fuels will fade, raising costs.
Key Takeaway
Plan for alternative energy sources.
Themes
energy
environment
economy
Mood
concerned
forward‑looking
Type
environmental
economic
When to use this quote
- agriculture
- manufacturing
- urban planning
- energy policy
Key Concepts
sustainability
resource scarcity
food security
Questions to Reflect On
- How will higher energy costs affect food prices?
- What alternatives can sustain growth?
A Different Perspective
Transition may be slower than expected.
![“The future of mankind is going to be decided within the next two generations, and there are two absolute requisites: We must aim at a stable-state society [with limited population growth] and the destruction of nuclear stockpiles. ... Otherwise I don't see how we can survive much later than 2050.” quote by Jacques Monod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/8a7/jacques-monod-18055_aim_the-future-of-mankind-is-going-to-be-dec_738605.jpg)
![“The world will soon start to run out of conventionally produced, cheap oil…. We [will] start to run out of all fossil fuels by the end of this century.” quote by David Goodstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ab3/david-goodstein-63670_century_the-world-will-soon-start-to-run-out-of_2923357.jpg)
