--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Through our inattention, we have wasted…" description: "\"Through our inattention, we have wasted the years that we might have used to prepare for lessened oil supplies. The next ten years are critical.\" — Ken..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf8/kenneth-s-deffeyes-46003_climate_through-our-inattention-we-have-wasted-t_81340.jpg" --- # Through our inattention, we have wasted the years that we… ![“Through our inattention, we have wasted the years that we might have used to prepare for lessened oil supplies. The next ten years are critical.” quote by Kenneth S. Deffeyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf8/kenneth-s-deffeyes-46003_climate_through-our-inattention-we-have-wasted-t_81340.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf8/kenneth-s-deffeyes-46003_climate_through-our-inattention-we-have-wasted-t_81340.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf8/kenneth-s-deffeyes-46003_climate_through-our-inattention-we-have-wasted-t_81340.jpg) > “Through our inattention, we have wasted the years that we might have used to prepare for lessened oil supplies. The next ten years are critical.” [Kenneth S. Deffeyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-s-deffeyes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Neglecting to plan for declining oil availability has cost us decades of preparation; the upcoming decade is pivotal for adaptation. **In simple terms:** We ignored oil scarcity, losing vital preparation time. Key Takeaway Future planning for resource limits is urgent. Themes resource scarcity future planning energy transition environmental risk strategic foresight Mood concerned urgent reflective Type warning prediction call to action When to use this quote - government policy making - corporate energy strategy - individual lifestyle adjustments - infrastructure investment Key Concepts oil depletion energy security long‑term planning Practical Applications - Developing alternative energy roadmaps - Implementing conservation programs Questions to Reflect On - How can societies accelerate adaptation to dwindling fossil fuels? - What policies could mitigate the lost preparation time? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Climate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climate/) [Inattention](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inattention/) [Peak oil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peak-oil/) ## Related quotes > [“the work you will complete during the next few years is critical not only to the future of your own children but also to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-andrews/the-work-you-will-complete-during-the-next-few-years-is-critical-not/) [Andy Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-andrews/) > [“China needs to control these sea routes to guarantee its own oil supplies. Although that is understandable, it comes at a cost to Japan.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/declan-hayes/china-needs-to-control-these-sea-routes-to-guarantee-its-own-oil/) [Declan Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/declan-hayes/) > [Surveying the available alternative energy sources for criteria such as energy density, environmental impacts, reliance on depleting raw materials, intermittency versus constancy of supply,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-heinberg/surveying-the-available-alternative-energy-sources-for-criteria-such/) [Richard Heinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-heinberg/) > [The real problem is that we use too much oil. It's that simple and that difficult. If we truly want to reduce our vulnerability…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-heinberg/the-real-problem-is-that-we-use-too-much-oil-it-s-that-simple-and/) [Richard Heinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-heinberg/) > [“. . . every society that grows extensive lawns could produce all its food on the same area, using the same resources, and .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-mollison/every-society-that-grows-extensive-lawns-could-produce-all-its-food/) [Bill Mollison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-mollison/) > [ So far in facing this huge \[peak oil\] challenge, our political/economic system seems unable to cope with reality. We are forced to carry on… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madeleine-bunting/so-far-in-facing-this-huge-peak-oil-challenge-our-political-economic/) Madeleine Bunting > [Oil depletion and climate change will create an entirely new context in which political struggles will be played out. Within that context, it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-heinberg/oil-depletion-and-climate-change-will-create-an-entirely-new-context/) [Richard Heinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-heinberg/) > [There is a major problem of unsustainability of our environment, and we're seeing it in our natural resources, peak oil is probably upon us,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-mitchell/there-is-a-major-problem-of-unsustainability-of-our-environment-and/) [Edgar Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-mitchell/) > [Peak oil is already upon us. It is destroying our banking system, that is, our system for marshalling capital, and that is about to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-howard-kunstler/peak-oil-is-already-upon-us-it-is-destroying-our-banking-system-that/) [James Howard Kunstler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-howard-kunstler/) > [Regardless of how you feel about peak oil or global warming, the increased use of natural gas is a positive thing because it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-bryce/regardless-of-how-you-feel-about-peak-oil-or-global-warming-the/) [Robert Bryce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-bryce/) > [...More important than the deficit, more important then healthcare-more important than anything-we have got to do something about our energy strategy. Because if we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-clinton/more-important-than-the-deficit-more-important-then-healthcare-more/) [William J. Clinton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-clinton/) > [The idea that we industrialized humans are immune to the natural laws that have restrained growth in other species-and humans in past social regimes-is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-heinberg/the-idea-that-we-industrialized-humans-are-immune-to-the-natural-laws/) [Richard Heinberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-heinberg/) > [Saudi Arabian oil production is at or very near its peak sustainable volume (if it did not, in fact peak almost 25 years ago),…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-simmons/saudi-arabian-oil-production-is-at-or-very-near-its-peak-sustainable/) Matthew Simmons > [Probably no single event highlights the strength of Campbell's argument (on peak oil) better than the rapid development of the Alberta tar sands. Bitumen,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-nikiforuk/probably-no-single-event-highlights-the-strength-of-campbell-s/) Andrew Nikiforuk > [I'm not a peak oil person. I'm not a biohazard apocalyptic kind of freak. I don't have a supply of weapons or gold bars…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-hecker/i-m-not-a-peak-oil-person-i-m-not-a-biohazard-apocalyptic-kind-of/) [Tim Hecker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-hecker/) ## More by Kenneth S. Deffeyes > [“Of course, the methods for human population control are enormously controversial. One contraceptive measure seems to be humane and acceptable: If you teach calculus…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-s-deffeyes/of-course-the-methods-for-human-population-control-are-enormously/) [Kenneth S. Deffeyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-s-deffeyes/) > [This much is certain... No initiative put in place starting today can have a substantial effect on the peak production year. No Caspian Sea…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-s-deffeyes/this-much-is-certain-no-initiative-put-in-place-starting-today-can/) [Kenneth S. Deffeyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-s-deffeyes/) > [Running out of energy in the long run is not the problem… The bind comes during the next 10 years: getting over our dependence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-s-deffeyes/running-out-of-energy-in-the-long-run-is-not-the-problem-the-bind/) [Kenneth S. Deffeyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-s-deffeyes/) > [The least-bad scenario is a hard landing, global recession worse than the 1930s. The worst-case borrows from the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse: war,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-s-deffeyes/the-least-bad-scenario-is-a-hard-landing-global-recession-worse-than/) [Kenneth S. Deffeyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-s-deffeyes/) > [In a sense, the fossil fuels are a onetime gift that lifted us up from subsistence agriculture and eventually should lead us to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-s-deffeyes/in-a-sense-the-fossil-fuels-are-a-onetime-gift-that-lifted-us-up-from/) [Kenneth S. Deffeyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-s-deffeyes/) > [Once supply begins to dwindle, the years to follow will see shortages that at best will cause global recession, possibly worse than the 1930s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-s-deffeyes/once-supply-begins-to-dwindle-the-years-to-follow-will-see-shortages/) [Kenneth S. Deffeyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-s-deffeyes/) > [The economists all think that if you show up at the cashier's cage with enough currency, God will put more oil in ground,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-s-deffeyes/the-economists-all-think-that-if-you-show-up-at-the-cashier-s-cage/) [Kenneth S. Deffeyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-s-deffeyes/) [Explore all 8 Kenneth S. Deffeyes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-s-deffeyes/) ## More Climate quotes > [Irish research will contribute to global progress and have the potential to help all countries realise the potential of their land sectors in addressing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enda-kenny/irish-research-will-contribute-to-global-progress-and-have-the/) [Enda Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enda-kenny/) > [In the current climate, things that are true, brave human stories become political.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cate-blanchett/in-the-current-climate-things-that-are-true-brave-human-stories/) [Cate Blanchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cate-blanchett/) > [Windmills and solar cells are carbon-free sources of electricity. But they are costly. If you've been investing in those, give it up. That game…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-fisher/windmills-and-solar-cells-are-carbon-free-sources-of-electricity-but/) [Kenneth Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-fisher/) > [Society understands the architecture of academia and knows there are relevant qualifications in different fields, and the media accepts the idea of specialisations and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-griffiths/society-understands-the-architecture-of-academia-and-knows-there-are/) [Jay Griffiths](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-griffiths/) > [There are many more traits that the climate deniers share with the creationists and Holocaust deniers and others who distort the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-r-prothero/there-are-many-more-traits-that-the-climate-deniers-share-with-the/) [Donald R. Prothero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-r-prothero/) > [Some would call me an environmentalist. I don't know why. I reuse the water that falls in my backyard in the winter. I reuse…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-begley-jr/some-would-call-me-an-environmentalist-i-don-t-know-why-i-reuse-the/) [Ed Begley, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-begley-jr/) > [I talk to fashion designers and say I want some money to save the rainforest, and they say, 'Oh, I agree with you completely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivienne-westwood/i-talk-to-fashion-designers-and-say-i-want-some-money-to-save-the/) [Vivienne Westwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivienne-westwood/) > [Assuming normal winter weather, we currently anticipate the coal markets to remain difficult through 2015; while we always strive to operate a full capacity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-craft/assuming-normal-winter-weather-we-currently-anticipate-the-coal/) [Joe Craft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-craft/) > [Climate change poses clear, catastrophic threats. We may not agree on the extent, but we certainly can't afford the risk of inaction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupert-murdoch/climate-change-poses-clear-catastrophic-threats-we-may-not-agree-on/) [Rupert Murdoch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupert-murdoch/) > [Fossil fuels, including oil, are running out and supplies are getting harder to find. If we do nothing, prices will continue to rise and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-powell/fossil-fuels-including-oil-are-running-out-and-supplies-are-getting/) [Lucy Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-powell/) > [Local and state governments have outrun the federal government. 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Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [We live in a state with a wonderful climate and plenty of natural beauty, from the shores of Cumberland Island to the Chattahoochee River…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-barnes/we-live-in-a-state-with-a-wonderful-climate-and-plenty-of-natural/) [Roy Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-barnes/) > [Right now, the government is spending billions of dollars supporting the problem-makers in the U.S. economy - the polluters, despoilers, incarcerators, and warmongers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-jones/right-now-the-government-is-spending-billions-of-dollars-supporting/) [Van Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-jones/) > [All of the barriers to innovation in the energy sector are arguments for a big commitment to public investment. Only the public sector can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-nordhaus/all-of-the-barriers-to-innovation-in-the-energy-sector-are-arguments/) [Ted Nordhaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-nordhaus/) [Browse all 8,549 Climate quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/climate/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Through our inattention, we have wasted the years that we might have used to prepare for lessened oil supplies. The next ten years are critical.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Kenneth S. 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