This gloomy assessment comes from the International Energy Agency, the Paris-based organization representing the 26 rich, gas-guzzling member nations of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The agency is not known for alarmist warnings, and its World Energy Outlook is typically viewed by policy wonks as a solid indicator of global energy supplies. In a marked change from its traditionally bland, measured tones, the IEA's 2007 report says governments need to make urgent, bold decisions on energy policy, or risk massive environmental and energy-supply crises within two decades — crises and shortages that could spark serious global conflicts.
"I am sorry to say this, but we are headed toward really bad days," IEA chief economist Fatih Birol told TIME this week. "Lots of targets have been set but very little has been done. There is a lot of talk and no action."
星期二,油价达到了创纪录的97美元一桶,但是下一代消费者回过头来看看这个价格可能会充满羡慕。星期三公布的一份关于国际石油供应状况的关键性报告做出了可怕的预测,它暗示,随着全球经济面临严重的能源紧缺,不久油价将不可逆转地突破100美元一桶的门槛。
国际能源署的首席经济师法迪·比洛尔本周告诉《时代》杂志:“我很抱歉这样说,但是我们真的是在步入糟糕的岁月。制定了很多目标,但是几乎没有实现的。谈论得很多,但是没有行动。”