Part VI (End): Is There Any Miracle After The Decline in the EROEI Ratio? Would Possibly Our Economy Survive Afterwards?

Source: stuartmcmillen.com

The fall in the EROEI Ratio is also related to the depletion of natural resources such as oil, minerals, or natural gas.

Scientists have continued to debate, would these natural resources be completely depleted one day? and would our economic growth cease thereafter?

However, we need not worry too much about the decline in the surplus energy ratio. In fact, the development of technology have made  economy more productive and going on optimally.

Technological advancement has enabled us to use less energy and materials to produce goods and services. As a result, our economy is still being able to flourish and automatically adjusted to the continuing decline in the EROEI Ratio.

For instance, during our parents era, they had used vast amounts of energy and materials to produce telephones, cameras, televisions, calculators, walkmen, tapes, radios, and computers. However, today in our time, all the functions of those devices can be combined into one single device, it is a smartphone. 

All the functions of those devices are in our one hand. Imagine if there was no smartphone. How much energy and raw materials would have been needed to continue producing all those devices until this day with the decline in energy surplus?

In addition, cars which has been produced in the 2010s are certainly much more efficient in using fuel compared to the cars produced in the 1970s. The Boeing 737 Max series is also 20% more fuel efficient than the first 737 series produced in 1967.

Technological progress has made once crucial natural resources become less necessary. For instance, the use of copper to produce telephone cables. Is it possible that oil would become less needed in the future?

Therefore, the impact of the deterioration of energy surplus wouldn't be as severe as we had imagined and our economic civilization will still continue to work on and automatically adjusted to the changing conditions. Our productivity will also be continuing to increase and become adaptable to the decrease in the energy surplus.

However, scientists are still concerned about the upcoming-depletion of world oil reserves and other mineral resources. The pollution which caused by our economic activities also makes them worry about the environment condition.

Many scientists and institutions have been carrying out numerous scientific research to find another alternative energy who can still prosper our economy. A bunch of people and communities have also advocated the use of wind turbine and the solar panel which are claimed as being more environmentally friendly.

Nevertheless, as individuals we can still contribute properly. We should tighten our belts and don't be consumptive. We should consume goods and services more wisely based on the function or usability so as not to be redundant.

In response to the deteriorating energy surplus ratio, minimalist lifestyle trend is also growing on these modern days because it is claimed as being more affordable and environmentally friendly. Could the minimalist lifestyle trend become more popular in the future?