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| UK's oil, coal and gas 'gone in five years' | UK's oil, coal and gas 'gone in five years' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| In just over five years Britain will have run out of oil, coal and gas, researchers have warned. | In just over five years Britain will have run out of oil, coal and gas, researchers have warned. |
| A report by the Global Sustainability Institute said shortages would increase dependency on Norway, Qatar and Russia. | A report by the Global Sustainability Institute said shortages would increase dependency on Norway, Qatar and Russia. |
| There should be a "Europe-wide drive" towards wind, tidal, solar and other sources of renewable power, the institute's Prof Victor Anderson said. | There should be a "Europe-wide drive" towards wind, tidal, solar and other sources of renewable power, the institute's Prof Victor Anderson said. |
| The government says complete energy independence is unnecessary, says BBC environment analyst Roger Harrabin. | The government says complete energy independence is unnecessary, says BBC environment analyst Roger Harrabin. |
| The report says Russia has more than 50 years of oil, more than 100 years of gas and more than 500 years of coal left, on current consumption. | The report says Russia has more than 50 years of oil, more than 100 years of gas and more than 500 years of coal left, on current consumption. |
| 'Decisive action' | 'Decisive action' |
| By contrast, Britain has just 5.2 years of oil, 4.5 years of coal and three years of its own gas remaining. | By contrast, Britain has just 5.2 years of oil, 4.5 years of coal and three years of its own gas remaining. |
| France fares even worse, according to the report, with less than year to go before it runs out of all three fossil fuels. | France fares even worse, according to the report, with less than year to go before it runs out of all three fossil fuels. |
| Dr Aled Jones, director of the institute, which is based at Anglia Ruskin University, said "heavily indebted" countries were becoming increasingly vulnerable to rising energy prices. | Dr Aled Jones, director of the institute, which is based at Anglia Ruskin University, said "heavily indebted" countries were becoming increasingly vulnerable to rising energy prices. |
| "The EU is becoming ever more reliant on our resource-rich neighbours such as Russia and Norway, and this trend will only continue unless decisive action is taken," he added. | "The EU is becoming ever more reliant on our resource-rich neighbours such as Russia and Norway, and this trend will only continue unless decisive action is taken," he added. |
| The report painted a varied picture across Europe, with Bulgaria having 34 years of coal left. | The report painted a varied picture across Europe, with Bulgaria having 34 years of coal left. |
| Germany, it was claimed, has 250 years of coal remaining but less than a year of oil. | Germany, it was claimed, has 250 years of coal remaining but less than a year of oil. |
| Professor Anderson said: "Coal, oil and gas resources in Europe are running down and we need alternatives. | Professor Anderson said: "Coal, oil and gas resources in Europe are running down and we need alternatives. |
| "The UK urgently needs to be part of a Europe-wide drive to expand renewable energy sources such as wave, wind, tidal, and solar power." | "The UK urgently needs to be part of a Europe-wide drive to expand renewable energy sources such as wave, wind, tidal, and solar power." |
| However, Jim Skea, Research Councils fellow in UK Energy Strategy. cast doubt on the findings of the report. | However, Jim Skea, Research Councils fellow in UK Energy Strategy. cast doubt on the findings of the report. |
| He told BBC News: "This sounds very unlikely. What's more, it's irrelevant - the UK has a stable supply of imported energy, even if it is a good idea to increase our own supplies." | |
| The government recently announced it was cutting subsidies for large-scale solar energy and the Conservatives have said there will be no funding for new onshore wind farms if they win the next election. | The government recently announced it was cutting subsidies for large-scale solar energy and the Conservatives have said there will be no funding for new onshore wind farms if they win the next election. |
| Ministers are hoping that enough shale gas - extracted by fracking - will be obtained to make a difference, the BBC's environment analyst Roger Harrabin says. | Ministers are hoping that enough shale gas - extracted by fracking - will be obtained to make a difference, the BBC's environment analyst Roger Harrabin says. |
| They are also offering incentives for more oil research in the North Sea - and trying to persuade the USA to export more gas, he added. | They are also offering incentives for more oil research in the North Sea - and trying to persuade the USA to export more gas, he added. |
| The Global Sustainability Institute's research covers environmental, societal and economic challenges facing the world. | The Global Sustainability Institute's research covers environmental, societal and economic challenges facing the world. |