The COMING EXODUS

Since fossil energy began displacing agricultural labour, there has been a migration from rural to urban life. Cities now accommodate more than 50% of humanity. Although it is seldom discussed, the reversal of that trend is an ever-present inevitability; reduce the energy available for agriculture and more labour will be needed on the land. Here I argue that this reverse is a near-term probability, briefly examine what it might mean for New Zealand, and ask what should be done, by whom.

Seeing things through energy eyes

An organism needs to take in more energy than it uses in its daily activities. The ratio of energy-in to energy-out is formally known as ‘energy return on energy invested’ (EROEI for short). The classic analogy is a wolf chasing a