Despite the debate there was much agreed upon, largely that global trends, such as growth in demand from China and India, will force oil prices upwards and that current US energy policy is inadequate in addressing this problem (but agreeing on the what the future policy should be is another story).

But Jeff argues that this situation will have many silver linings. The higher transport costs will reverse the trend of globalisation and make local industry more competitive. It will also force us to have better urban planning and higher population densities that is a characteristic of the more livable world cities. The demise of the suburbs and high food prices will provide an economic incentive to turn much of this prime agricultural land back to the purpose they were originally used for – farming.