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Across
Frontiers - 2005 Edition
URGENCY FOR THE
SAVE FUTURE
David J. O’Reilly
Chairman & CEO
Chevron Corporation
Energy will be one of the defining issues
of this century. One thing is clear: the era of easy oil is
over. What we all do next will determine how well we meet
the energy needs of the entire world in this century and beyond.
 Demand
is soaring like never before. As populations grow and economies
take off, millions in the developing world are enjoying the
benefits of a lifestyle that requires increasing amounts of
energy. In fact, some say that in 20 years the world will
consume 40% more oil than it does today. At the same time
many of the world’s oil and gas fields are maturing.
And new energy discoveries are mainly occurring in places
where resources are difficult to extract, physically, economically
and even politically. When growing demand meets tighter supplies,
the result is more competition for the same resources.
 We
can wait until a crisis forces us to do something. Or we can
commit to working together, and start by asking the tough
question: How do we meet the energy needs of the developing
world and those of the industrialized nations? What role will
renewable and alternative energies play? What is the best
way to protect our environment? How do we accelerate our conservation
efforts? Whatever actions we take, we must look not just to
next year, but to the next 50 years.
At Chevron, we believe that the innovation,
collaboration and conservation are the cornerstones to on
which to build this new world. We cannot do this alone. Corporations,
governments and every citizen of this planet must be part
of the solution as surely as they are part of the problem.
We call upon scientists and educators, politicians and policy-makers,
environmentalists, leaders of industry and each one of you
to be part of reshaping the next era of energy.
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