While all the recommendations are important, achieving a significant reduction in oil and natural gas use is a necessity for easing the transition to an energy-constrained future.

1. Reduce oil and natural gas consumption by 50 percent over the next 25 years.
2. Educate citizens about peak oil and foster community and community-based solutions.
3. Engage business, government and community leaders to initiate planning and policy change.
4. Support land use patterns that reduce transportation needs, promote walkability and provide easy access to services and transportation options.
5. Design infrastructure to promote transportation options, facilitate efficient movement of freight and prevent stranded investments.
6. Encourage energy-efficient and renewable transportation choices.
7. Expand building energy-efficiency programs and incentives.
8. Preserve farmland and expand local food production and processing.
9. Identify and promote sustainable business opportunities.
10. Redesign the safety net and protect vulnerable and marginalized populations.
11. Prepare emergency plans for sudden and severe shortages.

Direct and Indirect Effects

The three main functions that will be directly affected by peak oil and natural gas are transportation, heating of buildings and industrial activities that use oil or natural gas. These direct effects in turn produce indirect or ripple effects throughout the economy. For example, the availability and cost of food could be significantly affected because of increased costs of transportation, processing and fertilizer, all of which depend on oil or natural gas. As production and transportation of industrial goods become more costly, employment, wages and purchasing power may all be adversely impacted; this, in turn, will have feedback effects on what goods and services are provided, as well as the number of people needing public assistance of some type. In many cases these indirect impacts can be more significant than direct impacts. Understanding the impacts on Portland requires an examination of these interdependencies.

One estimate is that the amount of gas needed to extract all the Canadian oil reserves is two to three times Canada's total gas reserves. ~ Bob Williams, Heavy Hydrocarbons playing key role in peak oil debate, future energy supply, Oil and Gas Journal vol 101, no. 29, 28 July 2003, cited in Leggett, op cit p.71~ Bob Williams, Heavy Hydrocarbons playing key role in peak oil debate, future energy supply, Oil and Gas Journal vol 101, no. 29, 28 July 2003, cited in Leggett, op cit p.71

Peak Oil educator Heinberg noted that oil production is now in decline in 33 of the 48 largest oil-producing countries and that Chris Skebrowski, editor of the highly respected UK Petroleum Review, now says it is his gut feeling that worldwide oil production may peak in 2008.