Oil Fiends

Oil: The World’s Greatest Addiction and the Cost of Quitting

Oil is everywhere. It powers your car, builds cities, and even shows up in your phone, sneakers, and makeup. But this dependence runs deeper than most realize, and imagining a world without oil feels impossible. Here’s how we got here, why oil dominates, and what it would take to break free.

How Oil Took Over the World

Before oil, coal and wood powered the world. Then, in 1859, Edwin Drake drilled the first oil well, and everything changed. By 1914, oil fueled 90% of transportation, and by the 1970s, it accounted for 50% of global energy use. Cars, planes, plastics, and even agriculture relied on this liquid gold.

Today, the numbers are staggering:

 • 31% of global energy comes from oil, more than any other source.

 • 96% of vehicles run on oil-based fuels.

 • Over 99% of plastics are made with petrochemicals.

 • The global oil market is worth $4.5 trillion—larger than Germany’s economy.

Oil isn’t just energy; it’s power. Nations like Saudi Arabia, Russia, and the U.S. dominate the industry, controlling 75% of the world’s oil supply.

What Happens in a World Without Oil?

No oil means no gas-powered cars, no cheap plastics, and no affordable fertilizers for food. A world without oil would look radically different:

 • Transportation Overhaul: EVs would dominate, but planes, ships, and long-haul trucks would need alternatives like hydrogen or biofuels.

 • Plastics Revolution: Algae-based plastics could replace petroplastics, but costs would rise.

 • Economic Shifts: Oil-dependent nations like Venezuela and Saudi Arabia would face collapse without diversification.

Transitioning to renewables would cost $100 trillion globally and take decades. Experts predict a fully oil-free world by 2075 to 2100—if we act now.

Who’s Leading the Change?

Some nations are already pivoting:

 • Norway: Over 80% of new cars sold are electric.

 • Germany: Nearly 50% of its electricity comes from renewables.

 • China: Dominates EV sales, accounting for 50% of the global market.

But globally, oil still powers 31% of energy, while renewables lag at 15%.

The Takeaway

Oil isn’t just fuel—it’s the backbone of modern life. Breaking free will require massive investments, new technologies, and cultural shifts. But the stakes are high: continued oil dependency fuels climate change, political instability, and resource scarcity.

The question is: Will we quit oil on our own terms or wait until we’re forced to? The clock is ticking. The future depends on what we do next.