As all of these things require oil (petrol for cars, diesel for busses/trucks, etc.). Next, the amount and variety of food we eat will decrease as the costs will rise; 60% of food is transported by trucks. Due to fertilizers used on crops being made by oil derivatives, it will become harder to grow certain crops resulting in fewer variety of foodstuffs. Believe or not, 95% of foods we eat are dependent on oil derivatives in one way or another. We might have to switch to organic foods which costs much more and some people might not be able to afford it. .
Peak oil will also affect our driving behavior and how we get around, because petrol will get to the point where it's too expensive. People will start to think of alternative ways of transport like carpooling with friends and family, taking public transportation, riding a bicycle, or even walking. The use of hybrid or electric vehicles will become more common. Airfare will become much more expensive as fuel becomes more expensive; around 50% of the price of an airplane ticket goes towards fuel. Shipping between continents will be reduced creating shortage of supplies and as a result daily life will be more expensive. All of this, of course will impact the low and middle class sooner as the wealthy can afford the higher costs. .
Environmental Impacts.
After we have reached peak oil, we will start using less and less of it as alternative sources of energy will be developed. This should be healthy for the environment as when we use less oil, it means we will have less pollution. The other alternative sources of energy, like solar, wind, etc. are clean sources of energy and should be developed further in favor of nuclear energy. Using less fuel means we will have fewer nitrogen and sulfur oxide emissions from cars and factories. This would be a great thing for humans, plants and animals. Air pollution causes 7 million death every year! Along with diseases such as asthma and bronchitis and so on If we have less pollution in our air this also means that the rate of global warming will decline.
