The ultimate goal of the Oil Depletion Protocol is to have nations of the world adopt it and thereby transition away from oil-dependent economies. Citizens can do their part and reduce their oil dependency independently of national programs and commitments; however, if the world is to safely and appropriately wean itself off of oil and prepare for an energy-constrained future, international agreement and planning is necessary.

Many oil-exporting nations are already experiencing declining rates of production - for these countries, there would be little to lose by agreeing to export less in the future. There is also a handful of nations that are already acknowledging the need to reduce petroleum dependency for either environmental or national security reasons. These nations will be some of the early adopters of the Protocol.

Over the next few years we will be working to get the Protocol adopted by national governments around the world. However, governments need not, nor should they, wait for an international agreement to be implemented before they take steps to reduce their oil vulnerability. Immediately, governments can:

• assess their oil vulnerability and alternative energy options
• create and foster a Peak Oil discourse
• develop public awareness campaigns
• encourage research and development into renewable and clean alternative energies