The difference now is there's limited industrial capacity, and limited political understanding of the problem. No one could debate the fact that the war in Europe was happening. But you can interpret peak oil and climate change endlessly without having to do anything about them.
If it were framed as a war effort - or something like it - you'd start to see some changes. But that's unlikely to happen with any of the current crop of pols. And the population aren't used to being told they have to make sacrifices, so they're unlikely to vote for anyone who says otherwise.
Peak oil is tied in, at least from an energy perspective, is tied in with climate change. At least in Europe, climate change has been a major political issue for at least a decade. The result of that has been an upswing in R&D across a range of technologies such as printable solar panels, bigger wind turbines, fuel efficency and fuel cells. The scope and range of technolgies that exist and going to exist is truly mind blowing.
These technolgies are coming increasingly on stream and going into production. These are also areas in which Europe dominates. Inudustrial capicaity is limited, but it is not static, it can be increased when demand increaes. It also helps that the EU has the largest industrial base on the planet.
The challegne tends not to be technological, but political and social. People STILL deny that climate change is an issue, that high oil prices are JUST because of taxes, and so forth. Its up to politicans to address the issues, and for an infomed populos to make sure they stay focused.
Thank-fully(!) climate change is the 900lb gorrila sitting in the corner of the room messing the place up. It did not go away, and has now brought its mates along to smash up the party. Europe is better placed than the USA with regard to peak energy because we have taken climate more seriously and have been making investments, both in terms of technology and socially and poltically.
We are not yet on a 'war' footing, and it does take time, but as my original analogy was making, once things get going, progress can be very rapid.
The next decade, mark my words, be very intresting.
