Peak oil is the simplest label for the problem of energy resource depletion, or more specifically, the peak in global oil production. Oil is a finite, non-renewable resource, one that has powered phenomenal economic and population growth over the last century and a half. The rate of oil 'production', meaning extraction and refining (currently about 85 million barrels/day), has grown almost every year of the last century. Once we have used up about half of the original reserves, oil production becomes ever more likely stop growing and begin a terminal decline, hence 'peak'. The peak in oil production does not signify 'running out of oil', but it does mean the end of cheap oil, as we switch from a buyers' to a sellers' market. For economies leveraged on ever increasing quantities of cheap oil, the consequences may be dire. Without significant successful cultural reform, severe economic and social consequences seem inevitable. (From the Energy Bulletin: http://www.energybulletin.net/primer.php)

The following list of resources will give you access to all sorts of information, data and statistics about peak oil.

Queensland's Vulnerability to Peak Oil - McNamara report

Post Carbon Institute

Post Carbon Cities

Rob Hopkin's interview about Transition Towns - Global Public Media

ASPO's Stuart McCarthy on peak oil - Global Public Media

Peak Oil & Permaculture - Australian-based blog exploring solutions

This Simple Life - Poweringdown for Peak Oil - how one household is preparing for oil depletion

The Energy Bulletin - Peak Oil news from around the world

The Kinsale Energy Descent Action Plan (PDF 1.20MB)

Global Public Media - public service broadcasting about peak oil action

Peak Moments Television

The Oil Depletion Protocol

Association for the Study of Peak Oil (ASPO) - Australia

Richard Heinberg's website

Crude Awakening - US site

Energy Descent Action Planning in Victoria - Eat the Suburbs

The Community Solution (from The Power of Community dvd) - excellent resources