After hearing a promo on the radio, I was looking forward to the program. In the end I found myself deeply disappointed by more or less the entire program. For the most part, it seemed to be cheer leading for technologies of one sort or another, which would tend to minimize the technical challenges that are still unsolved.

For example, they talk about carbon sequestration, and how they can capture all of the CO2. Wrong. If you make liquid fuels and burn it in an internal combustion engine, CO2 still comes out the tailpipe. Secondly, many experts now believe that sequestration simply isn't feasible on the scale that would be required to address global warming.

They talk about ethanol as if it is some sort of solution. They don't talk about the huge energy inputs and limited amounts of feedstock that are available, which lead many to conclude that this is really a diversion. Good discussion here:

http://www.theoildrum.com/node/2851#more

They talk about hydrogen as if it is some sort of solution, neglecting the fact that it is currently made from natural gas, a non-renewable fossil fuel, and the making of the hydrogen causes CO2 to be emitted. Yes, in theory it can be made by splitting water, but in reality there are large losses in converting electricity to compressed hydrogen. You would be far better off with a simple battery powered car. Many experts say that this is 30-50 years in the future. If ever.

In the end, this type of program tends to plant the idea in people's minds that whatever problems exist, people are working on them, and that the general public can blissfully continue on with life as usual.

Want a sober and in my opinion far more realistic assessment of where humanity finds itself today? Rent the documentary "A Crude Awakening".