Fossil Fuels might ruin us
Imagine a world destroyed by fires, natural disasters, and unsafe chemicals everywhere. This will be the future of our beloved earth if we continue burning up fossil fuels. Because of fossil fuels, pollution in unhealthy environments has severely affected millions of people around the globe. Fossil fuels also contribute to land degradation, ocean acidification, carbon emissions, unsafe drinking water, and global warming. On the contrary, green energy does not affect the environment, and it is renewable, meaning there is an unlimited supply of it. The majority of the world uses fossil fuels, drastically rising pollution levels and global warming temperatures. Moving forward, more countries and nations should consider replacing their fossil fuels with green energy to contribute to a cleaner and a safer world.
In today’s world, most countries use fossil fuels to generate electricity, but due to the myriad use of these substances, the environment has faced a significant amount of damage. In fact, they contribute to the majority of air pollution. According to Frederica Perera, an American environmental health scientist and founder of the Columbia Center for Children’s Environmental Health at the Columbia University School of Public Health, “Energy-related fossil-fuel combustion…accounts for most of the global air pollution, generating 85% of airborne respirable particulate pollution and almost all sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions to the atmosphere” (Perera 3). Clearly, the burning of fossil fuels creates an unsafe and unhealthy environment because they release toxic chemicals into the air. These volatile chemicals (e.g. carbon, nitrogen and sulfur dioxides) are associated with multiple adverse health effects.
In addition, the burning of fossil fuels for energy is driving climate change at a very rapid rate. According to REN21, a research institute that is focused on bringing together governments, non-governmental organizations, research and academic institutions, international organizations, and industries to learn and advance the adoption of renewable energy, “We are facing a climate crisis: the IPCC 2018 Special Report on 1.5°C found that roughly a decade remains to keep global warming below this level and avoid the worst effects of climate change” (REN21). Urgent action is needed now to change our energy usage methods. Climate change can bring in very severe effects. These effects include droughts, famine, floods, economic insecurity, and much more. If the world does not quit fossil fuel consumption, these calamities may be possible in the future.
The biggest issue of fossil fuels is that people are dying due to the burning of these substances. According to the World Health Organization, a United Nations agency concerned with international public health, “Ambient air pollution accounts for an estimated 4.2 million deaths per year due to stroke, heart disease, lung cancer and chronic respiratory diseases” (WHO). Ambient air pollution is defined as the harmful pollutants emitted from fuel combustion and biomass burning. The environment is so deadly that due to fossil fuel consumption, people cannot even take a simple walk outside. If these fuels have the ability to harm millions of innocent victims, they should be stopped right away. However, companies and countries still continue using fossil fuels despite knowing about the damages they will cause. As time moves forward and if nothing is done, the environment will significantly worsen and more innocent people will fall sick. That’s why renewable energy is a more preferred method of generating electricity.
Renewable energy should be used instead of fossil fuels because they do not impact the environment and they help improve economies. They contribute to zero carbon emissions, and they provide carbon footprint reduction benefits. According to the Union of Concerned Scientists, a science advocacy organization founded at MIT, “Burning natural gas for electricity releases between 0.6 and 2 pounds of carbon dioxide equivalent per kilowatt-hour (CO2E/kWh); coal emits between 1.4 and 3.6 pounds of CO2E/kWh. Wind, on the other hand, is responsible for only 0.02 to 0.04 pounds of CO2E/kWh on a life-cycle basis; solar 0.07 to 0.2; geothermal 0.1 to 0.2; and hydroelectric between 0.1 and 0.5” (UCSUSA). It is safer to use renewable energy than fossil fuels because they barely release any emissions whereas fossil fuels release almost a hundred times more. In order to decrease and get rid of pollution, it is preferred to use renewable energy for this reason.
In addition, renewable energies have a lower chance of failing because they spread out over a large geographical area and if some of the equipment in the system is damaged, the rest can still function properly. The Union of Concerned Scientists state, “For example, Hurricane Sandy damaged fossil fuel-dominated electric generation and distribution systems in New York and New Jersey and left millions of people without power. In contrast, renewable energy projects in the Northeast weathered Hurricane Sandy with minimal damage or disruption” (UCSUSA). The benefits of these resilient technologies are that they are reliable, and they increase energy security. This means that people who use electricity run by renewable energy systems do not have to worry about having any ‘power down’ problems whereas those who have their electricity run by fossil fuels will have to worry.
Furthermore, the renewable energy industry allows for more jobs than the fossil fuel industry. According to the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), one of the nation’s most effective environmental agency groups, “It [clean renewable energy] accounts for more than 2.2 million US jobs — at least 10 times more than oil and gas drilling or coal mining” (“Fossil Fuels: The Dirty Facts”). The renewable energy industry adds numerous jobs to society. Evidently, more jobs mean people will earn and spend more money. This flow of cash will benefit the economy and other local industries. Renewable energy usage will do nothing but benefit the world. It is clean, renewable, and reliable. On top of that, these resilient technologies have the ability to help economies boom.
In order to stop using fossil fuels and transition into a clean energy society, it is important to conserve/reuse energy and electrify transportation. Conserving energy will help reduce the use of fossil fuels. According to Ben Alonzo, a science professor who holds a Master’s Degree from Mississippi State University, “About 80% of the energy used in the United States is generated by the burning of fossil fuels, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration” (Seattlepi). Therefore, any energy we conserve will conserve fossil fuels (non-renewable resources). Energy conservation will help heal the environment by reducing air pollution and decreasing the amount of respiratory and other health problems.
Another solution to stop fossil fuel usage is to go green, a lifestyle that attempts to reduce the use of Earth’s natural resources. Ben Alonzo states, “Consuming only the food and energy needed for survival; participating in recycling programs that reduce municipal solid waste; using green energy electricity services such as solar power, which reduces pollution” (Seattlepi). Living green reduces waste and pollution and, instead, allows for high quality fresh and clean air. Living green can also reduce weight and increase human interactions.
Many of the carbon emissions come from the transportation sector. There are more than one billion vehicles in the world and most of them give out an abundant amount of carbon emissions. According to EIA, the U.S. Energy Information Administration, “U.S. motor gasoline and diesel (distillate) fuel consumption in the U.S. transportation sector resulted in the emission…of 1,559 MMmt (million metric tons) of CO2” (EIA). Electrifying all of the vehicles in the world will drop these carbon emissions to zero. This will significantly reduce air pollution levels and reduce smog. The best steps to take to stop the burning of fossil fuels is to conserve energy as much as one can, live a green lifestyle, and to electrify all modes of transportation. More than that, people and organizations should speak to others about the importance of natural resources and encourage them to adopt environmentally-friendly habits.
Fossil Fuels vs Green Energy is a heated debate topic between scientists for many decades. Renewable energies should be used for electricity generation rather than fossil fuels because they provide more benefits to the environment and economies. Using renewable and green technologies keeps the world clean and away from dangerous climates. But more than that, we can save four million lives from dying each year. It’s time to adopt a new clean energy system. Fossil fuels do too much damage, whereas renewable energies can help keep the world a safe place. Although solutions exist today, they are not conveying their message effectively. It’s time to take action and stop fossil fuels from being burned up.
Works Cited
Alonzo, Ben. “List of Ways to Reduce the Use of Fossil Fuels.” Seattlepi. Hearst Seattle Media, LLC., 29 Oct. 2013, https://education.seattlepi.com/list-ways-reduce-use-fossil-fuels-3725.html. Accessed 11 Jan. 2020.
“Ambient Air Pollution.” World Health Organization. United Nations, 15 Mar. 2011, https://www.int/gho/phe/outdoor_air_pollution/en/. Accessed 15 Jan 2020.
“Benefits of Renewable Energy Use.” Explainer. Union of Concerned Scientists. 20 Dec. 2017. https://www.ucsusa.org/resources/benefits-renewable-energy-use. Accessed 14 Jan. 2020.
Denchak, Melissa. “Fossil Fuels: The Dirty Facts.” onEarth. Natural Resources Defense Council, 29. Jun. 2018, https://www.nrdc.org/stories/fossil-fuels-dirty-facts#sec-disadvantages. Accessed 10 Jan. 2020.
“How much carbon dioxide is produced from U.S. gasoline and diesel fuel consumption?” EIA. U.S. Energy Information Administration, 15 May 2019, https://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.php?id=307&t=10. Accessed 19 Jan. 2020.
Perera, Frederica. “Pollution from Fossil-Fuel Combustion Is the Leading Environmental Threat to Global Pediatric Health and Equity: Solutions Exist.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, vol. 15, no. 1, 2017, p. 3., https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5800116/. Accessed 10 Jan. 2020.
“Why is renewable energy important?” REN21. Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century, 16 Mar. 2019, https://www.ren21.net/why-is-renewable-energy-important/. Accessed 10 Jan. 2020.
