When was the last time that there was something in the news about an accident relating to

the oil industry? Probably not long ago. Yet they are still existing to this day, helping to drive
the carbon dioxide levels up again. The oil drills need to be dismantled for the sake of our
future.

Firstly, according to wilderness.org drilling oil can severely damage the land as the business
requires the construction of huge amounts of infrastructure. This is caused by the fact that
the oil does not come in underground lakes but like little droplets trapped inside rocks. The
companies have to use as much land as possible to maximise production. Soil degradation
will also start to take place as there is no plants to replenish the nutrients in the soil. Even
after the abandonment of the oil field, the soil cannot support plant or animal life without
the interference of humans. All that damage to the land is only just the general outlook. For
example, fracking, requires a liquid to be pumped into the ground so that the extraction
could take place. All the water that makes up the liquid is drinking quality water. After the
extraction is finished, that same liquid is pumped back into the ground and sealed there.
The National Resources Defence Council stated that the waste water is toxic and could
contaminate drink water if not managed properly. In most cases, it isn’t.

Secondly, if they are allowed to operate, they will do nothing but contribute to climate
change. Around ninety percent, of the emissions come from fossil fuels. What’s worse, only
half of the total emissions are either absorbed by the ocean or plants, meaning that the
other half will be floating around the atmosphere, awaiting to make the planet just a notch
hotter. The production of petroleum and other fossil fuels is only hampering the efforts of
becoming a greener planet. People will argue that there is electric cars and solar panels, but
there will always be those who tell themselves just another tank of fuel won’t be a problem,
and that tank turns into five tanks, then fifty tanks. Unless that they are forced to change,
that change will not happen to those that are not willing to change.

Finally, when an error occurs, and oil is split into the ocean. Those errors not only reduce
profit but also damage wildlife severely. Just look at the Deepwater Horizon spill in 2010
alone. According to biological diversity.org the spilled had harmed more than 82000 birds,
6000 turtles and 25000 marine mammals. Usually, the effects do not stop here. When fish
consumes the oil, it will affect its reproduction ability for not just its generation, but for
decades to come.

If oil extraction does not end, there will be no benefits to our future, only more spills, less
biodiversity, and a corrupt society.