GEN 108

History of Ideas, Science and Society 2

The Need to Move From Fossil Fuel to

Alternative Energy
In this essay, issues related to the use of fossil fuels and possible alternative energy sources will
be discussed. Emphasis will be on reasons why alternative energy should be used.

Energy is the ability to do work. Building skyscrapers, powering jets, maintaining internet
servers, and even boiling water requires energy. Every aspect of man’s stay on earth needs
energy, and fossil fuels have filled the energy requirements of nations for decades. Fossil fuels
are carbon-containing substances that are formed underground from remains of dead organisms
(fossils). They take millions of years to form, and when burned, they release energy. These fuels
include coal, oil and gas. Sustainability means being able to be maintained at a particular rate or
level. As the nature of fossil fuels implies, they cannot be used again once exhausted. They are
not replenished at the rate they are depleted. Alternative energy includes nuclear energy, solar
energy, hydro power, bio power and wind power. These sources are cleaner and more
sustainable. Approximately less than a fifth of the world’s energy source is renewable, while the
rest is fossil fuels.

Impacts of Fossil Fuels on the Environment

Fossil fuels are largely found in wells deep in the earth, or under sea beds. Exploration is the
process of looking for these fossil fuel deposits. In the process of searching for deposits and
extracting them, there is horrible pollution of the air, land and sea. Large amounts of oil are
poured into oceans, killing or greatly harming all life in the area. On land, any place where oil is
spilled is no longer viable for agriculture. A by-product of oil exploration is natural gas that
comes out impure. In some places without proper facilities, that gas is usually burned (gas
flaring), causing serious pollution to the air.

Burning fossil fuels causes carbon emissions to the earth’s atmosphere (in the form of CO2) that
trap heat in the atmosphere. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
(IPCC), the burning of fossil fuels contributed to 76% of carbon emissions that were produced in
2018. Over time the temperature of the earth changes. This is called global warming.

Due to pollution and global warming, ecosystems are suffering. Natural habitats are disturbed
and species eventually go extinct because of heat and pollution. A large percentage of the
world’s economy depends on animals and plant life. Pollution from fossil fuels also causes
cancer, lung disease and poisoning for people in the area.
Economic Implications of Fossil Fuel
Aside from the catastrophic effects on the environment, fossil fuels will not last forever. This
does not mean they will disappear, for the number of remaining oil reserves is not certain.
However, at some point soon, fossil fuels will no longer be worth the cost of exploration and
extraction. Governments already spend billions to subsidise fuel to make commodity prices
artificially low.

The Way Forward

The solutions to the problems associated with fossil fuels lie in alternative energy. It is cleaner,
and more realistic for posterity. Energy like solar energy has next to no emissions/adverse
effects for the environment. This means that issues like pollution, global warming and climate
change can be tackled with renewable energy. Nuclear energy also has no emissions, though it is
not a renewable energy, and technology must improve to make the process and management of
wastes safer.
Alternative energy sources are naturally replenished. Solar is renewed with every ultraviolet ray
from the sun; hydro and wind with the weather and seasons. Therefore, as there is a shift to these
forms of energy, the issue of fossil fuel exploration and refinement - which is costly in more
ways than one - will be dealt with.
Of course, these alternative energy sources need much more technological advancement and
investment to make them reliable for mass production and less costly.
Economically, this will be expensive, but in the long run? It is worth it. Scientists and engineers
can stand on the shoulders of giants that came before them to discover more efficient and
effective ways to harness these energy sources, so society can gradually move away from fossil
fuels.

All in all, for the sake of the future of earth, the world needs to move to more sustainable sources
of energy, and it starts with members of society pushing politicians, investors and scientists to
take this issue seriously.

References

Chariot Energy. “When Will Fossil Fuels Run Out?” Chariot Energy,

https://chariotenergy.com/chariot-university/when-will-fossil-fuels-run-out/. Accessed 10

March 2022.

Kopp, Otto C. “fossil fuel | Meaning, Types, & Uses | Britannica.” Encyclopedia Britannica,

1998, https://www.britannica.com/science/fossil-fuel. Accessed 10 March 2022.

Kurzgesagt. “Do we Need Nuclear Energy to Stop Climate Change?” YouTube, 13 April 2021,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EhAemz1v7dQ. Accessed 9 March 2022.

“Radioactive waste.” Wikipedia,

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radioactive_waste#Nuclear_fuel_cycle. Accessed 11

March 2022.

Shaw, Julie. “Why is biodiversity important?” Conservation International, 15 November 2018,

https://www.conservation.org/blog/why-is-biodiversity-important. Accessed 10 March

2022.

The Wilderness Society. “7 ways oil and gas drilling is bad for the environment.” The Wilderness

Society, 9 July 2021,

https://www.wilderness.org/articles/blog/7-ways-oil-and-gas-drilling-bad-environment.

Accessed 10 March 2022.