The Increasing Reliance on Fossil Fuels

The United States still leads the way in the use of fossil fuels and is reluctant to change. The reason for this is that fossil fuels are seen as necessary evils which, in fact, they are not. Fossil fuels are in no way renewable as they take millions of years to form from organic matter in the ground. Oil, natural gas, and coal are all types of fossil fuels that provide us with the bulk of our energy. This is one of the biggest problems of the 21st century and one that urgently needs addressed.

Fossil fuel use by humans is the largest source of emissions of carbon dioxide which is one of the greenhouse gases that allows radiative forcing and contributes to global warming. To deny global warming is to deny that carbon dioxide is, in fact, a greenhouse gas which is beyond dispute at this point in time. CO2 traps heat and we produce a lot of it so this excess CO2 traps more heat. This is not complicated. The atmospheric concentration of CO2, a greenhouse gas, is increasing every day. This raises concerns that solar heat will be trapped and the average surface temperature of the Earth will rise in response. If we make needed changes today most scientists believe that we will be able to avoid total disaster which is unavoidable if we continue our present course.

We use fossil fuels to power our vehicles, heat and cool our houses, and generate electricity. As was previously mentioned, fossil fuels take millions of years to form in the ground and are in no way renewable. Fossil fuels are non-renewable sources of energy, so once they are used up, they are gone. As old supplies are used up, new sources are found which causes even more problems as new drilling operations create more environmental problems.

In the United States, we use about twelve barrels of oil - the most valuable fossil fuel - per person per year. This is precisely the reason that the US as a nation is overly dependent on foreign oil. While the United States does have its own supply of oil, it doesn't compare to what the Middle East has to offer. So in order to meet the demand, we have to increase the supply. The only way to do that is to buy it from other countries - usually either Venezuela or Saudi Arabia.

As we use more and more fossil fuels, public awareness has also increased which resulted in the green movement which sought to educate people about alternative fuels and the harmful consequences of using fossil fuels. The ideas behind this movement have become popular lately as there is much cause for concern. Probably the biggest reason for concern today is the increasing price of oil. At the same time people are losing their jobs and the world economy slows down, oil prices double. This puts many in an impossible situation.

If we can reduce our use of fossil fuels and start looking at alternative sources of energy, we not only improve the quality of the environment, but we also reduce our dependence on other countries for our energy resources. It is entirely possible to do this, however, sadly the U.S. government stalls progress. Reducing fossil fuel use is entirely possible and will require a grass roots movement of people all over the world demanding change. This, in itself, will reduce use and also will encourage governments to act on this important issue.

Copyright (c) 2008 Mason Tanner