Fossil fuels are the biggest energy source on the planet today. They’re cheap, widely available, and efficient, which is why they’re used to produce most of our electricity. But how sustainable are they really?
The burning of fossil fuels is one of the main causes of climate change, and there are other associated environmental, economic, and political issues that make fossil fuels a topic of debate.
Fossil fuels are described as the primary source of energy for the world. Fossil fuels are defined as the remains of dead plant and animal matter, formed from the remains of organisms that lived millions of years ago.
Fossil fuels have been around for a long time, and so have the methods of acquiring and using them. As a result, fossil fuels are thought of as an abundant, always available, free energy source.
The pros of fossil fuels include low cost, and high energy density. They are also self-contained, and relatively easy to transport.
The cons of fossil fuels include its massive carbon footprint, and the fact that fossil fuel supply is limited, which will eventually lead to it’s depleted state.
Fossil fuels are either:
1) The most sustainable energy source we have, or
2) a nonsustainable energy source that is hastening a collapse in our entire civilization.
Depending on who you ask, the fact that fossil fuels are key to our industrial civilization is cause for celebration or alarm.
Sustainable Fossil Fuels
The first time we discovered fossil fuels, they were plentiful and easy to get, and we used them to power our lives. Unfortunately, we’ve burned through the easy-to-find deposits and now have to work hard for the rest.
We’ve also done a poor job of recycling fossil fuels, either because we don’t want to or because we don’t know how. The end result is that we’ve burned through supplies faster than they can be replenished, so we’re now headed for a crisis.
The good news is that there are ways to keep the fossil fuel flame burning.
Are fossil fuels really in decline? Yes, but not for the reasons you think.
The world has huge deposits of oil, coal, and natural gas. These fossil fuels are abundant, and they can be used to provide for our energy needs for centuries.
The challenge is that many of these deposits are difficult to extract and process. We need new technologies that can make the most of these fossil fuels.
While most of us are familiar with the term ‘sustainable’, it’s a term that is often applied to living things and not inanimate objects like fossil fuels. However, fossil fuels can be sustainable if they are extracted carefully and managed properly.
Replacing fossil fuels
Global warming is a worldwide threat and the race is on to replace our fossil fuel dependency as soon as possible.
Recently, a promising alternative has been proposed – harvesting energy from the sun to drive wind turbines.
These two renewable energy sources can be used interchangeably to generate power, and a team of scientists from the University of Lisbon and the University of Coimbra have proposed a system that uses both to drive pumps that feed geothermal power plants.
With the ever growing use of fossil fuels, it is becoming a concern for many people how the world can continue using fossil fuels for energy needs.
While we have a large supply of fossil fuels, it is not a renewable resource and can’t be replaced when it is used up. We need to find a renewable resource to replace fossil fuels for our energy needs.
Sustainable Bio/Fossil Fuels
Most people would agree that the world needs to transition away from fossil fuels. Unfortunately, the transition isn’t easy.
In theory, transitioning away from fossil fuels is simple: just replace every fossil-fuel-powered machine with a machine powered by renewable energy. But the process doesn’t happen overnight.
Replacing fossil fuels takes time, and the transition requires replacing tens of thousands of machines that power everything from cars to buildings, to planes and trains. It takes a lot of effort, and the transition isn’t cheap.
It also takes a lot of planning, and since the transition is so expensive and time-consuming, countries need to keep everything running smoothly while the transition takes place.
We all know that conventional fossil fuels, such as oil, natural gas, and coal, are a finite resource. However, sustainable bio/fossil fuels can provide a sustainable, renewable and environmentally friendly alternative to petroleum-based fuels.
The term biofuel refers to fuels that are derived from living organisms, such as trees and plants. To be considered a biofuel, a fuel must be produced from biomass.
Biomass is organic material that is available on a renewable or recurring basis, including plants (such as trees and crops), agricultural wastes, and animal wastes.
No matter your stance on the environment, you can probably agree that America should develop renewable and sustainable bio/fossil fuels if it wants to do its part to protect the planet. Of course, the more ambitious the project, the harder it is to complete.
In keeping with this, the Department of Energy is currently exploring the potential for a fuel that can be made from algae. The idea is that algae can grow just about anywhere, quickly, and with little oversight. As it grows, it uses up carbon dioxide, helping to clean the air.
Fossil Fuel Subsidies & Sustainable Development
Although many nations are investing in renewable energy, fossil fuels are still the main source of energy in the world today.
Fossil fuels are burned to create electricity, to power cars and trucks, to manufacture fertilizers and other chemicals, and for other household uses such as heating and cooling buildings.
As a result, fossil fuel use is the largest source of man-made carbon emissions, which are the major contributor to climate change.
The effects of climate change are becoming more and more apparent. In recent years, we have witnessed melting ice sheets that have contributed to sea level rise. Since 1970, the global mean temperature has risen by 0.6°C.
Arctic sea ice has retreated rapidly over the past several decades, with the summer minimum melting by 13% per decade since 1979. The island nation of Kiribati plans to be the first to go, as they have predicted that they will be the first country to disappear completely as a result of rising sea levels. However, the problem is not just the melting ice.
Although many nations are investing in renewable energy, fossil fuels are still the main source of energy in the world today.
Fossil fuels are burned to create electricity, to power cars and trucks, to manufacture fertilizers and other chemicals, and for other household uses such as heating and cooling buildings. As a result, fossil fuel use is the largest source of man-made carbon emissions, which are the major contributor to climate change.
Last Words
The majority of the world’s energy comes from fossil fuels, which was formed from the remains of living things that lived hundreds of millions of year ago. Fossil fuels are non-renewable, meaning that once they are gone, they are gone forever. If you use fossil fuels, you are contributing to the rapid destruction of our environment.
