Top-Rated Free Essay
Preview

Man's Dependence on Fussil Fuels

Good Essays
299 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Man's Dependence on Fussil Fuels
Man’s Dependence on Fossil Fuels
Before the occurrence of the Industrial Revolution, fossil fuels were considered as temporary source of energy. They were only used to compensate for the lack of firewood and charcoal supplies that were the primary energy supplier back in the day. Although the first combustible fuel used widely which remained useful for a long period of time was wood. Advancement by both technological and social demanded a source that could provide a higher energy output. These sources turn out to be coal, oil, and natural gas.
It is common knowledge that the burning of fossil fuels releases large amounts of greenhouse gases, particularly carbon dioxide. These gases are the primary causes of global warming and changes in the atmosphere. However, said process also causes acid rain, thereby damaging crops, poisoning rivers, and contaminating other bodies of water. This then leads to water and land pollution.
Man’s dependence on fossil fuels has had many negative effects on both the environment and its inhabitants. Thankfully though, governments all over the world have taken note of this looming problem, and have begun to act and try to reverse the said effects that fossil fuels have had.
Man has become increasingly dependent on fossil fuels over the years, dependence mainly due to the ease of capitalizing on said fuels. Although fossil fuels may be of great help to the industrialization of a country, they bring with them numerous harmful effects on the environment, especially during the mining, transportation, and consumption of these fuels. These effects may range from different kinds of pollution to severe changes in global climate.
Thus, it is certain that human dependence on fossil fuels eclipses whatever benefit it may have to mankind because of the drastic environmental effects it has caused along the way.

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Powerful Essays

    Fossil fuels are currently the most widely used source of nonrenewable energy in today’s society. These sources of energy are used to generate power for both commercial and personal use in a number of different ways. “In 2005, more than 3/4 of total world energy consumption was through the use of fossil fuels.” (Environmental Literacy Council, 2008) Oil, the leading energy resource depended upon to fuel everyday functions produces 43.4 % of our world’s energy. Natural Gas, the second most relied upon resource produces 15.6 % of the world’s energy followed by coal, which produces 8.3 % of the world’s energy. Unsurprisingly, North America is the number one consumer of nonrenewable energy resources, consuming approximately 25 % of the fossil fuels extracted from the earth. (Environmental Literacy Council, 2008)…

    • 1927 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Consider the following information: Every time we use fossil fuels, we release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Fuel must be burned to extract oil from the ground and process it; and then more fuel must be burned just to transport the fuel to where we buy it! Scientists believe that it is carbon dioxide emissions that are responsible for climate change, specifically the global warming effect.…

    • 677 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    • Climate change: carbon dioxide emissions are a direct result of the burning oil and natural gas (but also coal). • Air pollution: burning oil releases significant amount of particulate matter, and sulfur and nitrogen oxides o Results in acid deposition and smog, which have serious ecological and human health impacts o Natural gas contains little sulfur, less CO2 and no particulate matter when compared to oil and coal. o Hidden external costs of fossil fuels – (20,000 people die prematurely every year) • Water pollution: o Hydrologic fracturing technique may affect surface and groundwater • Problems extracting and transporting oil and natural gas Given our Challenges what can/should we do? • 1.…

    • 7330 Words
    • 249 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Almost everything human’s use require a form of energy. Unfortunately, fossil fuel is the source of energy we use to sustain ourselves. Fossil fuels emit large quantities of greenhouse gas, which increases the amount of carbon in the atmosphere.…

    • 741 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In a balanced energy regime, fossil fuels should be used only in specific areas with a limited allowance each year. In the future, fossil fuels can be used in less developed area with limited exposure to high-end technology, and it can be stored in fixed quantities as a kind of back up energy sources. I have several reasons behind my proposal. As mentioned in the book, fossil fuels have several major disadvantages. As a result, it should be gradually phased out. The author mentioned that mining itself can cause damages to human beings, generate greenhouse gases and acid rains, and cause mountaintop destructions. However, comparing to clean energies, fossil fuels have their unique advantages even in a balanced energy regime. For example, just…

    • 194 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Fossil fuels well that’s a thing that I have always taken for granted until I saw the documentary of Crude Impact. Well I did know that the population is increasing abundantly but what I didn 't know is when the consumers increase in such a vast number so does the production. Now imagine this just one person has 30,000 items that relates to fossil fuels and multiply by the seven billion on our world population. That’s a great quantity of items that relates to fossil fuels in our daily lives. People need to start getting a reality check of what may happen if we continue to use our fossil fuels so much we may lead to environmental degradation. For instance, in the Titanic even though the ship was sinking many people said this is an unsinkable ship people rather believe in the myth instead of getting into the lifeboat. The myth is people believe these fossil fuels will never run out instead of using alternative resources which in this case is our lifeboat. We better get on the lifeboat before the ship starts sinking. I will be doing my part by increasing my independence on fossil fuels.…

    • 1193 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Week 5 Paper

    • 803 Words
    • 4 Pages

    So what does the use of fossil fuels have to do with me? Let’s examine a more holistic view of what is happening now, what has happened in the past to get us here, and where all of this will take us in the future.…

    • 803 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    1. Select a fossil fuel. How is this fossil fuel used? What are the adverse effects on the environment?…

    • 482 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Every day we read about gas explosions, car fires, and many other accidents in which fossil fuels were at least contributors. We hardly notice the deaths from cancer and lung disease caused by pollutants from burning fossil fuels.…

    • 1022 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    unnatural disaster coal

    • 1181 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Pollution is a major disadvantage of fossil fuels. Fossil fuel releases greenhouse gasses (GHG) carbon dioxide when burned thereby causing a greenhouse effect. This is also the main contributory factor to the global warming experienced by the earth today.…

    • 1181 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Moan, J. L., & Smith, Z. A. (2013). Fossil fuels. Retrieved February 26, 2013, from http://issues.abc-clio.com…

    • 1538 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    “Unfortunately, the process involved in using the fuels released fumes into the air that are harming the planet.” Since fossil fuels are not a renewable source it will eventually run out. “In 1987 the United Nations said that we should aim for sustainable energy.” Meaning countries should start developing sources of energy that will never run out or harm the planet. “Fossil fuel power plants burn oil, coal, or natural gas.“That heat produced is used to turn water into steam.” “The steam powers machines called turbines, and the turbines then power generations that produce electricity.” However burning fossil fuels also releases harmful substances into the air, such as oxides says Vic. “These oxides mix with water vapor and fall to earth as acid rain,” which is harmful to the…

    • 873 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Simulated Oil Spill Essay

    • 423 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Fossil fuels are an integrated part of how humans consume and produce energy. In the 1990s, it was estimated that, “the annual global input of petroleum would be between 1.7 and 8.8 million metric tons, the majority of which is derived from anthropogenic sources.” Meaning the estimated amount of oil that would be used every year to meet the energy demand.(Leahy and Colwell 1990) Since this prediction, the amount actually used each year has grown considerably. Due to this increased use, there have been an equal amount of environmental response from increased hydrocarbon concentration. A majority of these responses are focused on marine systems, terrestrial systems, and a variety of environmental conditions which are affected. These affects are not only linked to the use of the fuels, but the accidental contamination of the system through direct exposure. These accidental contaminations have a variety of sources ranging from negligence or failing containment equipment. There are a number of natural events that release…

    • 423 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Renewable Energy: Yes or No?

    • 2467 Words
    • 10 Pages

    Fossil fuels do provide an inexpensive form of energy, but in contrast, they also pollute the atmosphere with greenhouse gases, thus contributing to climate change. Global warming is primarily due to increased concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, and the single most important source of this carbon dioxide is the combustion of fossil fuels” (Bostrom, Read, & Morgan, 2010). Oil is the energy source of our time. We refine the crude, extracted oil into different products like gasoline, jet-fuel, diesel and even plastics. Fossil fuels have promoted global commerce and are behind many of the greatest technological and social innovations of our day.…

    • 2467 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Fossil Fuels are the most important energy sources in our world today. Due to the importance of fossil fuels, it made a huge impact on political issues. In this essay, I argue that political pressures surrounding fossil fuels can often lead to unrest and even war. These situations can lead to extreme social hardships. Even if a country is cash rich, the delivery system and dangerous situations involving social unrest may mean that many people never see many of the benefits of fossil fuel money. The overwhelming majority of the huge amount of energy used in the world comes from the burning of three major fossil fuels: coal, petroleum, and natural gas. Fossil fuels are a non-renewable source of energy. They are formed over a very long period of time; the fossil fuels on earth today were formed from plants and animals that lived up to 300 million years ago (Sachs, Jeffery D., Warner, Andrew, p.2) These fossil fuels are found in deposits deep beneath the earth.. Energy is essential to modern society as we know it. Over 85% of our energy demands are met by the combustion of fossil fuels (McKillop A, Newman S, p.148). Due to the importance of fossil fuels, it made a huge impact on political issues.…

    • 797 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays