Fossil Fuel Abolition Essay
One attribute which is of immense concern in the contemporary days is the abolition of fossil fuels. It is a social justice topic given the fact that it puts people’s lives and livelihoods at danger. There is insurmountable evidence of the fact that the use of fossil fuels is responsible for environmental challenges. In fact, over the years, it has led to global warming and respiratory challenges that account for a large number of human deaths, destruction of property, and land dereliction (Chaston, 2016). Moreover, there is no doubt that over time, the continued use of the source of energy is poised to jeopardize the well-being of people in the future. The world has the ability to abolish the use of fossil fuels, but that decision has never been taken for several reasons. It is high time that a global resolution is made to completely abandon the use of fossil fuels.
There are numerous alternative sources of energy. They are known as renewable sources. Most of them have been used for decades and proven to be effective. With the passage of time, they have been developed in terms of capacity and scope (Twidell and Weir, 2015). Consequently, they are in a position to serve the society in a much better fashion than before. They include wind energy, hydroelectric power, nuclear plants, and solar energy. In their totality, they have the potential of serving the world without much hitches in the event that their full potential is explored. While the sources of energy are indeed in use concurrent with fossil fuels, not enough investment has been put on developing them (Forest, 2020). Much more is still spent around the globe towards importing petroleum based fuels, building storage capacity, development of refining capabilities, and even exploring potential sites for mining fossil fuels. If that much resources was put on other forms of fuels, they would soon have an equal, if not larger degree of total energy production as is the case presently.
One of the largest consumers of fossil fuels in the world is automotive. Majority of the vehicles which have been manufactured over the years in the world are designed to use fossil fuels. They either use petrol or diesel. That serves as a stumbling block for a sudden shift from the use of oil to other sources of energy in the world. Most people around the world have spent large sums of money on buying personal vehicles, and a change in energy source would effectively render their investments useless (Solway, 2008). Consequently, they tend to oppose any move to adapt a new mode of global operation. The invention of vehicles which are capable of running on renewable energy has already been done, in fact, companies such as Tesla are engage in mass production of the automobiles. However, they are facing challenges in the market owing to the presence of traditional dominant manufacturers of fossil fuel based sources of energy. It is difficult for the companies to compete fairly in the market. They need legislative backing to ensure their success. It has been proven that we can do away with the millions of carbon emitting vehicles around the world for the good of both the current and future generation, but the world is not taking the bold move.
Socio-economic factors have been cited as one of the reason why policy changes to halt carbon based fuel are not adapted. If the world has to completely stop using petroleum and coal as sources of energy, it would mean that several companies would have to either remodel their way of operation, and others completely shut down their operation. Vehicle and airplane manufacturing companies will have to change their designs (Chaston, 2016). Other companies such as those which process food items may have to change their sources of energy. Even hotels and domestic kitchens which use natural gas as their primary source of energy will have to acquire other energy sources such as induction heating. However, companies which indulge in exploration, refinery, and supply of petroleum will have to completely shut down. At the end of the day, there are millions of people who shall have to be rendered jobless in different industries. A similar feat was witnessed in Michigan when automotive manufacturers such as Ford shut their companies in the state.
Several citizens lost their jobs, and in turn the rate of crime increased. Even so, the economy globally is not pegged on a single variable. The market operates such that demand always attracts supply, and even leads to innovation in dire cases (Forest, 2020). Based on that, should it emerge that there is a gap in the supply of alternative sources of energy, they shall be ramped quickly (Twidell and Weir, 2015). That implies that in different parts of the world, new companies will be established that deal with generation of alternative energy as well as modes of transport which consume clean fuels. Even the normal gasoline stations will be replaced with reenergizing points which supply renewable energy. In that regard, there will only be a market shift at the end of the day. While some jobs will be lost, new ones will be created. There is a high likelihood most of those who shall lose their jobs will have new ones in the newly created or expanded companies.
The world is suffering from the throngs of powerful personalities who influence policy making with the aim of maintaining the status quo. It is scientifically proven that without oil based sources of energy, life will still proceed as normal. However, political systems around the world operate in a way that it is easy for wealthy personalities and organizations to control policy change (Forest, 2020). For instance, the United States has not been successful in abolishing ownership of assault rifles by private citizens due to the political influence that the National Rifle Association has on elections and in turn legislation and policy making. Similarly, with respect to the transport industry, the lack of railway lines in the US is attributed to the influence that automotive companies have had in the country’s politics (Solway, 2008). While in China there are networks of high speed train lines, in the US they are lacking. In the former nation, it is a communist country where private investors have no influence on government policy. On the contrary, the US is a democracy, and companies such as Ford, Chevrolet, and General Motors have influenced the nation to embrace the construction of superhighways as opposed to railways. The use of trains ensures that people travel in masses, hence less fuel is consumed, and pollution is curtailed. It follows that political systems around the world have made it difficult for fossil fuel use to be abolished.
Evidently, it is possible and necessary for non-renewable sources of energy to be abolished in the world. the world has the knowhow and ability to replace the energy source. The move has however been hampered over the years by avoidable circumstances. It is necessary that steps are taken to illegalize the use of the pollutant energy. It shall be instrumental in saving lives and livelihoods in both the current and future human generations.
References
Solway, Andrew. 2008. Fossil fuels. Pleasantville, NY: Gareth Stevens Pub.
Forest, Christopher. 2020. Fossil fuels. Minneapolis, Minnesota : Pop!, a division of ABDO.
Twidell, John, and Anthony D. Weir. 2015. Renewable energy resources. Abingdon, Oxon : Routledge.
Chaston, Ian. 2016. The Tesla. [London] : SAGE.
