Introduction
Over the years, reliance on fossil fuel has continued to rise throughout the world. While it does provide an alternative to energy production, it also poses a serious danger to the environment we live in. Drawing from a study by Frost, fossil fuel accounts for close to 85 per cent of the energy produced and used in the United States (1).
Apparently, fossil fuels serve as an amazing source of energy both at home and in the industry. For this reason, it is very tempting for people to turn to the use of fossils oblivious of the possible damage that may be caused by over-reliance on fossils.
Without a doubt, we all have a strong desire to have a healthy environment that can be passed from one generation to another. There is thus an increasing need globally for stakeholders to work closely in addressing the challenges presented by the use of fossil fuels.
Considering that more energy will be required as the world population continues to swell, efforts must be made to change the current trend of increased reliance on the use of fossil fuels.
Effects of Fossil Fuel
According to DiCaprio, the use of new clean energy to facilitate transportation is regarded as a major source of greenhouse gas emission (1). Research further indicates that the transport sector of the United States accounts for 28 per cent of greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere. Please focus on the uses of the new clean energy in transportation, such as the electric car and hybrid car.
According to Dimotakis, Grober and Lewis, numerous concerns have been raised regarding fossil fuels and how reliance on them has contributed greatly to the challenge of global warming and climate change. Fears have been raised by different countries about the rate at which the environment is being degraded by humans all over the world. Sadly, this is bound to continue as the global population continues to increase.
Reducing the Consumption of Fossil Fuels
In order to preserve the environment for generations to come, it is imperative for all stakeholders to figure out the best way possible to reduce the consumption of fossil fuels. An approach that has been suggested in the United States for dealing with the menace caused by fossil fuels is to turn to the use of hybrid cars that have the ability to use less gasoline. It may also be useful to encourage motorists to dry in ways that help to conserve fuel.
Options used to generate energy in homes also lead to the emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Consequently, the energy used at home can also be reduced by relying on various forms of energy conservation and efficiency. Energy conservation simply refers to the ability to save energy by not using it unnecessarily.
Undoubtedly, doing this will eventually help to reduce the amount of emission that goes into the atmosphere at any given time. To a large extent, electronics tend to consume so much power when switched off. As a good practice, all electrical appliances should be unplugged whenever they are not in use.
Clearly, this will serve an important role in reducing the amount of energy consumed. On the other hand, efficiency requires people at different levels in society to ensure that they mostly use appliances that are designed to rely less electricity.
As pointed out by DiCaprio, there is need to come up with individual and collective measures for promoting renewable energy (2). State governments should also formulate policies that advocate for the use of renewable energy.
At an individual level, everyone should take appropriate action to reduce the amount of personal carbon emission into the atmosphere. However, greater success may eventually be realized when elected leaders across the world are held accountable for their actions.
Governments should also suggest and enforce limits for the amount of carbon that a single individual may be allowed to emit into the atmosphere. More importantly, State governments should strive to establish a clean energy economy by investing in the use of efficient technologies.
According to Frost, everyone should be encouraged to practice conservation right from their homes (1). Reducing the use of electricity at home, for example, is an easy strategy of dealing with the problem of fossil fuels.
People should be advised to purchase home appliances that have the Energy Star labels since they have the ability to lower the amount of electricity consumed. Every family must focus on ensuring that every member of the family is involved in the conservation efforts. Another approach that has been suggested and adopted by some countries is the use of alternative means of transport
. Rather than depending heavily on options that are responsible for the destruction of the environment, individuals must make deliberate choices to use a means of transport that help to safeguard the environment. Some countries are, for example, encouraging citizens to use bicycles or trains while going about their daily businesses.
Despite the fact that it may take a while before the idea is fully embraced globally, stakeholders must continue to urge people at different levels in the society to embrace it. Other suggestions include making sure that one’s car is as efficient as possible, using alternative sources of energy, and raising awareness among citizens.
Based on a study by Whitley and Burg, State governments can also rely on fossil fuel subsidies to encourage citizens to be more serious with the issue of conserving the environment (1). A similar argument has been presented by Burniaux, Château and Sauvage, who also think that fossil subsidies can serve to encourage individuals and nations to be responsible (4).
However, as noted by Bárány and Grigonytė, it is advisable for implementers to be strategic and ensure that an unnecessary burden is not created for the government (2). It is possible that issuing subsidies may cause a government to use resources that could have been used to meet other pressing needs in society.
Conclusion
The increased consumption of fossil fuels is certainly dangerous for the society. While it is obvious that the use of fossils as a source of energy has made a significant difference in a number of countries across the world, there are dangers associated with the continued use of fossil fuels.
As explained in this paper, it is extremely important for all stakeholders to consolidate their efforts in addressing the current challenges in order to safeguard the future. Doing so will ensure that the present generation is able to secure the environment for the coming generations.
Even though it may take longer to drive the point home, stakeholders must constantly persuade people at different levels to embrace buy the idea. Without a doubt, a number of options exist that may be relied upon to help conserve the environment. For example, people should be encouraged to purchase cars that are efficient, and motorists must ensure that cars are driven in a responsible manner.
Works Cited
Bárány, Ambrus and Dalia Grigonytė 2015, Measuring Fossil Fuel Subsidies. PDF file. Web.
Burniaux, Jean-Marc, Jean Château and Jehan Sauvage 2011, The Trade Effects of Phasing Out Fossil-Fuel Consumption Subsidies. PDF File. Web.
DiCaprio, Lisa 2013, How We Can Reduce Our Reliance on Fossil Fuels and Promote Renewable Energy. PDF file. Web.
Dimotakis, Paul, Robert Grober and Nate Lewis 2006, Reducing DoD Fossil-Fuel Dependence. PDF file. Web.
Frost, Shelley. Ways to Reduce Fossil Fuel Use. 2015. Web.
Whitley, Shelagh and Laurie van der Burg 2015, Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform: From Rhetoric to Reality. PDF file.