Impact of Fossil fuel Development on the Environment - Example

IMPACT OF FOSSIL FUEL DEVELOPMENT ON THE ENVIRONMENT By Introduction Fossil fuels are the main source of energy not only in the UK but also all over the world. About 90 percent of the world’s machinery operates on the fossil fuel, making it a necessary commodity for the day-to-day running of the activities. Demand for fossil fuels is therefore high and continue increasing every day. The need for energy increases due to the development in various parts of the world that require a lot of energy to sustain. A high demand for energy translates to a high production of fossil fuels. Production and consumption of fossil fuels has detrimental effects on the environment as it causes air and water pollution, environmental degradation resulting from mining such as land dereliction, environmental hazards such as acid rains, and global warming effects amongst many other negative impacts. For a student learning sustainable business development, it is important to consider the environmental impacts certain goods and services has and the ways that the impacts can be mitigated. Mitigating the impacts will ensure that the environment is protected from harmful emission and enhance its ability to support both animal and plant life. This paper aims at uncovering the impact of production and consumption of fossil fuels. It also aims at proposing the ways in which these negative impacts can be mitigated to conserve the environment. The stakeholders involved in both the production and conservation of the environment will also be considered in the paper and their attempts to prevent environmental degradation documented. The paper will also look into the role of technological innovation in the reduction of environmental degradation associated with fossil fuel production and consumption. Finally, the paper will focus appropriate regulations that have been set by different stakeholders, especially the government concerning the production and consumption of fossil fuels. The conclusion of the paper will contain a summary of fossil fuel production and consumption as well as how it can be mitigated for environmental conservation. Throughout the research, relevant scholarly articles and books will be used to fortify the information. Literature Review In the course of this research, relevant materials will be used to provide information on environmental impacts of fossil fuels production. Subsequently, the use of the sources will ensure the development of the research paper to produce a scholarly acceptable research paper. Energy policy is a peer-reviewed journal that addresses the implications of energy use. The journal focuses on the social, planning, economic, and environmental implications brought by the energy supply. The source will be important, especially in determining the environmental implications of energy use and the ways to combat them. The journal of industrial ecology is a resourceful Peer-reviewed journal by Wiley Blackwell of Yale University. The journal covers the subject of the industrial ecology. The production of fossil fuels touches on the issue of ecology since it involves mining and has negative impacts on the environment such as air and water pollution. The paper shall draw relevant information from the journal on the negative effects of fossil fuels production and consumption as well as the take of different institutions on the issue. The journal of Ecological Economics intertwines the study of the ecology (nature’s household) and economics which entails all human activities. It shows the how human activities affect the ecology and what should be done to ensure that the man’s economic endeavors do not end up destroying the ecology. Fossil fuels being natural products, prompts human activities for economic gains. The journal will therefore come in handy in sourcing of information relevant to this research. The paper also utilizes information from other sources such as environmental websites. Wrap website for example is a website that insists on the circular economy. The circular economy insists on the need for maximizing of the economic potential of the environment while conserving the environment at the same time. Other environmental oriented websites such as the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) and The United States Environmental protection Agency (EPA) website is also useful in developing the research. UNEP as an international environmental conservation programme sets regulation governing global environmental conservation. Environmental impact of Fossil fuels Production of fossil fuels Fossil fuels are formed in the ground from the remains of prehistoric organisms unlike other consumer products, which are produced in industries. The fuels are formed in layers in earth’s crust and their depth depending on the type of the fossil. For example, coals are found much closer to the earth’s surface as compared to oil and natural gas. The process of extracting these fossil fuels involves the use of heavy machines in a process called mining. While mining, layers soil and rocks are displaced. Continuous mining of these products lead to degradation of the land in a process known as land dereliction. The land becomes unattractive and incapable of supporting thereby presenting a negative impact of the mining process. In addition, the displaced soil and rocks are left in the mining site after all the fossil fuels depletes rendering the land useless for any other human activity. The machinery used in the mining process use fuels that emit dangerous emissions into the air thereby causing pollution which also augers as a negative effect to the environment (Institute for energy Research, 2015). Consumption of fuel The world’s main source of energy in the world is Fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas). Fossil fuels are used in cars, airplanes, industries, electric production cooking, and warming houses. The advantages fossil fuels have on other type of energy such as solar wind and water is its ability to combust and generates energy in an instance as opposed to other fuels that requires other processes before combusting to produce energy. However, the disadvantage with the fossil fuels as a source of energy is that they deplete from the environment since the rate at which they are consumed is much greater than the rate they take to form. Fossil fuels take millions of years to form and therefore there will come a time in the future when all their reserves shall deplete. Global warming The combustion of fossil fuels is produces harmful gases to the atmosphere (environment) known as GHGs (Greenhouse Gases). The greenhouse gases (GHGs) retain heat in the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide gas is an example of these GHGs, which is produced in high amounts when the fossil fuels are burned. The gas traps heat into the atmosphere leading to global warming. Global warming has many implications to the environment. Continued burning of fossils fuels increases the heat in the atmosphere. The intense heat causes the melting of polar ice and subsequent rise of the seas and oceans water level. Increase in the water levels leads to increase in the inundation of river deltas, wetlands, and populated areas. Global warming also leads to unpredictability of the weather hence disorientation of schedules such as farming. Global warming is also responsible of extreme weather conditions such as droughts and sporadic rainfall (USCUSA, 2015) Air pollution Apart from the carbon dioxide gas responsible for global warming, burning of fossil fuels produces other harmful gases in the air. These gases include hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide, sulphur oxides, and nitrogen oxides. Pure air supports life. When these gases are released in the atmosphere, they pollute the air making life strenuous in the universe. This means that the more the fossil fuels are burned, the more the harmful gases are released into the atmosphere, and hence the more harmful effects present themselves to both plant and human life. Carbon monoxide gas is usually produced when the there is incomplete combustion of fossil fuels. The gas is very dangerous as it can cause death when released in an enclosed occupied room. The gas in smaller doses cause headaches and stress the people with heart disease even more. Cars and trucks mostly produce carbon monoxide. Sulfur oxide is also a harmful gas produced when the sulfur in fuel is combusted. The gas is produced when coal is used as a source of fuel. Sulfur oxide combines with nitrogen oxide in the air and water vapor in the air to form sulfuric and nitric acids respectively. The resultant acidified vapor falls as acidic rainfall, which destroys crops and corrodes buildings. Further accumulation of the acids saturates the water sources killing both animal and plant life. Burning fossil fuels also leads to emission of Nitrogen - - Nitrogen dioxide and Nitrogen Oxide. The nitrogen oxides are observed in the skylines as yellowish brown clouds. The gases are responsible for lung irritation, pneumonia, and bronchitis. The gases also reduce resistance for respiratory infections. High quantity of the gases causes smog formation. The transport industry and power plants mostly produce nitrogen oxides. Non-methane hydrocarbons and the nitrogen oxides react in air to cause ozone or smog. Ozone is the white clouds that are seen above many cities in the world. Human exposure to the ozone gases and smog can cause shortage of breath and lung complications in the long term. The gas also reduces crop yields in farming areas. On top of gases, burning fossil fuels emits dust, smoke, soot, which are respiratory irritants (UCSUSA, 2015). Mitigating the impacts Energy is an important requirement in every aspect of modern life. The use of fossil fuels (natural gas, oil, and coal) has already been proven to be very harmful to both animal and human life. While energy production is necessary, there is need for alternative sources of energy production to prevent combustion of these fossil fuels. Reducing the amount of fossil fuels emitted in the atmosphere will promote a safer environment hence sustainability of life. However, fossil fuel production and subsequent sale is a business, which provides revenue to both the governments of various countries and individual companies. It is therefore necessary that while attempts of reducing fossil fuels emissions into the atmosphere, promotion of sustaining the fossil fuel business. There are therefore well-orchestrated plans and policies designed to mitigate the environmental impacts of fossil fuels in consideration to sustaining the business as well as ensuring that sufficient energy is produced. The consumers and appropriate stakeholders can be able to combat the climate change by adopting and embracing clean energy. Clean energy refers to highly efficient energy that does not produce dangerous emissions that pose a threat to both animal and plant life. Clean energy sources include solar energy, wind energy and geothermal energy. In solar energy, solar powered devices are used as sources of energy. Solar energy is the most affordable and easily available alternative to fossil fuels. Wind energy is harnessed and utilized by applying appropriate machinery such as windmills. Geothermal power is the power generated exclusively from dry steam. Geothermal power plants produce a lot of energy with minimal gas emissions into the atmosphere. Water energy is also a form of energy harnessing where highly pressurized water is used to turn turbines, which in return produce energy. In order to replace the fossil fuels with green energy, technology is vital. All the machinery used to produce the energy is a result of highly advanced technology (EPA, 2015). The stakeholders concerned with environmental conservation have put policies in place to avoid the emission of CHGs gases from burning fuel forces. The fossil fuel markets and climate change are interrelated. The more fossil fuels sold, the more the emissions of CHG gases and hence climate change. In order to prevent the emissions of GHGs the use of fossil fuels must be regulated. Fossil fuels mitigation efforts have a negative effect on fossil fuel prices. The response of fossil fuel markets to mitigation efforts also has an effective influence on the costs and acceptability of other forms of energy available such as clean energy and nuclear energy. Appropriate policies limiting emission of the GHCs especially CO2 is therefore an effective way to mitigate climate change and therefore increase the quality of life because of a friendly environment (Bauer et al 2015). Carbon emissions resulting from carbon fuel emissions are viewed as a global problem. Various environmental conservation groups and programs have devised ways in which there will be limited emission of the GHGs and thereby advocating for a cleaner environment. The programs have come up with clear strategies that outline the process through which the globe will slowly adopt alternative energy sources other than fossil fuels. The strategies, have scheduled targets concerning the allowed emissions of GHCs, which allow limited emissions of the gases in specific countries in relation to the countries level of technology. There are clear stated GHGs emissions reduction targets and the layout of hoe the set targets will be met. Various governments of the world are mandated to ensure that they adhere to the globally accepted GHGs target emission. EPA (United States Environmental protection agency) is one of the globally recognized agencies greatly involved in combating climate change. The Agency collects information on greenhouse gas emissions identifying the emission trends and identifying opportunities to reduce the emissions while increasing efficiency at the same time. The Agency also reduces amount of greenhouse gases emissions. Their strategy for reducing emissions involves forming of highly efficient partnerships and common-sense regulatory initiatives. An example of a common-sense regulatory initiative started by the EPA is the Vehicle Greenhouse Gas Rules, which are set to save the population a $1.8 trillion at the pump and eliminate six hundred billion metric tons of GHGs gas emissions by 2025. EPA, in conjunction with the private sectors partnerships, has used voluntary energy and gas programs to 345 million metric tons of gases in 2010 as well as saved about $21 billion. EPA reduces its carbon footprints by monitoring its own carbon emissions. The agency aims at reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 25% by 2020. EPA collaborates with states, localities, and tribes in order to reduce the emission of the greenhouse gases. In the partnerships, it provides outreach support, analytical tools, and technical supports to the partners. EPA also has programs such as Climate Ready estuaries and Climate ready water utilities that help communities adapt to climate change (EPA, 2015). The European Union (EU) was responsible for 10% of the global greenhouse gas emissions in 2012. This was a fall of EU emissions which is a good thing compared to the developing nations who have increased their greenhouse gases emissions. The EU, comprising of 28 countries has continued cutting its greenhouse gas emission since 1990. The reduction is in accordance t its target of reducing greenhouse gas emission by 20% by 2012 and following the second commitment period, (2013-2020) as agreed in the Kyoto’s protocol. EU as a unit is on track of reducing its greenhouse gas emissions although 13 of its states require assistance in order to meet their target. Considering the greenhouse gas emissions in 1990, EU has dropped 19% greenhouse gas emissions. Partly because of the reduction in greenhouse emission, EU’s GDP has grown by 45% during this period. The EU has also come with a way of generating revenue from sale of EU Emission trading system where the proceeds are to be used to finance domestic investments in the low carbon economy (European Commission, 2014). The fifth United Nations Environmental programme, released towards the end of 2014 focused on the global limits for the Greenhouse gas emissions. The report was aimed at communicating global agreements on the emission of greenhouse gases. The report was submitted to for the emissions budget in response to the latest series of intergovernmental panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports. IPCC is an international body that conducts research on the climate change while at the same time monitoring every government’s response to climate change. The report addresses the importance of keeping climate change within the 2 degrees Celsius beyond 2020. The report recognizes the different Nations strategy to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases by 2025 and 2030 but insists the importance of keeping the climate change within the set limit. The 2 Degrees Celsius limit is the budget of carbon dioxide gas emissions in the World. If the world stays within the budget, then it is possible to live within the 2 degrees Celsius global warming limit. The report considers that the world has already used most of this carbon dioxide limit and that every nation should do explore the best strategies to ensure that minimal emission of the gas. The report also questions the day when the carbon dioxide emissions will fall to zero referring to the production of carbon dioxide that is used up as soon as it is produced. When this rate is achieved, the period will be referred to as the global Carbon neutrality (UNEP 2014, 2) The global carbon neutrality needs to be zero in the period between 2055 and 2070. The annual net emission added to the global carbon dioxide budget already consumed gives us the remaining budget of the remaining carbon dioxide emission budget. This means that the continued annual net emission continues to deplete the global carbon dioxide budget. If the budget is exhausted, then the annual net emissions for carbon dioxide will have to fall to zero to achieve the global carbon neutrality. The global net greenhouse gases emissions will have to fall to zero between 2080 and 2100. These targets the other gases emitted alongside carbon dioxide. The gases emission needs to stop to prevent climate change as they have the same effects as carbon dioxide gas. The report finally concludes that nations have to work very hard to hit their targets before 2020. This will postpone the global carbon neutrality. Reducing carbon emissions into the air reduces the measures we apply as opposed to the stringent measures we will have when the global carbon neutrality is achieved. This report is important in ensuring that all the nations of the world take the issue of global warming seriously. UNEP, as a global watchdog on environmental conservation takes upon itself to guide the emerging and developing nations in their fight against the harmful emissions of greenhouse gases (UNEP, 2014). Technology and Combating impacts of fossil fuels combustion In the attempt to reduce the environmental degradation caused by fossil fuel, environmentalists, governments, and stakeholder have devised methods to curb the threats. The most common method includes the use of technological advancement approach, which reduces the demand for fossil fuels and hence reducing the pollution resulting from mining. However, other means that seek to reduce the emissions from the fossil fuel power production plants applies without necessarily reducing the demand of the production. Through technology, several approaches effectively reduce emissions to the air and enhance environmental stewardship. Coal, despite having a higher index in the pollutants list, is the cheapest source of power and the most abundant. According to, Giglio (2013), in his research to analyze the power usage in US explains that coal is the most affordable source of power and a key driver of the US economy. Therefore, abolition of coal as a source of energy or rather a deliberate decision to reduce its demand can result to detrimental effects on the country’s economy. Consequently, engineers have devised ways to reduce the harmful C02 emissions that during coal poor production. As such, the devised methodologies seek to maintain the supply of coal energy, but still ensure environmental conservation. Firstly, the modern power plants ensure that their processes are fitted with the most modern emission regulating technology. For instance, all coal-producing plants in US use the fluidized-bed technology (CFB). This technology incorporates superficial compounds in the combusting technology to reduce the level of C02 emissions. Additionally, the technology ensures that the process adjust automatically to collect the C02 rich gasses before they escape to the atmosphere (Gigolo, 2013). Secondly, Gasification is a technological advancement that enhances effective melting of coal and later burning it to gas to collect the impurities before combustions. This method reduces the level of impurities released to the environment after combustion of coal. In relation to coal, power plants also make use of the early Carbon capture storage (CCS) method that allows the power manufacturing plant to re-capture the carbon emission for underground storage. However, the most recent technology is more complex for the combustion by products undergoes a transformative process to form more stable and less harmful products. On the other hand, automobile remains a main environment pollutant as explained in part II of this paper. However, the economic, social, and political advantages of automobiles outweigh the disadvantages in the light most economic operations are run by the aid of automobiles. Through this necessity, countries are unable to control the pollution and maintain a smooth flow of the country operations. It is through this necessity that environmentalists, in conjunction with electrical and mechanical engineers maintain the use of automobile, but seeks to replace the fuel-powered automobiles with electric cars. Similarly, the stakeholders in the campaign encourage use of lead filters in reducing the amount of harmful elements as products of the combustion (Ridlington, 2014). The electric cars reduce the demand of the fossil fuels and hence reducing the pollution during mining and combustion of the fuel. As such, electric cars remain a viable technological approach to reduce the fossils pollution. The technological approaches used in the reduction of fossil fuel pollution employs the two discussed methodology to control the amount of end emissions. The first is the regulation of the fuel demand by creating other alternatives or by devising ways to control the combustion emissions that reach the atmosphere. Conclusion Fossil fuels are found naturally in the ground and serves up to 80% of the World global fuel consumption. They are preferred as the global source of energy due to their efficiency in energy production. However, the combustion of these fossil fuels causes great harm to the environment. Combustion of fossil fuels causes the emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs), which are the major cause of global warming and subsequent climate change. Global warming is caused by excessive heat retention in the atmosphere. This heat retention further leads to adverse conditions in the globe such as melting of polar ice, unpredictable and extreme weather conditions, human and animal diseases as well as acid rainfall. To curb the adverse effects of global warming and conserve the environment, there is need for stringent measures. To start with, alternative sources of energy such as wing energy, hydropower, geothermal energy, and solar energy should be used. Advancement in technology increases the efficiency of alternative sources of energy. There are also other stakeholders of the environment involved in numerous efforts to conserve the environment, for example EPA and the EU. These agencies efforts should be adopted at citizen and individual levels to ensure that the environment is conserved in whichever way possible. Finally, all the governments of the world should adhere to the UNEP and affiliated agencies and program reports. Global leaders as well as the people in charge of various dockets concerned with the environment should take the issue of global warming with the seriousness it deserves and take the necessary steps towards eliminating it. Governments in the world should work together to ensure that the globe operates within the 2 Degrees Celsius global emissions level. If this limit is adhered to, then we will have more time to find other ways of reducing carbon dioxide emission before attaining the global carbon dioxide neutrality and hence promote sustainable development all over the world. References List Bauer, N. et al (2015). CO 2 emission mitigation and fossil fuel markets: dynamic and international aspects of climate policies. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 90, 243-256. European Commission. (2014, December 11). Climate Action- EU Greenhouse Gas emissions and Targets. 11 December 2014 [Online]Retrieved from ec.europa.eu/clima/policies/g-gas/index_en.htm Giglio R. (2013). New technologies reduce environmental impacts of coal-fired plants.[Online] Retrieved from http://www.engineerlive.com/content/22603 Institute for Energy Research. (2015). Institute for Energy Research. [Online] Retrieved from instituteforenergyresearch.org/topics/encyclopedia/fossil-fuels/ Ridlington E. (2014). Driving Cleaner. More Electric Vehicles Mean Less Pollution. [Online] Retrieved from http://environmentamericacenter.org/sites/environment/files/reports/EA_drivingcleaner_scrn.pdf Union of concerned Scientists (UCSUSA). (2015). The Hidden Cost of Fossil Fuels | Union of Concerned Scientists.[Online] Retrieved from http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/our-energy-choices/coal-and-other-fossil-fuels/the-hidden-cost-of-fossil.html#.VPr7VXyUc_w United States Environmental Protection Agencies. (2015). What EPA is Doing | Climate Change | US EPA. [Online] Retrieved from http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/EPAactivities.html United States environmental protection agency. (2015). Clean Energy | US EPA. [Online] Retrieved from http://www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/ Read More