Ending the Energy Crisis - Coursework Example

Steven Chu points to the breaking up of the great ice packs, which will ultimately result in a notable rise in sea level. Unless climate change is halted, this rise will submerge some parts of the earth completely and ultimately cause the death of living things in the coral. The negative impact of greenhouse gases is attributed to global trends in the demand for and supply of energy (S. Chu; Chu and Majumdar). According to Chu (6), “…between 1971 and 2000, the total use of energy doubled and is expected to triple by 2020”, while oil and gas reserves are diminishing by the day.

In order to resolve this crisis, many options have been proposed that call for concerted research on the use of bio-based fuels (such as the use of grain to generate ethanol), and nuclear fission as well as research on how best to harness inexhaustible energy reserves such as solar and the wind, as well as photosynthesis (Chu and Majumdar; S. Chu). In its 2004 report titled Ending the Energy Stalemate, the National Commission on Energy Policy has made many recommendations with a view to averting the crisis. I outline below some of the recommendations with which I strongly agree.  

I strongly agree with the recommendation to develop energy technologies for the future (The National Commission on Energy Policy). As we edge closer to the depletion of natural oil resources, it is imperative that we explore new technologies to complement or replace the exploitation of natural oil deposits. As such, I agree that there is a need for the government and private sector to increase funding for energy research, and to also provide incentives that will spur the production of alternative fuels for the transport sector.

I also agree strongly with the recommendation to strengthen critical energy systems. This is because crucial energy systems, including the electricity grid, provide environmentally friendly energy options, especially if these are generated using inexhaustible resources such as wind and solar. Thus, I strongly agree that there is a need to minimize barriers to the creation of crucial energy infrastructure while protecting existing infrastructure from threats of failure and terrorism, support diverse resources for generation, and enhance the protection of consumers in the electricity sector (The National Commission on Energy Policy).

In addition, I agree strongly with the recommendation to “Link further U.S. action to developed and developing nation commitment” (The National Commission on Energy Policy iv). The reason I agree with this recommendation is that it acknowledges that the energy crisis is global and cannot be addressed by the US alone. Thus, even as the US legislates to regulate carbon emissions, it is important to work with other nations, both developed and developing in working towards lessening threats from climatic changes.  I agree with most of the other recommendations of the National Commission on Energy Policy.

In the course of this semester, I have learned that the energy problem cannot be divorced from other problems that the world is facing. I found it interesting for instance, to learn that social unrests that have been witnessed recently in different parts of the world could be directly linked to the energy crisis (Brown). Before this course, I was of the opinion that the energy stalemate could be resolved by addressing climate issues and by exploring alternative sources of energy. However, now I believe that the stalemate requires a multi-pronged approach that takes into consideration social, economic, geographic, political, as well as other facets that affect and are affected by the energy crisis.  In addition, I now hold the stance that concerted research on energy for the future is more urgent now than ever before.