Human Dependence on Oil - Research Paper Example

Human Dependence on Oil Alternative energy sources refer to natural sources of energy, which do not have a limited supplyas compared to oil. As such, they can be used over and over again without running out. Examples of renewable energy sources include biomass, hydro-electricity, solar energy, geothermal, wind power, wave, and tidal energy. This paper seeks to explore whether alternative energy sources are the answer to ending human dependence on oil. The paper presents both sides of the argument, with a thorough analysis of how these energy sources can end the dependence on oil and how they may not end this dependence. The paper will also examine the impact of this environmental issue on a sustainable world and critically analyze the current issue. Human Dependence on Oil Introduction According to Solway (2009), the advent of renewable or alternative energy sources has shaped the debate on human dependence on oil. Many people have argued that alternative energy sources will most likely end the dependence of human beings on oil. In a way, these energy sources have brought significant benefits since they help in reducing the toxins, which form part of the by-products of energy use. Alternative energy sources protect the environment against the harmful by-products of oil. In addition, through the use of alternative energy sources, it has become easy to preserve most natural resources used as sources of energy in the modern world. To a large extent, alternative energy sources can be regarded as the answer to human dependence on oil. However, these sources of energy can prove not to be the ultimate answer to human dependence on oil based on a number of reasons. What follows is an explanation on why alternative energy sources can be regarded as an answer to human dependence on oil. Afterwards, the discussion on why renewable energy sources cannot be the ultimate answer to human dependence on oil will also be presented. Why alternative energy sources are the answer to human dependence on oil The numerous benefits derived from the use of alternative energy sources provide sufficient reasons to support their use as the answer to ending human dependence on oil. First, alternative energy sources play a central role in reducing the adverse effects caused by global warming. The use of oil has led to the degradation of the environment and its natural resources, especially through global warming. This ecological crisis can only be solved when humans reduce their dependence on oil and turn to renewable energy sources. The shift from the use of oil to renewable energy sources will have a positive impact on the communities of the world as well as their economies (Michael, 2009). Another factor, which supports the fact that renewable energy sources will end human dependence on oil, is the alarming rate at which oil and natural gas runs out. This has led to immense scarcity for the petroleum products, especially due to their widespread use and overuse. Eventually, this scarcity has led to extremely high prices of oil and natural gas. These high prices may not be affordable to all persons since the income varies, which hinders people’s ability to afford oil. As a result, the global economy will be affected negatively. Consequently, people will turn to the use of renewable energy sources since they are cheaper than oil (Solway, 2009). Alternative energy sources can be regarded as the answer to human dependence on oil since they tend to reduce environmental pollution. To a large extent, they can be regarded as a significant way in which global pollution can be reduced. For instance, with the widespread use of alternative sources of energy, waste can be turned to energy. Renewable energy enables the turning of discarded trash into energy, power, as well as heat in homes. This factor ascertains that people will continue to depend highly on alternative energy while reducing the dependence on oil (Johansson, 1993). As Kruger (2006) observes, renewable sources of energy may also be an answer to human dependence on oil since they play a central role in supporting developing nations, which may not have oil as a source of energy. As developing nations advance, the need for energy increases. Access to domestically produced energy enables these developing nations to hasten their development endeavors. Consequently, these nations will turn to more use of alternative energy sources than the use of oil. Moreover, alternative energy allows nations to move away from dependency on foreign oil. Since there will be the possibility to produce energy domestically, no nation will depend on other nations to provide it with the means of producing energy. This self dependency on nations resulting from alternative sources of energy asserts the claim that dependence on oil will reduce. The answer to the human dependence on oil lies in the use of alternative energy sources since they create green jobs. With the switch to alternative energy, the creation of many new jobs will be accomplished. For instance, renewable energy creates factory jobs, especially because a source for manufacturing the components of energy will be needed. Moreover, other professionals such as technicians will be needed in order to install, repair, and service the components of energy sources. These components include solar panels, wind turbines, or even municipal waste incinerators (Solway, 2009). A study conducted by the Department of Agriculture at the University of Tennessee revealed that, if ranches, forestlands, and farms can utilize alternative energy sources to meet a quarter of energy needs, four to five million jobs would be created every year. With advanced technology, people will most likely shift to the use of alternative energy sources than the dependence on oil. This stems from the fact that technology has created efficiency in the use of alternative energy sources. Consequently, the performance of alternative energy sources has become effective than the use of oil. The increase in the global demand for energy calls for the extensive use of alternative energy sources rather than oil. Dependence on oil cannot sustain the ever growing and increasing population. As a result, this will call for the embracing of alternative energy sources instead of oil as a source of energy (Michael, 2009). Reasons why the use of alternative energy sources may not be the answer to human dependence on oil Despite the numerous benefits derived from the use of alternative energy sources, they may not necessarily be the answer to human dependence on oil. Renewable energy sources may not be the answer to human dependence on oil because of the relatively high initial cost of these energy sources. For instance, the equipment needed to collect as well as use renewable sources of energy like solar and wind energy, which include wind turbines and solar panels, costs a lot of money. As such, nations and regions that lack adequate capital to purchase such equipment will most likely continue to depend on oil (Michael, 2009). Another reason as to why alternative energy sources may not entirely replace oil is because of the profitable nature of the oil industry. Large corporations and well established business persons earn a lot of money from the trade in oil. Therefore, any efforts to move towards the use of renewable energy sources will most likely be sabotaged. Oil cartels will undermine the efforts of nations to use alternative energy sources since this will compromise their profits. With such business issues creeping in, it will almost be impossible to embrace the use of alternative energy sources at the expense of oil (Kruger, 2006). Johansson (1993) asserts that contrary to alternative energy sources, oil does not have some limitations, which the renewable sources of energy have. For instance, solar power only produces energy in times when the sun is shining. As such, cloudy conditions and nighttime limit the capacity of energy production in the case of solar energy. Geothermal energy sources can prove to be hazardous, especially due to improper drilling into the earth that can lead to the release of hazardous gases and minerals. Geothermal sites may also be limiting since they may run out of steam. In case of wind power, continuous power generation takes place in the presence of consistent wind. Therefore, when the speed of wind decreases, the turbine may linger leading to the generation of less electricity. Other alternative energy sources such as nuclear power can cause radiation and nuclear accidents. These limitations of alternative energy sources assert the fact that they may not entirely replace oil. Therefore, people will continue depending on oil as a source of energy (Johansson, 1993). The impact of oil on a sustainable world and a critical analysis of the current issue Oil has a profound impact on a sustainable world as depicted by numerous debates about the issues surrounding the drilling and use of oil. A notable impact of oil and fossil fuels on the environment and ecosystem is through their effect on the air. Upon the burning of fossil fuels, gases are emitted into the environment. For example, there is emission of carbon dioxide as well as nitrous oxide. These gases have led to global warming and the onset of acidic rain. Oil has had negative effects on a sustainable environment, especially because the excessive use of this resource leads to its depletion. Dependence on oil adversely affects the balance between animal and plant life; thus, this issue has had a negative impact on a sustainable environment (Wormer & Besthorn, 2010). Currently, the dependence on oil has an impact on the soil as well as ground. The inefficiency in the process of extracting, drilling and the final processing of fossil fuels negatively affect the soil by creating wastes. This is because harmful by-products tend to enter the ground. In addition, the process of transporting fossil fuels can also lead to far-reaching damages. For instance, pipelines that carry oil undergo rupture; this spreads pollutants over large land areas. The dependence on oil has also led to danger on vegetation as it kills vegetation, making it unable to grow. Currently, with the negative impacts of oil, the use of renewable energy sources has increased as more nations embrace its use (Wormer & Besthorn, 2010). Conclusion In conclusion, the modern world has shifted to the use of alternative sources of energy as an answer to the high human dependence on oil. There are many benefits, which accrue from the use of alternative energy sources that are renewable. Thus, the fact that alternative energy is the answer to human dependence on oil can be strongly supported. However, there is some negativity attributed to the use of alternative energy sources. The inefficiency and hazardous nature of some alternative energy sources renders them to be incapable of replacing oil. References Johansson, T. B. (1993). Renewable Energy: Sources for Fuels and Electricity. Washington, D.C: Island Press. Kruger, P. (2006). Alternative energy resources: the quest for sustainable energy. New York: John Wiley & Sons. Michael, N. (2009). Energy, Sustainability and Society. Renewable and Green Energy, 13705 (2). Solway, A. (2009). Renewable energy sources. New York: Heinemann. Wormer, K. & Besthorn, H.F. (2010). Human Behavior and the Social Environment, Macro Level: Groups, Communities, and Organization. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Read More