Since the discovery of fossil fuels, man has made significant strides in the industrial revolution. So far, fossils fuels have provided the much-needed energy to run industries, households, cars, and institutions. It is beyond any reasonable doubt that fossil fuels have enabled the technological and mechanical progress witnessed in the world today.
However, uncontrolled use of fossil fuels has resulted in grave consequences, which require urgent attention. The world has been reluctant in finding suitable alternatives to fossil fuels for centuries resulting in wide spread environmental degradation.
Perhaps the latest cases of tornados, increased desertification, lose of arctic ice and marine life, and catastrophic storms, all attributed to global warming resulting from excessive use of fossil fuels, should act as a warning to humanity. The best solution to these problems is the adoption of alternative fuels. Despite the controversy surrounding the adoption of alternative fuels, they provide the best alternative for human survival.
Alternative fuels are substances such as bioalcohol, biodiesel, nuclear reactors, hydrogen, vegetable oil, chemically stored electricity, and compressed natural gases, which can provide energy other than the known conventional fossil fuels.
Biofuels, for instance, are an excellent silver bullet that provides humanity with an opportunity to continue enjoying the use of trains, cars, and planes without harming the environment.
Biofuels harnessed from crops provide an opportunity for farmers to earn a decent income and should be encouraged. Despite the hard work and commitment to feeding the world, farmers have earned little credit and appreciation, and should be paid back by adopting biofuels.
Alternative fuels are effective. Compressed natural gas, for instance, offers an exceptionally clean burning alternative and produces power that is equivalent to fossil fuels. Nuclei reactors also fall in this category, as they produce immense power and emit no harmful gases in the atmosphere. It would be understandable to sideline alternative fuel sources if they were ineffective, but that is not the case.
Alternative fuels also provide an opportunity to save money in the long run. Pump prices always seem cheap for many people. However, this may not be true in the end, as their use destroy engines fast leading to a need for replacement or frequent services. Many alternative fuels are “friendly” on engines, which leads to longer service life.
Most importantly, alternative fuels are renewable unlike fossil fuels, which cannot be renewed. In fact, this in itself is an adequate reason to adopt them as the principal energy source for powering the world’s economy. Fossil fuels are almost exhausted due to over exploitation. As such, considering alternative fuels is inevitable. Failing to harness the power of alternative fuel sources is planning to fail.
Our responsibility to our future grand children demands that we adopt alternative fuels. By taking small and decisive steps today, we may help save future generations from destruction. Fossil fuels have evidently destroyed the world’s ecosystem. Therefore, continued use of these fuels is an outright refusal to heed the future generation’s need for a safer environment.
Alternative fuel sources may be expensive to harness, but the promise of a safer and healthier world is a reason enough to adopt their use. We should not stand to be blamed by future generations for failing to take a step that is not beyond our capabilities. Adopting alternative fuels is not a case of our morals, but a show of our responsibility. Without any further hesitation, the world should act now and do what is right, adopting alternative fuels.