Modern society is highly reliant on electrical power, which can be generated in many ways, though burning fossil fuels like coal, natural gas, and oil remain the most widespread option. For example, the U. S. consumed a total of about 7.26 billion barrels of petroleum in 2021 (How much oil is consumed in the United States?). A big number, but what does it mean for us and our planet? Rising sea levels, water and air pollution, and increasing weather unpredictability are some of the consequences we already experience.
One of the most controversial topics in modern politics is climate change. CO2, one of the main waste products of burning oil, is a potent greenhouse gas responsible for trapping heat inside the Earth’s atmosphere, causing a dangerous rise in global temperatures (Gani 1). The rising sea level, melting of polar glaciers, and uncharacteristic weather patterns are some of the consequences that affect wildlife suffering from forest fires, melting polar ice, and the resulting collapse of biomes.
Another negative effect of burning oil is pollution. Nitrogen, sulfur, and carbon oxides are responsible for the rising acidity of seas and oceans, leading to the death of marine life, including relict coral reefs (Falkenberg et al. 2). This trend, if it continues, can lead to drastic changes in the global food change and weather patterns considering the role of marine organisms in maintaining the global climate.
The increase in global oil extraction directly results from excessive oil burning. Oil extraction is associated with significant environmental hazards, including oil spills and fires that pose a long-term danger to marine ecosystems (Zhang et al. 396). While coastal communities and marine life are directly impacted by these events, the effects are felt worldwide due to global processes like marine life migration and food chain disruption, changing currents, and wide-area coastal pollution.
The adverse effects of burning oil are hard to overestimate. While governments propose treaties and legislations on limiting the extraction and use of fossil fuels, few of them are actually implemented. Unless specific and practical actions are taken to address the issues of global climate change and pollution issues and reduce reliance on oil, the future of the planet’s ecosystems remains in danger.
Works Cited
Falkenberg, Laura J., et al. “Ocean Acidification and Human Health.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, vol. 17, no. 12, 2020, p. 4563. Web.
Gani, Azmat. “Fossil Fuel Energy and Environmental Performance in an Extended STIRPAT Model.” Journal of Cleaner Production, vol. 297, 2021. Web.
“How much oil is consumed in the United States?” U. S. Energy Information Administration, Web.
Zhang, Baiyu, et al. “Marine Oil Spills – Oil Pollution, Sources and Effects.” World Seas: An Environmental Evaluation, edited by Charles Sheppard. 2nd ed., Elsevier. Web.