Growing energy demands, rising energy costs, and increasing concern about global climate change

Exploitive human actions damage the earth. Human’s daily habits cause rising temperatures from carbon dioxide emissions. The excessive use of coal, oil, and natural gas leads to more carbon dioxide emissions, which traps more heat causing the temperature to rise (Friedman 32). For example, in the last 100 years, scientists measured an increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide from 280ppm to 400ppm (124). Based on research conducted by NOAA, temperature and the concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide have a strong correlation. Temperature rises as carbon dioxide rises. The growing population of the world leads to increased exponential resource consumption and growing levels of carbon

Non-renewable energy sources “cannot be replenished in a short period of time.” (U.S. Energy Information Administration) These non-renewable sources are harmful to the environment and if depleted, they cannot be replenished by natural means at the same rate that it is consumed. The process of burning fossil fuels have many harmful consequences to the environment and humans. “Fossil-fueled power plants emit air pollutants such as sulfur dioxide, particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, and toxic chemicals (heavy metals: mercury, chromium, and arsenic), and mobile sources, such as fossil-fueled vehicles, emit nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, and particulate matter. Exposure to these pollutants can cause heart disease, asthma, and other human health problems. In addition, emissions from fossil fuel combustion are responsible for acid rain, which has led to the acidification of many lakes and consequent damage to aquatic life, leaf damage in many forests, and the production of smog in or near many urban areas. Furthermore, the burning of fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide (CO2), one of the main greenhouse gases that cause global warming.” ( "Renewable Energy”, n.d.) Nuclear energy is the energy released during nuclear fission or fusion. Nuclear power plants make “about 20% of U.S. electricity”. (U.S. EIA) The problem with nuclear energy is that it produces radioactive waste as well as electricity. “ The main environmental concern related to nuclear power is the creation of radioactive wastes such as uranium mill tailings, spent (used) reactor fuel, and other radioactive wastes. These materials can remain radioactive and dangerous to human health for thousands of years. Radioactive wastes are subject to special

Fossil fuels are criticized for contributing to the “global warming” theory, and the “greenhouse effect” blamed on unregulated industry, and transference pollution in our atmosphere. While energy preservation and education are important, it doesn’t solve the long-term problem: energy is needed and is increasing in demand as technology and our way of life advances. It is not possible to install a solar panel on every house, or a windmill on every hill. Fueling the future is a growing challenge for the world. At the current rate of consumption, fossil fuels will soon run out. Nuclear energy is clearly one of the best answers to our energy problems. Nuclear power system produce a tremendous amount of energy for their mass and are very safe when

Almost every activity a human is involved in, creates a greenhouse gas. Every day those gases are destroying our atmosphere, and changing natural events in nature. Not only are humans destroying the atmosphere, most humans do not understand what they are doing. From cutting down trees for buildings and paper, throwing away garbage, turning on an air conditioner, producing food, and multiple other things, humans have destroyed earth’s atmosphere to the point where humans would have to plant 50 million hectares, or 123,552,691 acres of trees to reverse the damage we have done to our

Renewable energy may seem like a daunting task, but the benefits to humanity could be incredible. Public uses of renewable energy range from transportation all the way to heating and cooling. Everything we use could become less explosive and less expensive. Cities with a high concentration of people could become safer and healthier places to live. Transportation could be converted to electricity dramatically, improving smog conditions. Global warming may or may not

Carbon dioxide is the Main greenhouse gas created from human activities, it has huge impact on our planet’s environment. Although Carbon dioxide is present in our atmosphere naturally and its level should be maintain by proper carbon cycle, human activities have altered the carbon cycle by adding more CO2 into the atmosphere. This has resulted an increased global temperature which is responsible for variety of environmental issues. By analyzation human daily carbon footprint, we can better focus on minimize the impact on global warming.

Petroleum is at the heart of almost all the energy currently produced. While it is easy to transport and use, many people forget the hazards of using fossil fuels. Over the last century, many environmental problems have been caused by the production and transportation of fossil fuels. Such problems include oil spills that kill animals, pollute the ocean, and make economies crash. An example of this would be the Deepwater Horizon spill in Alaska in the early 90’s and most recently the Gulf spill. Other problems on land have caused massive environmental disasters. Such disasters include large-scale erosion from strip mining and deforestation by mining organizations in search of new deposits of fossil fuels. “Problems caused by the burning of fossil fuels include acid rain that damages forests and contaminates soil, hazardous air pollution, and the suspected global warming effect”(Mathewson, 1999, p. 281).

In our modern world of today, we use increasingly more energy every day. According to the most recent study done by the US Energy Information Administration in 2008, the world uses 493 quadrillion BTUs or energy a year, and 82% of the energy is generated from fossil fuels. This source makes clear, that fossil fuels are a big part of life, and as they run out, it is more and more important to find a solution. In the midst of a polluted world, what we need is a powerful, sustainable, and clean energy source. Solar power, wind power, geothermal heating/cooling, biomass burning, and hydro-electric turbines all seem like good solutions. At first glance, nuclear power does too. Its powerful, sustainable, and will last a long time right? However, if you take a closer look, and you can see that nuclear energy is not the answer.

At the start of the mid 1950’s, the world was introduced to a new, alternative source of power that would revolutionize the energy industry; this power became known as nuclear energy. Since that time, nuclear energy seemed to pave the way in efficiency and supply power to countless cities around the globe. However, the past has shown that there are many major disadvantages to using nuclear energy. Today, many individuals believe that nuclear power plants are hurtful to the Earth and urge America and various other countries to use “green energy” instead and help preserve Mother Nature. Numerous individuals and groups from around the world are currently creating new ways

The Earth Charter is a declaration of fundamental principles for building a safe, sustainable, and peaceful world. It strives to identify the critical challenges and choices facing humanity. The Earth Charter provides moral framework for the development of the emerging global civilization. It is designed to inspire people to have a new sense of global interdependence and shared responsibility for the well-being of the humanity, life, and future generations. It is an urgent call for major social and economic change as well as an expression of hope. The principles in the Earth Charter were developed over a decade long, world-wide, multi-cultural study on common goals and shared values.

Energy is one of the most viable resources in our modern powered world. “In 2015, The US Energy Information Administration reported that the modern world consumed 575 quadrillion British thermal units (Btu). That figure is projected to increase by 28% to 736 quadrillion Btu by the year 2040” (US Energy Info Admin. 2017). Our high consumption of fossil fuels to power our modern world produces large amounts of carbon dioxide, which scientists say contribute to climate change. Currently, a debate rages over climate change and the need to reduce our emissions. On both sides of that debate are people who favor nuclear power as a cleaner and renewable resource and those who oppose it due to fears of environmental catastrophes. While nuclear energy is an efficient and more powerful sustainable energy source, it is environmentally dangerous and expensive to build, use and decommission.

The issue of global warming should be on the list of our top priorities. Studies show that the average of global temperatures have risen since the Industrial Revolution began. Since the Industrial Revolution, human emissions has quadrupled the frequency of certain heat extremes and many scientists have warned that a failure to bring greenhouse gases under control could eventually lead to a 62-fold increase in extreme heat blasts (Gillis Justin A17). Most of the increase is due to human activities, especially the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation. These activities contribute to a build-up in carbon dioxide and other gases in Earth’s atmosphere. The Earth’s atmosphere is made of gases like nitrogen, carbon dioxide and oxygen. These gases act as a blanket that covers and gives us warmth, but once these gases such as carbon dioxide absorbs heat, but does not release it back into space in which causes the increase in global temperature. This is called the greenhouse effect because it only traps heat but does not release it.

The world is on the verge of a crisis. Our dependence on non-renewable resources such as coal and natural gas is hurting the Earth. Each day we spew millions of tons of carbon dioxide in the air, and that is trapping the heat from the sun and destroying our atmosphere. World leaders are pushing for more efficient and less carbon dioxide emitting energy. Green energy is a field that the world is trying to develop as well as invest more into. As we have progressed through the 20th and 21st century, many more green energy generators have been built, whether it may be wind, solar or many more. One of the most prominent, and most used today is nuclear energy. Though, there is plethora of controversy surrounding the usage of nuclear power

Carbon dioxide and other global warming pollutants are collecting in the atmosphere like a thickening blanket, trapping the sun’s heat and causing the planet to warm up. Although local temperatures fluctuate naturally, over the past 50 years the average global temperature has increased at the fastest rate in history. Scientist says that unless we curb the emission that cause climate change, average U.S temperatures could be 3 to 9 degrees higher by the end of the century. According to an analysis of climate change data, there has been 90-99% chances that human have led to carbon dioxide emissions resulting from burning of fossil fuel that have causes

Humans have had a great influence on our environment and surroundings for as long as we’ve been around. Global warming is just one of the influences we’ve had on our environment. Scientists claim that there are a variety of different reasons for global warming but the biggest factor is ourselves. The temperature of our planet is increasing at almost double the rate it was fifty years ago (Causes of Global Warming, 2017). This significant increase in temperature isn’t explained by a natural phenomenon alone. The only possible reason for this drastic temperature increase is the negative effect of greenhouse gases that are released in high quantities by humans (Causes of Global Warming, 2017). The United States Environmental Protection Agency defines greenhouse gases as “gases that trap heat in the atmosphere” (Overview of Greenhouse Gases, 2017). The greenhouse gases consist of Carbon Dioxide,