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The Effects Of Fossil Fuels On Our Planet And Its Occupants

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Ever since the Industrial Revolution occurred in the mid-1700’s and through the 1800’s, our home planet has suffered through the use of fossil fuels. Fossil fuels primarily consist of coal, oil, and natural gas which formed from dead plants and animals that died several million years ago. Because of the Industrial Revolution and the rise of technology, we are using our naturally occurring fuels considerably faster than they are being replaced. These fuels also damage our planet and its inhabitants and are depleting at an alarming rate. In order to ensure the longevity of our planet and its occupants, we must begin implementing the use of cleaner, alternative forms of energy, and slowly decreasing the use of the non-renewable fossil fuels. We use fossil fuels because they are readily available and easy to use, although they will not be readily available forever. Coal, oil and natural gas are all non-renewable resources, which means there is a finite supply of these energy sources. In 2014, BP stated that we only have 53.3 years of oil left to use at the rate that it is currently being used (“The World Has 53.3 Years of Oil Left” 1). This doesn’t mean that we will run out of oil in 53 years, as new sources are still being discovered. Nonetheless, there are plenty of alternative energy sources such as water, solar, wind, and nuclear power that could be taken advantage of and used alongside of fossil fuels in order to lengthen the amount of time that fossil fuels could be put

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