Use Energy, Get Rich, and Save the Planet
In his article ‘use energy, get rich and save the planet’, John Tierney tries to prove that the use of more energy can be sustainable. He goes on to use mathematical models such as the Kuznets curve, to project the future energy use in the world. Furthermore, he goes on to discredit the models used in the 1970’s that they are skewed and time barred. These were the first models used by activists to predict the future of energy use. Tierney (2009) proves that these models did not have enough data to correctly predict the future use of energy. However, his arguments are not convincing making him to look like the modern greedy oil companies. The energy dependence will eventually consume this civilization.
Evaluation of the Article
First, Tierney (2009) is quite skeptic about the relationship between environmental impact and the rising population that is increasingly consuming more energy. This has resulted in pressure on the natural resources to increase with each passing day. We must remember that the population of the earth recently surpassed the seven billion mark and the wealth gap is increasing between the poor and the rich. His assertions that a lot has changed since the 1970’s when environmentalists came up with the model is also ill placed. The consumption of fossil energy has only increased as compared to the 1970’s. This is primarily driven by the growing economies and the rise in the use of manufactured goods all over the world.
Tierney (2009) alludes that the modern use of energy cannot be changed even by passing of laws or regulations. His opinion makes me suspect that he is just a mouthpiece of the large multinational oil corporations. These companies make trillions of dollars each year and will therefore fight any attempt to change the status quo in the energy market. There have been giant leaps in terms of technology where newer energy sources like wind and solar have been brought to the limelight. The governments have the power to influence the way energy is consumed by imposing stiff taxes on high-energy requiring items. The people should also be encouraged to be less energy dependant and do more things using traditional ways. However, this can only be feasible if there is a redistribution of wealth.
Furthermore, Tierney (2009) believes that when everybody gets richer there will be less energy consumption. I would call this a false idea that is meant to promote energy dependence. It is common sense that the richer a person is the more he will do to ensure that his daily life is simplified. In the current world, many technological gadgets constantly need to be powered. It also beats logic that a wealthy individual can give up privileges. These push people hard to be rich, and therefore, his assertion is only but a fallacy.
Quoting the Kuznets curve is quite reasonable but such curves are influenced by many local factors. As countries push to be rich and the population increases in the third world, this theory cannot be used to project energy consumption (Tierney, 2009). Over the history of man, empires have emerged but declined due to the reducing resources to support their existence. Today, more and more people are moving to the cities. This means that more energy is required and in countries like China, these mega cities have been badly affected by pollution due to the large number of vehicles. This is in stark contrast with his projections of a reduction in the use of energy. Wealth has been created in this country at a very fast rate but the dependence on fossil fuel has only increased. It has made oil rich countries to continue pumping out oil and gas to quench the thirst of the oil hungry nations.
Tierney (2009) is also of the idea that the developed world is almost reaching a decline on its consumption of energy. The recent fracking revolution in the United States has made this statement to be only but a false assertion. The hunger for oil has made this technique to be employed although it clearly has negative effects. There have been increases in earthquakes around the fracking zones. Furthermore, the chemicals used have ended up contaminating underground aquifers increasing the already existing clean water shortage. The rich are the ones involved in this method of extraction, resulting in even more degradation to the environment.
Towards the end of his article, he admits albeit with reservations that his models and projections will have no results (Tierney, 2009). This is because as the world gets richer, their thirst for resources pushes the exploitation of the environment to a new level. More should therefore be done to create renewable energy resources. However, we may not use such sources in the near future. This is because those who control the energy market cannot accept to make losses and will therefore use every resource to fight the progress. In the end, the world is going to be subjected to a long period of environmental exploitation that will ultimately result in the collapse of the civilization. This has been proven throughout history, and as time goes on, this overexploitation will come back to haunt humanity.
In conclusion, Tierney puts forth arguments that support the continual use of environmental degrading energy. This will lead to more harm to the environment and eventually the important resources will be extinguished. However, more sustainable use of these resources should be encouraged and in essence provide a transition to more environmentally sustainable energy sources. Finally, his assertions and predictions are skewed to favor more use of the energy sources that will lead to more environmental degradation. The way forward is ensuring equal distribution of wealth so that everybody can participate in the conservation of the environment.
References
Tierney, J. (2009). Use Energy, Get Rich and Save the Planet. NY Times. [Online] http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/21/science/earth/21tier.html?_r=0
