The purpose of this essay is to discuss, the pros and cons of the non-renewable energy sources usage; coal and natural gas to be more specific. How does it affect the society and the economy? What are the alternatives? What are the strategies to implement such transition?
The most significant reason behind the non-renewable energy sources is its low cost. Coal is relatively cheap to other energy sources and it produces a large amount of relative energy. Moreover, it is easy to combust; therefore its processing procedures are not as complicated as other sources of energy. Natural Gas maybe more expensive than coal, that explains why some of the electricity power plants switched back to the coal usage as an energy sources. Yet, both options are way cheaper than clean, renewable energy such as solar energy, wind energy and hydroelectric energy. The main three countries that are coal-dependent are China, the US and Indian respectively (Anderson).
Cheap energy sources to governments and corporate, is a crucial way to achieve cost cutting and reduce the government spending; in other words, if the company that hires you achieves cost cutting, it will invest more in your health care system or payroll in general. The same goes with the government, if the government spending has decreased in the power sector, it will invest more in others such as education, health, transportation and others.
On the other hand, coal and natural gas are not clean sources of energy. The amount is pollution that is released during their combustion is tremendous. As we previously mentioned, natural gas may be a cleaner source than coal, yet both are still considered to be extremely harmful to the environment and to the public health. CO2 and other toxic gases emissions directly affect the general health of the earth inhabitants.
Climate change is one of the most obvious effects for the non-renewable energy sources usage. Emission of green gasses lead to an overall increase in the earth`s temperature and directly started affecting the ecological life on the planet. In addition, serious health issues are on the rise (especially respiratory ones), due to the waste gases of the fossil related energy resources combustion. After all, I guess that health is a common value between the pros and cons of using non-renewable energy sources.
As a result, creative strategies were set in order to limit the usage of coal and natural gas, while other policies we set to help in the transition for renewable energy sources to achieve sustainable development. The most significant way to illustrate this was the Kyoto protocol (United Nations) signed by multiple parties and entities in the UN convention. Also, the rise of clean energy sources comes as one of the creative strategies to limit the usage of fossil related ones. Wind mills, solar panels and many other clean energy solutions are now more available in the market. Even manufacturers now (such as vehicle manufacturers) are producing hybrid cars and vehicles with less CO2 emissions. Last but not least, multiple movements and communities have been working in harmony in order to increase the awareness and explain the danger of climate change to the public.
Works Cited
Anderson. J. Coal: Dirty Cheap Energy. Resources For The Future. 31 Mar. 2005. Web. 17 Apr. 2016.
United Nations. Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. 1998. Web. 17 Apr.2016.
