No Lights. Now What?

Take a moment to think about the world you live in today. What are some of the common issues that come to mind? You may ponder the idea of ending world hunger, or perhaps ending poverty. The solutions to both of these issues have one thing in common; an insight on the future of humanity. Although ending issues like these are quite relevant, there is another issue that, if no solution is found quickly, could result in no future for humanity. That problem involves the sustainable consumption and production of energy.

Before you click off of this blog because of the seeming uninteresting topic of finding a new source of energy, take into account the current issues we face with energy. As of right now, there is no solution concerning the burning of oil as a means of transportation. Oil is a nonrenewable resource, meaning that once it is used, it can no longer be reused, producing waste. 

Generally, we are well aware that such resources are nonrenewable and we also know that we will eventually run out of oil. No oil could very well result in the collapse of our economy, and therefore resulting the end of our society as we know it. The question is no longer "Will we run out of oil?", it has evolved into "When will we run out of oil?". 

We use fossil fuels, which normally consist of coal, oil, or natural gas. This is formed from the remains of dead plants and animals. The chemistry behind burning fossil fuels results in the release of an enormous amount of carbon dioxide into Earth's atmosphere, thus altering the chemical compound of the atmosphere and Earth's oceans. From this, a greenhouse effect is created. We experience this effect with the steady rise in Earth's climate and rise in sea level. 

With all of this information, you may be asking yourself "Why should I care? I happen to love warmer weather and spend most of my time swimming". Well, it's not that simple. A rise in sea level will most definitely have a negative impact on coastal living. If the sea level continues to rise as rapidly as it is, the land will be destroyed by erosion and also lead to inland flooding. What's worse, this flooding would ultimately demolish any agricultural land and contaminate the soil farmers are currently using. 

That means no food. 

An increase in climate could also devastate the land as well. If temperatures increase too much, droughts will be as common as today's rainfall, wildfires would be part of daily life, and hurricanes would dominate the coast. Shockingly enough, we have already experienced some of what these wildfires can do in Southern California. This is only a taste of what is to come.

It is imperative that we find a solution to this issue. We cannot rely on the use of oil and other fossil fuels as our primary source of energy. There are however, other alternatives to this that we can use in the meantime. These include the use of solar, wind, and hydroelectricity. All three of these energy sources are quite reliable, reusable, and most importantly, Earth-friendly. The only issue with this is our primary focus is not on these forms of clean energy, although there are some pockets of society that rely on it. If you take anything from this, walk away with the knowledge that one day there won't be any gas to pump for your car and no electricity to power your home if we don't take advantage of the green alternatives we have available to us.