Use Of Nonrenewable Resources On Energy Consumption

Within the next several hundred years, scientists predict planet Earth will meet its demise if humans fail to change their methods of energy consumption (Stehr). Right now, 192 out of 195 countries are using nonrenewable resources as their main source of energy (Shahan). The problem with this is that coal and oil are nonrenewable resources meaning once they are gone, they do not get replenished. These fossil fuels also emit high concentrations of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere when burned and expended. Not only does this fuel global warming and its consequences, but greenhouse gases also pose as a health hazard to humans everywhere. The most common type of harmful greenhouse gas is smog. Smog is produced when a set of volatile†¦show more content†¦With people regularly working at factories, operating motor vehicles, and using hairspray, smog is continuously added into the atmosphere and further deterring the health of humans. Smog threatens the lives of people all over the world ranging from China to London to right here in the United States of America (Causes and Effects of Smog). Greenhouse gases does not only impair human life, it also deters life in the oceans. Scientists correlate the increased amounts of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere with the increased acidity of Earth’s ocean waters. When carbon dioxide is absorbed into ocean water, carbonic acid is created. As the name implies, carbonic acid is considerably acidic with a pH level of 2. This impedes marine life because many shell-fish organisms, clams, lobsters, shrimp, and crabs, have their shells made of calcium carbonate. In acidic environments, calcium carbonate is very susceptible to deteriorating and dissolving. This is dangerous for the oceanic organisms because these high levels of acidity can cause defections, mutations, or even species extinction (Bradford). With the bundles of problems bestowed from burning nonrenewable resources and global warming, it is obvious that humans must make a change in order to save planet Earth. Greenhouse gases affects every living organism on land and in the oceans. Ninety seven percent of scientists attribute the constantly growing volume