Energy. Let’s put it simply, I wouldn’t be typing away on my laptop without it.
Discussions on energy have gained traction in recent decades, especially in light of anthropogenic climate change and energy security issues. Human addiction to fossil fuels (oil,
coal and natural gas), presents a problem in terms of the extra greenhouse gas
emissions that are being dumped into the atmosphere.
Anthropogenic climate
change is a serious concern for the 21st century. The 5thassessment report published by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
(IPCC) concluded that “warming of the climate system is unequivocal, and since
the 1950s, many of the observed changes are unprecedented over decades to
millennia”. The report also went on to suggest that atmospheric concentrations
of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide have increased to levels
unprecedented in at least the last 800,000 years (IPCC, 2014).
The
report’s crucial finding that carbon dioxide concentrations have increased by
40% since pre-industrial times, primarily driven by fossil fuel emissions
(IPCC, 2014) is sending shock-waves across universities, governments and the
public domain. Mounting evidence from climate change science clearly highlights
the severity of 21st century anthropogenic climate change.
This is not the end of the story. PETROLEUM. PETROLEUM. PETROLEUM. The world is hooked on the stuff. We seriously cannot enough of it! There are slight variations to the estimates of remaining fossil fuel reserves; however there is an overall consensus that current reserves will not be able to meet future energy demand.
Did you know that the current global crude oil reserves are only available for the next 50 years or so (Rudolf, 2011)?
You think that’s bad? Coal and natural gas reserves are also reaching their full capacity levels too (BP, 2013)!
So what next?
Did you know that the current global crude oil reserves are only available for the next 50 years or so (Rudolf, 2011)?
You think that’s bad? Coal and natural gas reserves are also reaching their full capacity levels too (BP, 2013)!
So what next?
No comments:
Post a Comment