Will our current technological approach to energy systems be plausible to fuel our consumption and future consumption of the finite resources we have to work with? We say … NO. Lets break down the facts: Global population has risen by three billion people over the past forty years, and is expected to potentially reach 9 billion by 2040 (International Database.) In the coming years this growing population will only exacerbate the problem of the rising global energy consumption, that is currently based off of unsustainable sources, including coal, oil and other fossil fuels. Not only is our world running out of these fossil fuels, many countries - including the United States have already past peak oil, but is being adversely affected by their use (Brown, 42-45.) There is a direct correlation between green house gas emissions (due to the use of non-renewable resources) and climate change and global warming. Climate change and global warming’s affects will be felt globally, and may lead to sea level rise, global temperature rise, a loss of biodiversity and worse.
We believe this dilemma must be addressed and solved so that we may continue to and have the ability to quench our world’s growing thirst for energy in the future. The best way to do so is to use new technologies to develop and implement new ways of powering our country, homes and automobiles. We feel that the heavy reliance we have, as a nation on fossil fuels and non-renewable resources are unsustainable and unrealistic for the United States long-term needs. Therefore, it is the use of renewable energy, both measures on a massive scale, such as wind farms, solar power plants, geothermal plants, and large scale bio-fuel use or a smaller scale for individual households using technologies that are available to everyday united states citizens, that will come to our nation’s rescue. Many of these technologies have already been being developed in recent years, including for example the production of more efficient appliances, and wide spread production and implementation of wind farms. We believe we have the technologies to build a new energy economy, one that is not climate-disruptive, doesn’t pollute the air, and can last as long as the sun itself!
Their Positions:
It is clear that both Group A and Group C are misguided in their positions on this issue. Group A’s position that our energy-intensive lifestyles are not in danger has many faults. The future global population and consumption rise will create an enormous strain on our current energy reserves. And while Group A may argue that we have plenty of coal, oil, natural gas and other fossil fuels they fail to recognize not only the detrimental effects these non-renewable resources have on our environment, but that these fossil fuels have already diminishing reserves. Finally, while Group C on the other hand, may acknowledge that our increasing population and energy consumption will be a problem in the future, their lack of acknowledgement that technology will not serve as a solution is off base. It is the development of new technologies that will help us to harness the energy we have in more efficient and beneficial ways.
Let's avoid this....
References:
Brown, Lester R. Plan B 3.0. New York: W. W. Norton & Co., 2008. Print.
"International Database." The US Census Bureau. 10 Sept. 2009. Web. 27 Sept. 2009.
