The Geo Problem
Geological background
Fossil fuels are a geological resource that required specific geological circumstances to occur and millions of years to form. A variety of geological methods are used to locate the source, find the size of the reservoir and the best method of extraction. Humans finding and learning to take advantage of these resources began the industrial revolution, this was great for industries, sciences and society generally as whole. The Geo-problem we are looking at is our reliance on fossil fuels in our industries and especially as a source of energy. Due to how the various fossil fuels are made and how long they take to form, they are not an inexhaustible resource, and they are having a profound impact on our world globally, with far reaches and soon to be considerable long-term effects.
This image shows a variety of issues with fossil fuel extraction processes, various sources listed in references.
Effects
The effects of using fossil fuels range from damage to local ecosystems, either from large scale mining or drilling to contamination run offs and atmospheric changes, to worldwide effects like climate change. Yes fossil fuels have been instrumental in large scale benefits worldwide in a relatively short amount of time but it has had a lasting effect due to the long term usage. It has been known for a long time now that we can’t not keep pushing our natural world too far without repercussions, some of which we are seeing now. We know that we need to move away from fossil fuels as much as possible in as many sectors as possible. These are also a limited resource with current estimates showing approximately 49 years of gas, 57 years of oil and 139 years of coal (Our World, 2023). These numbers are with current known reservoirs and usage levels. While some countries are set to try and lower usage and mover to renewables, some are more resistant to the change. With increasing temperatures due to the use of fossil fuels the UN expect water and food insecurity to grow, all plants have a maximum temperature tolerance and if we allow the global mean temp to rise above what our main food crops can handle then we will quickly find ourselves short on food. With our melting glaciers we will lose a lot of drinking water for many countries and sea level rise will contaminate water reservoirs and flood low lying towns and cities around the world. Coastlines will change and the high tides and storm surges will ingress further inland. These are just some of the predicted damages to ways of life across the globe.
Un SDG
Part of a worldwide collaboration to solve this and many other issues we face globally the United Nations have set 17 Sustainable development goals to help all countries reach a variety of targets including number 7 regarding Energy. These goals are to trying to ensure that all people across the world have access to the same resources and rights. For example number 7, Energy which applies here, its goal is to “Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and Modern energy for all” (UN, 2023). Over 600 million people live in the dark still, with the vast majority in the continent of Africa and spending according to the UN is slowing down in developed countries. There is overlap between a lot of goals or a single topic can involve a number of goals, while we are mainly looking at 7 with the renewable energies, these also overlap with goals 9 (industry, innovation and infrastructure), 11 (sustainable cities and communities), 12 (responsible consumption and production and 13 (Climate Action). The issues we face as a planet and especially when it comes to climate change and achieving our energy goals will require a global effort from all countries.
Image from the UN Sustainable Development Goals page shows some facts about energy issues. See references.
References
Years of fossil fuel reserves left, 2020 (ourworldindata.org)
UN Sustainable Development Goals, 2023, available at Goal 7 | Department of Economic and Social Affairs (un.org)
Bakersfield news, 2015 "One dead and three injured in PG&E natural gas line explosion southwest ....", available at https://www.bakersfield.com/news/one-dead-and-three-injured-in-pg-e-natural-gas-line-explosion-southwest-of-bakersfield/article_98f3c442-fef3-541a-a2d6-fc77f6e22b00.html.
Daily mail, 2010 "Texas gas pipeline explosion kills one worker, injures seven | Daily ...." , available at https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1284880/Texas-gas-pipeline-explosion-kills-worker-injures-seven.html.
The Indian Wire, 2020 "The Billion Dollar Catastrophe: The Devastating Impact Of Oil Spills ...." available at https://www.theindianwire.com/business/the-billion-dollar-catastrophe-the-devastating-impact-of-oil-spills-who-is-accountable-296679/.
New Scientist, 2021, "Global fossil fuel extraction plans are double what we can safely burn." , available at https://www.newscientist.com/article/2294159-global-fossil-fuel-extraction-plans-are-double-what-we-can-safely-burn/.
