The Ethics and Economics of the World\u27s Energy Consumption

For over 150 years, fossil fuels have helped build the world economy to the success that it boasts today. Fossil fuels are formed from the fossilized, buried remains of plants and animals that lived millions of years ago (National Resources Defense Council, 2018). This includes coal, natural gas, and crude oil. What this resource has enabled our world to achieve is remarkable. While the efficiency of burning fossil fuels has allowed for notable industrial prosperity over a relatively short period of time, our planet’s constant economic growth has led these fossil fuels to become primary contributors towards air pollution and climate change. It relies on individuals, businesses, and governments to collaborate and explore alternative energy sources that can still suffice the needs of our expanding economies, while mitigating carbon emissions and air pollutants to better preserve our planet’s wellbeing for generations to come