The Industrial Revolution has brought about a number of inventions that have changed the course of history. Life has become more comfortable and productive with the introduction of electricity and the automobile. Over the decades, these have become basic, everyday commodities that we tend to take for granted. The electricity that we use in our homes and business establishments and the cars that we drive all share one thing in common: the use fossil fuels. These fossil fuels are converted into gas and oil and then are used for our daily consumption.

Although this has been the practice for many decades, there has been a shift in the manner of how the general public, the government, and the scientists view our reliance on oil and gas. This new outlook towards the use of gas and oil has been brought up by various scientific research and studies specifying the many ways these fossil fuels negatively impact the environment. Below are some of the negative ways that our reliance on fossil fuels hurts our environment.

Rapid Global Warming

It is popular belief that global warming only refers to the rapid change in the environment brought about by the use of fossil fuels in order to meet the daily consumption needs of the human population. When people mention global warming they point out our habit of relying on fossil fuels when it comes to mobility and comfortable living. However, this line of thought is only partially correct. In reality, global warming is the primary reason why life on earth is even possible. Global warming, or the greenhouse effect, is the process of the earth warming by energy coming from the sun.

When solar energy enters the earth, not all of the solar energy is released back into space. Some of this energy is kept in the earth’s atmosphere, warming the planet to a temperature that is ideal for life to thrive. What makes global warming a major concern is the negative effects that the use of fossil fuels and oil have on the composition of the earth’s atmosphere. The extensive use of gas and oil has led to the increase of carbon and other elements to build up in the earth’s atmosphere, causing its delicate balance to tip. As a result, human societies have begun experiencing hotter summers along with colder winters.

Oil Spills

Another negative effect brought about by the excessive use of oil and gas is the increased number of oil spills in the Earth’s oceans. In order to supply the growing demand of oil and gas, miners need to look to the oceans for deposits. This involves the use of massive machines and gigantic infrastructures. Because these systems are not perfect and tend to break down once in a while, the likelihood that an oil spill will occur drastically increases. Oil spills destroy a vast amount of marine life by blocking sunlight and oxygen from being absorbed in the oceans.

Massive Deforestation

Mining for mineral and fossil fuel deposits has caused the landscape of many areas around the world to change dramatically. Mining for oil and gas found in certain deposits on land requires massive deforestation, which eventually causes the soil to become loose. When large amounts of soil become loose, soil erosion occurs and increases incidences of landslides.

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