Renew the Energy Crisis: the Bright Future of Renewable Sources
Mary Ma
Professor Hallsted
English 1A
September 20, 2010
Renew the Energy Crisis: The Bright Future of Renewable Sources
The growing energy crisis has drawn the whole world’s attention. Voices coming from various roles in society have offered speakers’ worries, warnings, and solutions. Among them, Richard Heinberg, a leading educator on peak oil, is regarded as the world’s most effective communicators of the urgent need to transition away from fossil fuels. In his book, The Party’s Over, Richard Heinberg emphasizes the emergent condition that energy resources will be run out. He also addresses essential questions about practical solutions to the energy crisis. Heinberg mentions “a more strident voice issues from environmental activists”(Heinberg 4). Those people advocate exploring renewable sources to dealing with the increasing greenhouse effect and environmental pollution. This solution, also supported by Heinberg, should be considered as one of the most efficient and realistic methods of resolving the global problem.
The problem that environmental activists are focusing on is vital enough to alarm humankind. One of the most important reasons is that getting our energy from coal, oil or gas will entail disadvantages. In the book, The Party’s Over by Richard Heinberg, the author introduces what environmental activists are worried about: “the buildup of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and about various forms of hydrocarbon-based pollution in air, water, and soil”(Heinberg 4). During the long development of human society, people ignore side effects caused by energy transitioning. Those side effects, including deforestation and air pollution, can cause unpredictable serious problems under the pressure of growing population densities. In Heinberg’s estimation, “As fossil fuels become scarce, it will become increasingly difficult to protect trees in old-grown forest preserves, and perhaps even those along the sides of city streets” (Heinberg 199). It shows
Professor Hallsted
English 1A
September 20, 2010
Renew the Energy Crisis: The Bright Future of Renewable Sources
The growing energy crisis has drawn the whole world’s attention. Voices coming from various roles in society have offered speakers’ worries, warnings, and solutions. Among them, Richard Heinberg, a leading educator on peak oil, is regarded as the world’s most effective communicators of the urgent need to transition away from fossil fuels. In his book, The Party’s Over, Richard Heinberg emphasizes the emergent condition that energy resources will be run out. He also addresses essential questions about practical solutions to the energy crisis. Heinberg mentions “a more strident voice issues from environmental activists”(Heinberg 4). Those people advocate exploring renewable sources to dealing with the increasing greenhouse effect and environmental pollution. This solution, also supported by Heinberg, should be considered as one of the most efficient and realistic methods of resolving the global problem.
The problem that environmental activists are focusing on is vital enough to alarm humankind. One of the most important reasons is that getting our energy from coal, oil or gas will entail disadvantages. In the book, The Party’s Over by Richard Heinberg, the author introduces what environmental activists are worried about: “the buildup of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and about various forms of hydrocarbon-based pollution in air, water, and soil”(Heinberg 4). During the long development of human society, people ignore side effects caused by energy transitioning. Those side effects, including deforestation and air pollution, can cause unpredictable serious problems under the pressure of growing population densities. In Heinberg’s estimation, “As fossil fuels become scarce, it will become increasingly difficult to protect trees in old-grown forest preserves, and perhaps even those along the sides of city streets” (Heinberg 199). It shows
Cited: Heinberg, Richard. The Party’s Over: Oil, War and the Fate of Societies. Rev. ed. Gabriola Island, BC: New Societies Publishers, 2008. Roberts, Paul. The End of Oil: On the Edge of a Perilous New World. Boston, New York: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2004. Wengenmayr, Roland, Thomas Bührke(Eds.) Renewable Energy: Sustainable Energy Concepts for the Future. Weinheim: WILEY-YCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 2008. Dr. John Everett. “Summary for Policymakers.” The IPCC 2007 Climate Forecast for this Century. July, 2010.<http://www.climatechangefacts.info/>