Introduction
Fossil fuels are widely regarded as efficient and convenient options for obtaining energy. However, the overuse of fossil fuels has resulted in the rise of the extreme effects linked to global warming and climate change. According to Pirani (2018), the significant impact on the climate and health calls for a transition in how people perceive the use of fossil fuels. Despite the industry’s centuries-long reliance on fossil fuels, there is a need to develop recycling unless our ambitions become Earth’s death sentence.
The History of Fossil Fuels Consumption
For most of human history, fossil fuels were not as ubiquitous as they are today. The dependence on fossil fuels began when they first started to be used widely for long-distance trade. Namely, it is said that American explorers discovered its many useful properties in late 1673 (Nuttall & Bakenne, 2020).
During the industrial revolution, fossil fuel consumption increased with the development of coal engines that would replace steam engines. The reliance on coal has been attributed to the developments that followed in the 1800s in transportation and electricity generation, meaning fossil fuel use was more reliable than wood charcoal. Therefore, in the eighteenth century, fossil fuels in the form of coal superseded biomass as the primary source of energy on the planet (York & Bell, 2019). This development can be considered as the point when humanity became dependent on fossil fuels for its various uses in industry.
The Importance of Recycling
One of the solutions for the impending climate crisis seems to be recycling, as fossil fuels are used for the production of plastic. However, research shows there is still room for improvement in this area. To date, people have only been able to recycle 9 percent of the produced plastics, which have been generated in sums of 8.3 billion metric tons since the 1950s (Rinne, 2021). Therefore, a global increase in recycling is essential for making the industry less dependent on oil, gas, and other non-renewable sources of energy.
Conclusion
Since 1673, humanity has been dependent on fossil fuels for centuries. However, as the threat of climate change becomes impossible to ignore, new solutions arise. Recycling is one of them, as it allows for reducing fossil fuel usage, but it has not yet gained enough attention to be truly significant. It seems that the efforts of all will be necessary to break away from fossil fuels and secure a safe future for the planet.
References
Nuttall, W. J., & Bakenne A. T. (2020). Fossil fuel hydrogen: Technical economic and environmental potential. Springer.
Pirani, S. (2018). Burning up: A global history of fossil fuel consumption. Pluto Press.
Rinne, M. (2021). Community waste plastic recycling system through plastic injection molding. EDP Sciences, 335, 03009, 1-17. Web.
York, R., & Bell, S. E. (2019). Energy transitions or additions? Energy Research & Social Science, 51, 40–43. Web.