How Do Fossil Fuels Negatively Impact Earth?

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Gloria Reuben once stated, “Mother Nature's mercy and forgiveness have run dry, as we ceaselessly abuse her and take her for granted in order for us to continue our addiction to using fossil fuels.” Reuben is suggesting that the addiction to burning fossil fuels abuses nature consistently and humans take our natural resources for granted. The world has a heavy dependency upon fossil fuels such as oil, methane, coal, gas and petroleum. As population and industry grows and reliance on these non-renewable energy sources multiplies, how are fossil fuels negatively impacting Earth? The adverse effects of fossil fuels is staggering. Fossil fuels are responsible for human fatalities, gargantuan environmental risks and environmental hazards. Stepping toward renewable energy resources and cutting fossil fuel emissions creates a greener, cleaner and safer planet for all.
Fossil fuels are an extreme hazard to workers in the industry. In order to contribute the fossil fuels that power our economy, workers in coal mines, natural gas fields and oil rigs perish or endure major injuries every year. An article in the Center for American Progress states, “Explosions, fires, and collapsed mine shafts have killed at least 3,827 miners since 1968—not to mention thousands of others who have suffered from pulmonary diseases and other work-related injuries” (Weiss). Coal mining is one of the United States’s most dangerous professions and has been responsible for thousands of workplace injuries. In addition, Natural gas pipelines have caused 892 deaths and 6,258 injuries since 1970 and 161 deaths and 576 injuries this decade alone (Shearman). Workers in the fossil fuel industries risk their health exposing themselves to harsh working conditions every si...

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...lobal warming and innumerable animal fatalities worldwide. Workers in the fossil fuel industries undergo irrational risks of an inevitable explosion every day. Thousands of human lives have been taken in offshore oil rig explosions, coal mines and natural gas pipelines. In addition, fossil fuels are directly linked to rising global warming temperatures and drast changes in the environment. Likewise millions of avian fatalities were linked to fossil fuels plants, emitting greenhouse gases are responsible for acidic oceans that harm marine species, and thousands of animals are harmed by oil spills in the sea. Based on this research, fossil fuels are harming the Earth excessively. Renewable energy sources offer efficient and cleaner energy that will benefit the globe. Renewable energy is the definite solution to end human’s heavy dependence upon ancient fossil fuels.

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