Environmental Impact of Carbon Fuel Consumption - Essay Example

Environmental essay Environmental Impact of Carbon Fuel Consumption Fuel consumption is the leading source of carbon emissions in the environment today with people all over the world using machines which are run by fuel. The high level of fuel consumption has resulted in the depletion of the environment and the atmosphere in particular. According to the article “the year without toilet paper” the writer observes that a change can only occur if there is a change in the lifestyles of all people in the world and shift from using fuel driven machines to man driven machines. In the article the Beavans’ live by their own set of rules which are meant to ensure that they do not interfere with the environment. The article cites that they only eat organic food which is mostly grown within a 250 mile distance to make it possible to access the food manually. They also do not use paper, they do not produce trash and most important is that they use no carbon-fueled transportation. Implementing these measures according to Beavan can significantly reduce the depletion rate of our environment and see a brighter future for the next generation. In the film “ no impact man” there are similar measures as there is no use of elevators, television, no cars and/or buses, no cleaning products and no garbage. In this movie the food is also organic and he gets it from around Manhattan. There are critics of his families measure as they argue that starting from the mere air they breathe which is made of carbon dioxide to the buildings they live in which were made by machinery to the trucks that bring food in the city they still are accountable for some of the deterioration of the atmosphere. However it is important to note that with the level of ozone layer depletion at this point it is crucial to take measures to prevent further or slower depletion in order to have a future. This paper looks at some of the benefits and ways of using less fuel consuming cars and buses to the environment. The Beavans are four months into their experiment which involves the use of non-fuel transportation to run their daily activities. This paper advocates for the reduction in the use of cars, taxis, buses or anything that we usually use daily that consumes fuel. In the article Michelle Conlin asserts that she uses her scooter even in the rainy and snow seasons and never uses any other means of transportation. The use of the scooter can help reduce the carbon emissions significantly in the environment and help in living in an environment that is free of any fuel pollution. The wide use of cars, buses and machinery have significantly contributed to the depletion and pollution of the environment through the carbon emissions (Blair et al, 2006). Although this may be seen as non-economical reduction of fuel-run machinery reduces the cost of labor, reduces unemployment, reduction in pollution, reduction in the energy use, reduction in the depletion of the resources and creation of new markets for the non-fuel consuming objects. Although it is difficult to fathom a world where the use of fuel consuming machinery would be non-existent, it is important to note that the efforts to make this happen would help hugely help in the reduction of pollution and significantly reduce the emission of carbon to the atmosphere. The use of ecofriendly cars and also machinery which are run electronically may be some of the ways that can be used in slowing down the effects of carbon emissions in the atmosphere. It is in the best interest of every country all over the world to reduce the use of fuel driven cars and machinery as they help in the diversification of the country and improve the living conditions of the citizens. The governments should therefore invest in forms of research which can help come up with new ways of reducing the impact of carbon emissions through developing new platforms and equipment to help reduce the emissions. Investment in research into vehicles that are run by the use of other means other than fuel consumption should be the goal of all countries if there is any hope for the future generations. It is also upon every individual in to ensure that they have practices which are geared towards fuel consumption in the world. Reduction of fuel consumption and living in a serene atmosphere is in every person’s best interest and therefore each person should make an effort in ensuring that they use less fuel by implementing less fuel consumption techniques (Yamin, 2005). Walking to the workplace and ensuring a clean environment are some of the ways of ensuring that one has kept the environment clean. One may also cut his grass manually instead of using fuel consuming gadgets such as the lawn mower which only increase the carbon emissions to the atmosphere. Each person has an obligation to ensure that they live in a serene environment by reducing the level of pollution and one should thereby take a leaf from the Beavans family that are dedicated towards this cause. The use of fuel driven vehicles and machinery is the pollution of the environment and the atmosphere in particular. Researchers say that the carbon emissions have depleted the ozone layer considerably which protects the living things from the drastic effects of the sun rays. The ozone layer shields the organisms and in particular the humans from the sun rays as failure of the ozone to protect earth would lead to development of skin complication and even skin cancer. It is therefore important to reduce the level of carbon emissions as they are a danger to our lives. Exposure to too much carbon emissions also affects the human bodies whereby some people develop complications such as trouble breathing and other ailments. The emissions therefore affect the population negatively and should be reduced as much as possible to mitigate their effects on the members of the population especially the young people in the community who are not resistant to these effects. There are ways to ensure that there are low levels of carbon emissions in he environment in cars taxis and other machinery. First there is the switch from using fuel to using electric cars and machinery. The world is slowly shifting from the use of fuel run cars tot the electric cars as a way of reducing the carbon emissions in the environment. Hydrogen based fuel is also another way to reduce carbon emissions as these do not emit carbon and therefore they are eco-friendly. The other method is the use of propane-fuelled cars whereby the car engines burn the propane gas and as result produce no harmful gases and no carbon emissions (Roosa and Jhaveri, 2009). It is important also to note that although there are many efforts being made and there is a step being taken towards the right direction it is not feasible and it’s utterly impossible to see the end of the fuel run engines and machines. Most parts of the world use the fuel engines and machines and it is only in the developed world although insignificant where these other forms of engines are in use and are all in the testing phase. There is no engine producing industry or car industry that is producing other forms of car engines apart from the fuel engine. It will take many years for the other types of engines to go past the testing phase after which it will be massively produced. The feasibility of the most economical and at the same time the most efficient is also not undertaken and therefore it will be long before any of these plans are seen to fruition. It is therefore apparent that although at some point in future this may be done it will take many years for any of these other forms of energy to be massively used. The elimination of fuel run cars will face criticism and will be utterly rejected by many countries all over the world. With all the continents benefitting from the mining of oil or the ‘Black G old as it is famously called the free of fuel use campaign is deemed to attract many enemies and especially in the middle-east. It is their sole source of livelihood and development of their economy and for this reason any efforts to thwart the use of fuel will come under strong rejection. References Blair, T., Schellnhuber, H., & Cramer, W. P. (2006). Avoiding dangerous climate change. Cambridge, Eng.: New York :. Increased automobile fuel efficiency and synthetic fuels: alternatives for reducing oil imports.. (2002). Washington, D.C.: Congress of the U.S., Office of Technology Assessment :. Planning for the automobile in the SCAG region: an evaluation of alternatives for reducing automobile emissions and fuel consumption : final report. (2006). Los Angeles: The Association. Roosa, S. A., & Jhaveri, A. G. (2009). Carbon reduction: policies, strategies, and technologies. Lilburn, GA: Fairmont Press ;. Yamin, F. (2005). Climate change and carbon markets a handbook of emission reduction mechanisms. London: Earthscan. Read More