The use of fossil fuels remains to be a dominant issue in trying to conserve the environment and curb climate change. Most countries for instance, obtain their energy from fossil fuels which are used for various purposes such as powering cars and production of electricity since great amount of energy is produced when they are burned.
The government has tried to enforce laws that will play a crucial role in reducing the rate of pollution which has dire consequences on the environment especially on the ozone layer.
The continued use of fossil fuels instead of replacing them with renewable energy such as wind and solar has depleted the ozone layer which protects harmful rays to penetrate the atmosphere and finding their way to the earth's surface. In recent times, the sun’s heat has increased and the wrath of its heat has been felt and we are to expect the condition to worsen if actions will not be taken.
Being non-renewable, extraction of fossil fuels most of the times consumption is not controlled hence leading to land degradation thus the environment’s beauty is destroyed. Open pits of coal also endanger the lives of human beings because harmful gases and dust coming from the ground can lead to respiratory diseases.
Nevertheless, coal mining causes acid mine drainage, which causes heavy metals to dissolve and seep into the ground and eventually finding its way to the surface.
Shifting from fossil fuels to renewable energy will have a major impact especially now that we are experiencing global warming and change in climate patterns resulting to drought hence food shortage.
Enacting laws is not enough, actions need to be taken for the conservation of the environment to be successful by most countries. These actions may include holding campaigns for raising awareness among the people to educate them on the importance of using renewable energy instead of fossil fuels, encouraging and funding projects of innovations based on renewable energy and ensuring energy sector is funded well for the purpose of renewable energy.
While it maybe a little bit expensive but it is worthy if we want to live in an environment which is friendly contrary to the one been witnessed today. However, there is still hope for the future as many countries have taken a major step in relying on renewable energy for instance, Denmark produces 50% of electricity from wind and on another hand, Sweden produces 50% of electricity from hydro-power.
More and more countries are embracing the need for clean future and setting goals to achieve that. This is evident with the UN meetings including the COP 28 last year in Dubai. African countries also are trying but efforts are dimmed by corruption, embezzlement of funds and underfunding of renewable energy.
In most cases, the ones affected the most are the vulnerable people especially those lacking basic needs living below the poverty line. The continued use of fossil fuels leads to climate change. Poor people will be impacted first since inadequacy of resources disadvantages them from protecting themselves from the effects of climate change. Therefore, the people themselves also play a crucial part in helping the government achieve its goals in protecting the environment and for its people to live a better life in the future.
OPINION By JOSEPH MIGWI, Second Year Mass Communication and Journalism student, Chuka University
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