Areas of Use and Harms of Fossil Fuels

Fossil fuels, which seem to be the indispensable energy source of the modern world, have penetrated almost every area of life from transportation to industry, electricity to heating. However, the long-term effects of these energy reserves have become a matter of global debate. Although fossil fuels have significantly developed and facilitated modern life, there are environmental and social costs that they have paid to the entire world and will continue to pay in the future.

What is Fossil Fuel and What Are Its Types?

To meet the energy need, two different energy sources are used: non-renewable energy and renewable energy. Renewable energy sources include solar, wind, hydroelectric, geothermal, and wave energy. Fossil fuels, on the other hand, belong to the group of non-renewable energy sources. This is because the fossil fuels used in energy production take millions of years to reform.

Fossil fuels, also known as carbon fuels, are formed from the fossilized buried remains of plants and animals that lived millions of years ago. Exposure to high heat and pressure during this process transforms plant and animal remains into organic matter rich in hydrocarbons and carbon.

Fossil fuels, classified as natural gas, coal, and oil, meet the vast majority of the world's energy production. In particular, coal accounts for 70% of the world's fossil fuel reserves, while oil and natural gas are found in smaller quantities.

Natural Gas

Natural gas is a fossil fuel formed by the chemical breakdown of organic matter remains that have stayed underground for a long time. Its main component is methane gas at a rate of 95%, and it also contains different gases such as ethane, propane, and butane. Natural gas, which can be easily transported by pipelines or pressurized tanks, is generally used as a raw material in electricity generation, heating, and industry.

Due to its structure, the combustion efficiency of natural gas is high. Thanks to its low carbon content, it emits less carbon dioxide compared to other fossil fuels. Therefore, it is possible to say that natural gas is the cleanest energy source among fossil fuels.

Oil

Oil is a liquid fossil fuel consisting mostly of hydrocarbons (hydrogen and carbon compounds). It can be found in underground reservoirs; in cracks, crevices, and pores of sedimentary rocks; and in tar sands near the earth's surface. It is formed by the fossilization of animal and plant remnants under high pressure and temperature for millions of years. The oily substances that emerge at the end of this process turn into gas and oil under layers of mud.

Oil, which can be extracted through techniques such as onshore and offshore drilling, exists in liquid form and is therefore easily transported to refineries. By being distilled, it is converted into different products needed in daily life, such as gasoline, jet fuel, propane, and kerosene. In addition to these, it can also be converted into products such as plastics and paint.

Coal

It is a substance that can be found in abundance on earth. Coal is among the types of fossil fuels whose use has been frequently preferred in the past and present due to its ability to be diversified and to provide economical energy production. Used in energy production for centuries, coal is formed by plant remains remaining under high pressure for millions of years.

The main component of coal is carbon, but it can also contain varying amounts of hydrogen, sulfur, oxygen, and nitrogen. Extracted through mining techniques (underground and strip mining), coal has different types, namely anthracite, hard coal, lignite, and peat. The carbon contents of these types differ from each other. However, regardless of the type, all coals are the dirtiest fuels that can be used due to their carbon density.

What Are the Areas of Use for Fossil Fuels?

These non-renewable energy sources, which have become an inseparable part of life today, have a wide range of uses with the high energy efficiency they provide. The main areas of use for fossil fuels are as follows:

• Energy Production and Heating: Globally, fossil fuels are one of the most important and economical sources that enable energy production. In addition, they are used to meet heating needs in homes and other living spaces.

• Transportation: It is used in the form of gasoline, LPG, and diesel to meet the fuel needs of cars, trucks, and airplanes. In some motor vehicles, the use of CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) or LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas), which is an alternative fuel, is preferred.

• Chemical Products: Fossil fuels are raw materials widely used in the production of chemical products such as plastics, paints, and fertilizers.

• Industrial Products: Fossil fuels are utilized in the manufacturing processes of materials such as teflon, steel, copper, and aluminum. They are also energy sources used in paper and cement manufacturing, glass and ceramic crafts, and creating process heat in the chemical industry.

• Personal Care Products: Chemicals derived from petroleum play an important role in the production and packaging of makeup products such as hair dye, lipstick, foundation, and mascara. At the same time, these resources are also used in the production processes of personal care products that are among our basic needs, such as shampoo, soap, deodorant, and toothpaste.

• Technology Products: Since petroleum is both a heat-resistant substance and a good insulator, it is a material widely used in the production of electronic products. Petroleum components are also used in the manufacturing of many products that have become indispensable in daily life, such as smartphones, computers, cameras, and televisions.

• Textile Products: Fibers such as nylon, polyester, spandex, and textile products such as vegan leather are produced oil-based. Petrochemical substances are also used to increase the water resistance of shoes and wallets. Coal is also one of the substances frequently used in the textile industry in similar ways.

• Sports Equipment: Some sports equipment, such as golf and basketballs, tennis rackets, and skis, may also contain petroleum. This gives the products a lighter and tougher structure.

Considering the limited reserves and negative environmental impacts of fossil fuels, which are needed in almost every area of modern life, reducing dependence on these sources has become a necessity today. Increasing investments in sustainable sources is critical to ensuring the continuity of the amount of energy obtained from fossil fuels.

What Are the Harms of Using Fossil Fuels?

It is now a known fact that fossil fuels emit intense amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. However, these energy sources do not only create environmental impacts. They also cause serious social, economic, and health problems. Spanning a very wide spectrum from global warming to air pollution, from health problems to the destruction of ecosystems, they create irreversible effects in the short and long term.

We can detail some of the negative effects caused by fossil fuel use as follows:

Global Warming

As a result of using fossil fuels, intense amounts of greenhouse gas emissions occur. Greenhouse gases, which increasingly accumulate and build up in the atmosphere, harm the planet's natural heating and cooling system and cause global warming. Global warming, in turn, brings serious environmental problems such as the melting of glaciers, rising sea levels, an increase in rare weather events, and many more. The ongoing climate change causes problems such as the degradation of agricultural lands.

Land Degradation

Significant degradation occurs on the lands where fossil fuels are extracted and processed. This degradation harms ecosystems by destroying the natural habitats of living creatures. For example, oil wells and pipelines endanger biodiversity in the regions where they are located. It harms wildlife, and even after the work is finished, the relevant region cannot return to its former state for many years. For this reason, fossil fuels cause great damage to the environment starting from the processes before they even begin to be used.

Air Pollution

As a result of the combustion of fossil fuels, large quantities of harmful gases are dispersed into the environment. Consequently, harmful gases such as carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and sulfur dioxide begin to accumulate in the atmosphere. Over time, these cause the formation of air pollution. Especially the transportation and industrial sectors, where fossil fuel use is widespread, seriously reduce air quality.

Health Problems

Air pollution is observed much more in regions where coal is heavily used as an energy source. This situation also causes a higher prevalence of respiratory diseases such as asthma and bronchitis in the local population. A study conducted in 2018 in collaboration with Harvard University, University of Birmingham, University of Leicester, and University College London shows that 8 million people lost their lives due to fossil fuel pollution. This number is extremely high compared to previous research. The study reveals that air pollution resulting from the use of fossil fuels is responsible for approximately 1 in 5 deaths worldwide.

Water Pollution

Processes such as the extraction and processing of fossil fuels seriously pollute water resources. This situation leads to negative consequences on water supply, including drinking water. Chemicals and waste materials that emerge during the extraction of fossil fuels mix with water, lowering water quality and causing great harm to ecosystems. These processes also threaten human health by making the safe and healthy use of water difficult.

Ocean Acidification

When petroleum, coal, and natural gas are used, the basic chemistry of the ocean changes, becoming more acidic. This is because the seas absorb a quarter of all carbon emissions caused by human activities. Since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, oceans have become 30% more acidic. This has led to a decrease in the amount of calcium carbonate used by countless marine life, such as oysters and lobsters.

Disruption of Ecosystems

Since the use of fossil fuels causes air, water, and soil pollution, it also negatively affects the habitats of plant and animal species. Petroleum is used, in particular, in the production of some plastic products. This increases environmental pollution and harms ecosystems. At the same time, this causes a steady increase in waste that does not decompose in nature for a long time.

Acid Rain

Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides released into the atmosphere as a result of the combustion of fossil fuels combine with raindrops and fall to earth as sulfuric acid and nitric acid. The resulting acid rain causes great destruction in many structures and areas, from forests to buildings.

Wars

Petroleum is the most valuable and most used raw material among fossil fuels. After the Industrial Revolution, conflicts began to be observed among countries in order to own oil resources. Wars that broke out to access energy resources led to the emergence of much larger environmental, economic, and social problems.

What Can Be Done to Reduce the Use of Fossil Fuels?

Understanding the harmful effects of fossil fuel use and turning to alternative energy sources is a vital necessity to both protect the environment and leave a livable world for future generations. In this process, the steps that can be taken at individual and social levels are of great importance in minimizing the effects of non-renewable energy sources and ensuring the continuity of energy.

The main measures that can be taken to reduce fossil fuel consumption are as follows:

• Energy Saving: Attention can be paid to energy efficiency in living spaces. For example, the use of LED bulbs can be increased. LED bulbs consume an average of 75% less energy than traditional bulbs and can be used for a longer period. Even methods such as keeping unused electrical appliances turned off, turning off excess lights in the environment, and preferring the use of energy-labeled appliances matching high-efficiency standards in homes are important steps to save energy.

• Transportation: Steps taken and policies followed by governments regarding energy saving in transportation contribute to significant changes. To reduce the number of vehicles on the streets, individuals can be directed to public transportation systems. At the same time, by popularizing the use of electric vehicles, fossil fuel consumption can also be drastically reduced.

• Building Insulation: Well-insulated buildings allow for savings on the energy needed for heating.

• Reusable Products: Instead of single-use paper or plastic products, the use of products such as reusable cloth bags and thermoses can be expanded.

• Recycling: Fossil fuel consumption can be reduced by recycling waste. In addition, by purchasing products manufactured from recycled materials, support can be given to reducing the consumption of non-renewable energy sources.

• Natural Fabrics: Instead of fibers such as nylon or polyester, which use fossil fuel-based substances in their production processes, the use of garments made from natural fibers can be expanded.

• Renewable Energy Sources: Instead of fossil fuels, the use of sustainable energy sources such as solar or wind energy can be increased. For example, with solar panels and household wind turbines that can be installed on the roofs of homes and workplaces, the need for fossil fuel consumption can be reduced to a great extent.

As QuickCarbon, we are aware of the damage fossil fuels cause to the environment. For this reason, we offer a system that enables corporations to calculate and report their corporate carbon footprints in accordance with the ISO 14064-1:2018 Standard and GHG Protocol without requiring any consulting services. You can take action right now and plan what you can do to support environmental sustainability in the light of the reports you obtain.