Free Essay Sample on Fossil Fuels: The Non-Renewable Energy Source

Introduction

Fossil fuels are made up of organic material that is combustible and has been buried as geologic deposits that, for hundreds of millions of years been exposed to pressure and heat in the crust of the earth. The fuels convert to heavy oils, natural gas, coal, or crude oil and form from decayed animals and plants. Fossil fuels contain carbon, and examples include bitumen, oil shales, petroleum, coal, and natural gas. Non-renewable energy is a natural resource that will not replenish or run out for millions or thousands of years. As a natural resource, non-renewable energy with a quick pace of consumption cannot be replaced readily by natural way and is a fossil fuel. The main elements of non-renewable energy are carbon, and the examples include natural gas, petroleum, and coal. Also referred to as clean energy is renewable energy that continually comes from replenishing natural processes or sources (Güney, 2019). Renewable energy mostly comes from the sun other than power from tidal and geothermal, and examples include wind, sunlight, and geothermal heating.

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Primary Source of Energy

The primary source of energy for China is a fossil fuel. Over the past three decades, surging demand for energy has fueled rapid industrial growth in China. Energy consumption continues to grow within the country with the market, therefore, calling upon China to rely on fossil fuels. The most significant energy consumption worldwide is China and meets its energy needs with fossil fuels of about 85 percent (Han et al. 2019). The primary fossil fuel used in China is coal trailed by oil and in minor quantity natural gas. Because of fossil fuels' readily availability and cost, China's dominant energy source became coal. Grain production in China utilizes fossil fuels with an increase in fertilizers' agricultural input (West et al. 2014). The countries upstream production generates greenhouse gases in large quantities after application in the fields. Reliance on fossil fuels with increasing irrigation techniques and agricultural machinery contributes to high emissions of carbon. China's industrialization level using three stages can roughly be with the first from 1953 to 1978, where through central planning of the economy, the country prioritized heavily on industry to catch up with the developing world. The second period from 1979 to 1999 saw balance advancement to upheld light industries by encouraging and emphasizing through private and market businesses to promote industrialization. The final stage from 2000 China is emphasizing more knowledge in intensive sectors and re-emergence of massive manufacturing.

Local and Global Impacts of Continued Use for Fossil Fuels

Fossil fuel extraction comes from the ground and involves two main methods that are drilling and mining. Gaseous or liquid fossils extraction is by drilling and forcing them to flow to the surface, for instance, natural gas and conventional oil. Robust fossil fuel extraction is through mining that exposes buried resources by scraping or digging for fuel such as coal. The processes profoundly affect the environment and health of people around the extraction (Colborn et al. 2011). The setting is also under harm by the transportation of these fuels since they can lead to severe spills and accidents, causing air pollution from the mines. The fuels also emit toxins during the burn and, in the long-term, cause global warming. Climate change's primary drive is by combustion and production of fossil fuel that additionally affects the health of people. Burning of fossil fuel globally releases pollutants with climate alterations that exacerbate asthma, stroke, respiratory disorders, and early death. There is massive economic damage with the continual use of combusting fossil fuels that cause global warming by impending a variety of other costs, such as extended drought conditions causing products to rise in price. Rising temperatures and declining rainfalls with fossil fuel use cause farmers to incur extra charges for irrigation and reduce global per-capita consumption. The cost of regulation of air pollution caused by fossil fuels additionally increases with health care costs.

China Law for Air Pollution

New Air Law is Chinas control and regulation of air pollution that was the law of Air Pollution Prevention and Control. The document addresses air quality as a shift for the country to manage and prioritize definitive plans towards tackling air pollution (Feng & Liao, 2016). New Air Law ensures national air quality targets are meet and on track regularly. The law is the first to address the control of greenhouse gases in China, mentioning other sources from agriculture machinery, vehicles, coal, and industries for food and construction. The law is democratic and more critically strengthens enforcement systems of China with a raised standard for public participation. New Air Law is useful as it sets primary air quality standards in China, including the health of the sensitive populace, by necessarily protecting human health. The law mandates for air standards with detailed parameters as a legal document. The pollution level in China is increasing with the demand for energy raising questions about negligence, such as the Tianjin explosion. The country still has a discrepancy of following between legitimate law verses on paper laws, therefore, needing policy coordination with stronger legislation.

To reduce fossil fuel usage, China should include special attention to areas with a high intensity of emissions. Improving manufacturing processes would ensure air pollution is less by alleviating carbon emission within industries. Industries, well known as air pollutants such as petrochemical plants, processors of minerals, and steel mills in Shanxi and Guizhou, should have policies and ways to reduce their emissions. Manufacturing processes should practice and equip themselves with intensive equipment for manufacture that promotes less energy. China has a possible cultural distinction and diversity concepts for this recommendation through behavior that play a vital role in many environmental issues. The mythology of Chinese people during New Year Eve emerges as a cultural difference whereby to scare a fierce monster, they continuously set off firecrackers making loud noises and maintain the burning of fires.

Conclusion

Old age Asian societies are deeply embedded with these customs that influence regulatory activities towards air pollution. Having an open mind would bridge cultural differences by reducing biases that can hinder partnership. Democratic accountability would avoid cultural misunderstandings by maneuvering intricacies and appreciation of the connection. Cultures are unique, and seeing things from the prospect of a particular region would create a tranquil working environment for a diverse team.

References

Colborn, T., Kwiatkowski, C., Schultz, K., & Bachran, M. (2011). Natural gas operations from a public health perspective. Human and ecological risk assessment: An International Journal, 17(5), 1039-1056. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1080/10807039.2011.605662

Feng, L., & Liao, W. (2016). Legislation, plans, and policies for prevention and control of air pollution in China: achievements, challenges, and improvements. Journal of Cleaner Production, 112, 1549-1558. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.08.013

Güney, T. (2019). Renewable energy, non-renewable energy and sustainable development. International Journal of Sustainable Development & World Ecology, 26(5), 389-397., doi: 10.1080/13504509.2019.1595214

Han, Y., Kagawa, S., Nagashima, F., & Nansai, K. (2019). Sources of China’s fossil energy-use change. Energies, 12(4), 699.

West, P. C., Gerber, J. S., Engstrom, P. M., Mueller, N. D., Brauman, K. A., Carlson, K. M., ... & Siebert, S. (2014). Leverage points for improving global food security and the environment. Science, 345(6194), 325-328., doi: 10.1126/science.1246067.