A high supply of energy is the key component to modern civilization, and the most relied upon sources are being depleted at exponential rates. These sources of energy are the fossil fuels (oil, coal, and natural gas), and are not only going to disappear within the next couple hundred years but are perils to the livelihood of ecosystems and humans around the world. Technological, social, and economic alterations are being observed by much of the world, but fossil fuels are creating a much more concerning change that is quickly sneaking up on Earth and threatening civilization. The climate has been rising at an alarming rate and creating questions on how to reduce the reliance on fossil fuels. A change that should be strongly considered is the uses of alternative energy sources which would drastically decrease climatic change. Civilization currently relies on fossil fuels for 81% of the world’s energy needs (Akella 7). These fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas release high levels of greenhouse gases when burned, which trap the sun’s rays in the Earth’s atmosphere and slowly warm the Earth. Since these fuels take millions of years to renew and consumption is increasing, it is projected that they will be completely depleted in the next 150 years (Heinberg). With fossil fuel’s limitability and their large role in global warming, a transition to alternative energy must be made. This transition is critical to Earth and a continuation of human life and will bring added benefits to the economy and health. There are many forms of alternative energy that are capable of reducing the role of fossil fuels. The most commonly known are wind, solar, biomass, geothermal, and hydro. Since not just one or two of these sources can take on the role of fossil fuels, they must all work in conjunction to sustain the world’s energy needs. 

The most important value of switching to alternative energy is to save the Earth’s climate and ecosystems while ensuring that it can provide human life indefinitely. The current issue of global warming is a large result of the heavy consumption of fossil fuels throughout heavily civilized nations. The results of this warming are affecting areas that have no relationships with fossil fuels. Small island villages off the cost of India and Africa are being destroyed by rising sea levels that have been caused by the melting ice caps (Clark). Duncan Clark of The Guardian states that if we burn the rest of the viable coal, gas, and oil, the Earth could see 20-30 degrees F. of warming. He states that it is impossible to know what these 20-30 degrees would do, but “the impacts could very plausibly include a collapse of global food production, catastrophic droughts and floods, heatwaves and the beginning of ice-sheet melting that could eventually raise the sea level enough to wipe out many of the world's great cities” (Clark). These possibilities are too threatening to civilization and should prompt action. Clark believes that “we need to start phasing out fossil fuels now at a fast-enough rate to bring down emissions globally by a few percent a year, and continue doing so for decades to come” (Clark) The switch from fossil fuels to alternative energy doesn’t need to be an abrupt switch but rather a gradual change.

Rising sea levels are among the many threats of climate change and are very worrying. Since the start of the Industrial Revolution in the early 20th century, sea levels have risen nearly eight inches, and the trend is growing exponentially (Sea Level Variation). A study done in the journal Nature showed that ocean levels could rise two to three meters by 2100 if the high levels of greenhouse gas emissions continue (Dennis/Mooney). If the gas emissions created by the burning of fossil fuels are not reduced and the projections for the next century are accurate then “the 22nd century, would be the century of hell” says Ben Strauss, director of the sea level program at Climate Central (Dennis/Mooney). Strauss states that places like South Florida, Venice, Bangladesh, Shanghai and Washington D.C. could be submerged and erased from the map. Also, hurricanes and floods would be more frequent and severe. A catastrophe like this would alter world economies, ecosystems, and millions of humans’ lives for the worst. 

The burning of fossil fuels is not only destroying the Earth but also arising health concerns. The carbon dioxide that is released from burning coal, oil, and natural gas affects people’s health by increasing Earth’s temperature and emitting deadly compounds into the air that billions of people breathe. Since 1860 CO2 levels have increased from 270 parts per million (ppm) to 400 ppm in recent years, and levels are predicted to reach 1,000 ppm by the end of the century (Sommer 49). These increases in carbon dioxide will only lead to hotter days and more health problems. Alfred Sommer, a John Hopkins University Distinguished Service Professor, states that “at the median estimate, by 2100 the summers in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho will be hotter than they are today in Texas. The number of ‘extremely hot days’ (over 95°) in the Southeast will increase 14-fold, from 9 per year to 124 per year, causing an estimated additional 11,000–36,000 deaths annually” (Sommer 50). These projections are unacceptable, and action must be taken to prevent further warming and associated deaths. With high temperatures like these, recreation, leisure, and the basic way of life that is enjoyed today would be completely reshaped. 

Air quality is also strongly degraded with the burning of fossil fuels. In areas with high air pollution such as China, India, and California, the people who breathe the air are at high risk for lung related health concerns. It is currently estimated that air pollution alone results in three million deaths per year and estimates show that this toll could double by 2050 (Sommer 52). The scientists and observers of these findings agree with the belief that without a reduction of the reliance on fossil fuels, the world is doomed. Sommer states “this needs to change if we are to begin to address and reduce an impending, sustained disaster and make plans to deal with changes already ‘baked in’ to our future” (Sommer 52). The deaths and illnesses caused by air pollution and global warming could be drastically reduced if renewable energy sources were to replace fossil fuels.

In order to minimalize climate change and secure a future for humans on Earth, renewables will need to be the main sources for energy. The many forms of renewable energy can be used together around the world to start reducing the fossil fuel expenditure and hopefully reach a time when they won’t ever be needed. These sources of energy that will be needed to replace fossil fuels include wind, solar, geothermal, hydro, and biomass. Wind energy is one of the most commonly known sources and currently produces .5% of the world’s energy (Williams). Wind power is steady and reliable in comparison to some of the other renewables. It may be supplying a very small fraction of energy today, but a report by Global Wind Energy Council and Greenpeace International shows that it could provide 25% of world’s energy by 2050 (Williams). Two miles off the cost of Great Yarmouth, England, wind turbines are providing power to over 30,000 homes making use of the powerful and reliable wind forces found in the British seas (Green Matters: Alternative Energy). A British power company, E. ON, is looking to take advantage of the vast wind supply off the coast of Eastern England. They plan on constructing a wind farm comprised by 83 of the world’s largest turbines and could supply enough electricity to power 200,000 homes and will save 700,000 tons of CO2 a year (Green Matters).

Solar energy is also making an impact on communities around the world. The sun’s power currently makes up a small output of world energy at .2% but has a high potential according to the International Energy Agency. By 2050, solar power will constitute 25% of the world electricity market with much of the production happening in high pollution countries like China and India (Williams). Andalucía, Southern Spain holds the first commercialized solar plant in Europe. The plant contains 623 mirrors that reflect the sun’s rays to a water-filled receptor at the top of a tower. The warming water creates steam that is used to rotate a turbine that generates enough electricity to power 6,000 homes. The energy company, Solucar, runs the plant and is expanding it to eventually conduct enough electricity to power the 200,000 homes of Seville, Spain. The plant’s combined solar production will reduce carbon emissions by up to 600,000 tons per year (Green Matters). 

An under-utilized yet sustainable source of energy lies within the Earth itself. The heat that derives deep in the Earth’s crust is known as geothermal energy. This heat can be used to conduct electricity by creating steam which then drives turbines. It can also be utilized in its raw form to heat buildings. El Salvador, Kenya, the Philippines, Iceland, and Costa Rica use geothermal energy to produce more than 15% of their electricity, but the rest of the world only uses the Earth’s warmth for less than .1% of its energy. Although the impact of geothermal energy is miniscule, the Geothermal Energy Association estimates that only 6.5% of total global potential has been tapped so far (Williams). Governments and communities need to realize the possibilities of geothermal and other alternate energy and accelerate towards the transition into these cleaner, more sustainable methods.

Unlike geothermal energy, the energy produced by flowing water is one of the most relied-upon forms of renewable energy in the world. Hydropower, or hydroelectricity, is produced through generators in dams. Water flows through the dam spinning turbines that are connected to the generators (Perlman). Howard Perlman of the U.S. Geologic Survey states that hydropower is the most important source of renewable energy. The International Energy Agency reports that hydropower represents 16% of total electricity production and is currently only being utilized to a third of its potential. China, Canada, Brazil, and the U.S. are the major producers of hydroelectricity. Some states such as Idaho, Oregon, and Washington rely on hydropower as their main source of electricity (Perlman). Since this source of energy is clean, sustainable, and at a high abundance, nations should expand their use of hydropower to reduce the reliance on fossil fuels.

Wind, solar, geothermal, and hydropower are all producers of heat or electricity, but none have as many uses as biomass energy.  Matthew Williams of Universe Today states, “The most widely used form of renewable energy is biomass. Biomass simply refers to the use of organic materials and converting them into other forms of energy that can be used” (Williams). Of all the renewables, biomass leads in world energy consumption at 12%. Biomass energy is a great alternate to fossil fuels and are free of carbon dioxide emission. Unlike fossil fuels which are formed through millions of years of geologic processes, biofuels are produced biologically (Williams). Popular alternatives to gasoline include ethanol and biodiesel fuels. Ethanol, a liquid fuel used for transportation, can be produced by fermenting carbohydrates found in crops like sugar cane and corn. Oils from soybean plants can be used to produce biodiesel which can power vehicles that have engines converted to run them. A large concern for many skeptics of alternative energy is how transportation will change without fossil fuels. Ethanol, biodiesel, and electric vehicles are great solutions to this concern, as they are becoming more efficient and popular due to their lower operating costs. With increasing innovation, these vehicles could end the era of automobiles ran by fossil fuels. The Environmental Protection Agency shows that transportation contributes 26% of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S., so carbon-free vehicles are vital in reducing the threat of climate change (Sources of Greenhouse Gas Emissions). 

Increased implementation of these forms of alternative energy will bring substantial benefits to the world’s climate, health, and economy. The United States’ electrical production accounts for more than a third of their greenhouse gas emissions, while renewable energy sources produce little to no global warming emissions (Benefits of Renewable Energy Use). If the U.S. and other high air polluting countries could make the majority of their electricity production from alternative sources, then the world would see drastic reductions in climate changing gas. A study by the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory found that if the U.S. generated 80% of the country’s electricity from renewable energy they could see an 81% reduction in greenhouse gases emitted from electricity production. Additionally, a reliance on alternative energy for transportation would also drop emissions and lead to a much healthier Earth. 

Along with a healthier Earth, transitioning to alternative energy will provide significant benefits to public health. Air pollution is most commonly associated with fossil fuels, but water is also polluted by natural gas and oil drilling. “The air and water pollution emitted by coal and natural gas plants is linked to breathing problems, neurological damage, heart attacks, and cancer,” and replacing fossil fuels with alternative energy would ultimately “reduce premature mortality, lost workdays, and overall healthcare costs” (Benefits of Renewable Energy Use). The economic value of these health impacts is estimated to be between $361.7 and $886.5 billion annually (Machol). 

The added economic benefits of alternative energy are increased jobs and stable energy prices.  An article by the Union of Concerned Scientist (UCS) states that “on average, more jobs are created for each unit of electricity generated from renewable sources than from fossil fuels” (Benefits of Renewable Energy Use). In the U.S., the wind energy industry provided 75,000 jobs in 2013. The solar industry employed 100,000 people in 2011, and the hydroelectric sector gave 250,000 jobs in 2009 (Benefits of Renewable Energy). Jobs will continue to rise as alternative energy production increases. The UCS explored the economic benefits if the U.S. relied on renewables for 25% of their energy by 2025. They reported that “such a policy would create more than three times as many jobs as producing an equivalent amount of electricity from fossil fuels” (Benefits of Renewable Energy). These added jobs will boost unrelated business by increasing income of households. Even people who are not employed by alternative energy industries will reap financial benefits.  Since renewable energy is inexhaustible, prices will stay stable and be much lower than fossil fuels. 

Although alternative energy seems to be the only way to save the planet from climate change and sustain the world’s current way of life, some people argue that it is not feasible. Clive Best, an English writer and scientist, believes that wind and solar power will never be enough to supply the UK with electricity to last the year. Best states, “an energy plan for the UK must be able to meet demand even on the coldest evening of the year in winter with no wind and no solar. For this reason, renewable energy can never under any realistic scenario meet that target” (Best). Wind and solar might not be able to handle the energy needs for all of the UK, but the other alternative sources would help in providing electricity. Geothermal, hydro, and biomass energy are also practical options for England. Alternative energy has the potential of supplying the UK with 65% of its energy needs by 2050 (Green Matters). If England only relies on oil, coal, and natural gas for a small portion of energy, then the life of fossil fuels will be lengthened and give time for advancements in alternative energy. Advancements that might ultimately point to a fossil fuel-free world. 

With 150 years of fossil fuels remaining, a transition to alternative energy sources for the world’s power must happen. This shift will not only provide humans with an indefinite source of energy, but will save the planet from impending climate changes and provide benefits to public health and the world economy. Wind, solar, geothermal, hydro, and biomass energy can save many lives from air pollution, natural disasters, and rising sea levels that would result from continued use of oil, coal, and natural gas. A fossil fuel free world might not be possible in the next 50 years, but as innovations to efficiency and energy storage increase, there is no saying when that day might come. 
