There are holes punctured in the ozone layer; climate change is killing off species the whole world over. At this rate, the amount of breathable air available to the entire world will have decreased by 67%. The easiest fix would seem to be to stop using fossil fuels completely and all at once. However, is this actually a good idea? I would argue that the world should not stop using fossil fuels because many people will lose their jobs, the technology isn’t advanced yet, and the GDP of certain countries will decrease.

          First of all, I would argue that the world should not stop using fossil fuels right away because millions of people will lose their jobs. There is good evidence from research carried out by Dan Eberhart, who is an energy expert and CEO of a company called Canary, that “fully transitioning to a renewable energy economy will require a tremendous, and some argue an unsustainable amount of raw materials and land.” To explain this, we need to take into account the full cycle of energy source. Gasoline is 1016 times more powerful than solar energy, and 1019 more powerful than wind energy and water. This will limit the amount of energy we extract. In 2019, more than 90% of the transportation used fossil fuel. Moreover, According to job research carried out by Todd Williams, more than 60% of the jobs in power creation relates to fossil fuel. This adds onto the point that, if we immediately transform to clean energy, that amount of people will lose their jobs. From that, we can see that we should not immediately transform into fossil fuel, as it is less powerful, and millions of people will lose their jobs.

          Furthermore, I would contend that the world should not stop using fossil fuels right away because the technology is not advanced yet. According to eia.gov, the US used a different technology to generate electricity. There are three major energy sources: fossil fuel, nuclear energy, and renewable energy. The total nuclear plus renewables are 38%. Fossil fuel is the largest source of electricity generation, Natural gas is the second-largest source, with 38%; coal is the third-largest energy source with 23%, and petroleum is the least with less than 1%. So, in total, fossil fuel takes up 62% of the energy generation. Moreover, research done by brighthubegineering.com proves that fossil fuel is the relatively most efficient. To illustrate, the coal-fired energy plants take up to 41% of the world total energy generation, and efficiency is 32%-42%. Natural gas takes up to 20% of the world’s total energy generation, and efficiency is 32%-38%. Nuclear has an efficiency of 38%, and diesel plant has an efficiency of 35%-42%. The renewables have efficiency from 80% to 90%. Although with high efficiency, the renewables depend on their availability. To explain that, if there is no wind blowing, no river flowing, and no sun shining, the renewables will not work. Thus, the world should not stop using fossil fuels immediately because the technology is not advanced yet.

          Last but not the least, one argument is that the world should not stop using fossil fuels right away because the GDP of certain countries will decrease. The evidence from research carried out by a researcher called Alexandra Twin from Investopedia, that the number one exported product in the world is oil. Oil takes up to 5.9% of the global value and is worth 1.113 trillion dollars. Saudi Arabia takes up to 16.1% of the global exports, and is worth 182.4 billion dollars; Russia takes 11.4% of global exports, and is worth 129 billion dollars; Iraq takes 8.7% of global exports, and is worth 97.1 billion, Canada is worth 5.9% of global exports, and is worth 66.9 billion dollars; The United Arab Emirates takes 5.2% of the global exports, and is worth 58.4 billion dollars. It is clear from this that, if we stop using fossil fuels immediately, the countries above will suffer a huge drop in GDP, and the world economy will also suffer a huge drop. From all the above, the world should not stop using fossil fuels right away because the GDP of certain countries will decrease.

          Thus, this leads me to conclude that the world should not stop using fossil fuels because many people will lose their jobs, the technology isn’t advanced yet, and the GDP of certain countries will decrease. While protecting the environment is a top goal, considering the consequences of cutting it off right away is also important. Thus, let us protect the environment by gradually decrease the usage of fossil fuels for a brighter future!

                                                          Works Cited

Eberhart, Dan. “It's Harder Than You Think To Stop Using Fossil Fuels.” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 3 Aug. 2020, www.forbes.com/sites/daneberhart/2020/08/03/its-harder-than-you-think-to-stop-using-fossil-fuels/.

Williams, Todd. “Fossil Has More than 50% of Energy Industry Jobs Yet Renewables Drive Future.” Scott Madden, Scott Madden, Inc., 8 Nov. 2018, www.scottmadden.com/insight/fossil-50-energy-industry-jobs-yet-renewables-drive-future/.

No author available. “U.S. Energy Information Administration - EIA - Independent Statistics and Analysis.” Electricity in the U.S. - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), US Government, 20 Mar. 2020, www.eia.gov/energyexplained/electricity/electricity-in-the-us.php.

“U.S. Energy Information Administration - EIA - Independent Statistics and Analysis.” Electricity in the U.S. - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), US Government, 20 Mar. 2020, www.eia.gov/energyexplained/electricity/electricity-in-the-us.php.

Miller-Wilson, Kate. “Design of a Wind Turbine.” LoveToKnow, LoveToKnow Corp, www.greenliving.lovetoknow.com/Design_of_a_Wind_Turbine.

No author available. “The Efficiency of Power Plants of Different Types.” Bright Hub Engineering, 27 May 2010, www.brighthubengineering.com/power-plants/72369-compare-the-efficiency-of-different-power-plants/.

Twin, Alexandra. “World's Top 10 Oil Exporters.” Investopedia, Investopedia, 3 Sept. 2020, www.investopedia.com/articles/company-insights/082316/worlds-top-10-oil-exporters.asp.