With help from my friend Amber Jones, I wrote this for member education within Mormon Women for Ethical Government, might as well share it here!
Photo of mountaintop removal in West Virginia by Antrium Caskey, the entire photo series is worth looking at.
Just like water resources, our traditional energy sources are also limited. Since the Industrial Revolution and even more so since WWII, American energy use has exploded. For decades, we have extracted and burned fossil fuels-- natural resources that are limited. As a society, we reasoned that “American coal” was better than imported energy sources and became a symbol of American pride. Coal was cheap, both for consumers and the corporations that benefited from their extraction. Among coal and oil and gas workers, the high rates of black lung disease and preterm births (in surface mining communities), as well as the dangerous daily nature of extraction, have been a high price for this “cheap” energy. These workers should have been the canary in the coal mine. If those working daily with these energy sources were getting sicker, how would it affect our environment and broader public health? Every year, we gain more insight into this question. And the results are clear: we need to end our relationship with fossil fuels. There may never be the political will to completely cut off fossil fuels, but we know enough to do more than we are currently. The following are some general concerns with regard to fossil fuels.
The burning of fossil fuels is, of course, our greatest concern. Coal, for example, is mostly carbon. When it is burned, it reacts with oxygen in the air to create carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide released into our atmosphere is directly related to sea level rise, extreme weather, drought, species loss, and flooding. Natural gas is often hailed as a cleaner alternative to coal. However, the heat-trapping emissions would not noticeably change if we switched to a primarily natural gas. Furthermore, fuels burned in the combustion engines of our cars, trucks, and planes is responsible for 30% of all the carbon emissions in the U.S.
Other concerns with fossil fuel extraction include:
- The extraction, processing and waster components of fossil fuels are energy-intensive before we even burn them.
- Both mining and oil and gas drilling is related to many negative public health outcomes.
- Surface mining, such as mountaintop removal, permanently changes ecosystems and the flow of streams.
- Natural gas fracking can have negative effects on water quality.
- Boom and bust oil and gas drilling communities are hotspots for sexual abuse.
- Risks surrounding the transport of fossil fuels include oil spills, pipeline leaks and coal dusts.
Air pollution from the burning of fossil fuels is also a huge concern. Sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and particulate matter (soot) are released into the air when fossil fuels are burned. Each of these is related to significant health concerns such as chronic bronchitis, aggravated asthma, premature death, premature birth and increase in heart attacks.
Despite all of these egregious concerns, this administration has vowed to remove the United States of America from the Paris Climate Agreement and become the ONLY nation in the world to not sign on. The Paris Climate Agreement is a historic coming together of world powers to mutually agree on a path to a lower carbon-emitting future. While our president continues to court the failing and dirty coal industry, states and cities across the nation have signed onto the agreement and are making strides to lower carbon emissions in their areas. With French President Macron’s state visit this week, we have hope that he can convince President Trump to remain on the Paris Climate Agreement to ensure our children and grandchildren have a livable planet. References and more information in the comments. Stay tuned tomorrow for an action post with many ideas for personal and policy changes.
Statements based on work created by the Union of Concerned Scientists.
Further reading:
“[A] report says loose standards for ozone and fine-particles lead to more than 200 people in the Mountain West dying prematurely each year. And the pollution would make 500 fewer people sick each year if EPA adopted the stricter air-quality standards recommended by the society. http://kuer.org/post/report-shows-less-pollution-means-healthier-longer-lives#stream/0
In Salt Lake and Utah Valleys for example, pregnant women have been encouraged to leave the valleys entirely during bad air days. http://archive.sltrib.com/article.php?id=3534955&itype=CMSID
“Schools with large numbers of students of colour are routinely located near major roads and other sources of pollution, with many also grappling with other hazards such as lead-laced drinking water and toxins buried beneath school buildings Grineski said there were a range of consequences. “We’re only now realizing how toxins don’t just affect the lungs but influence things like emotional development, autism, ADHD and mental health,” she said. “Socially marginalized populations are getting the worst exposure. When you look at the pattern, it’s so pervasive that you have to call it an injustice and racism.” Source: The Guardian
More about how cars influence climate change and air pollution from the Union of Concerned Scientists.
The fossil fuel industry has another dirty side: a connection to an increase in sexual assault and murder, via Sierra Club.
Good news about Apple and renewable energy!
Climate change according to a kid: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sv7OHfpIRfU
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