Environmental Challenges Caused by Fossil Fuels

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Effects of increasing Oil prices
Ways of Reducing Pollution caused by Cars
Conclusion
References

Introduction

The world is today faced with many challenges ranging from environmental problems to depletion of key resources that are very vital for the growth of the world economy. The production of fossil fuels has gone down considerably in recent years, and it is likely to be depleted shortly. Many countries are now facing serious economic challenges because of the high cost of fuel prices that have been felt across the world. In light of these challenges, various countries are now using various mechanisms to mitigate the cost of high fuel prices. For example, alternative sources of energy are now being recommended for use. This will probably reduce the high demand for gasoline that has partly led to its high cost.

In the U.S.A, many people have come up with recommendations on how to deal with environmental challenges caused by using cars that consume fossil fuels. For example, some people contend that doubling the cost of fuel prices in the USA will reduce the number of motorists and it will also compel the car manufacturers to make cars that consume less energy and are also environmentally friendly. In my view, increasing fuel prices is not a sustainable mechanism for mitigating environmental degradation caused by the excess use of fossil fuels on cars. This is because of the following reasons.

Effects of increasing Oil prices

First, it would be ironic for the government to charge high fuel prices on the pretext of saving the environment, yet other nations are struggling to keep oil prices as low as possible. High fuel prices will greatly affect the cost of maintaining cars hence people will no longer buy them. This will eventually lead to a decline in the profitability of car manufacturing industries. This is because they will have poor sales. The doubling of fuel prices will have a great impact on the entire economy of the U.S. This is because it will lead to a high cost of manufacturing basic goods. (Sterner, 2011) For example, the production process of many products often involves the use of oil. For instance, the transportation of raw materials is always done through roads and rail transportation systems which largely depend on oil energy. Therefore, the increase in the cost of fuel prices will definitely lead to the high cost of inputs and raw materials. The doubling of oil prices will also stall many factories because they will not manage to meet the high costs of production. Consequently, there will be many job layoffs and this can really affect the People working in the U.S.A.

Many consumers will also be forced to pay high prices for commodities produced using oil products (Weshthoff, 2010). As such, they will have to cut their spending on other items and services. The high prices levied on the oil products will only benefit the few individuals involved in the oil industry, while the rest will really suffer seriously. The purchasing power of most of the citizens will eventually go down and this will impact negatively on the economy of U.S. In addition to these, the economy of U.S was really affected by the recent global economic recess and it has been grappling with the state of the poor economy. Therefore, doubling pump prices will cripple the governments plan to restore economic growth.

Increasing fuel prices will actually reduce the number of motorists on the road, hence, reducing the rate of environmental degradation caused by cars. However, this will have serious effects on transportation services. For example, many transport companies will charge high prices for their services. This will still affect the citizens because they will spend more money on transport. It has also been noted with a lot of concern by environmentalists that the U.S is one of the nations with high rates of environmental pollution caused by carbon dioxide emissions. It is also true that driving cars is one of the ways through which many people pollute the environment. However, this problem can be dealt with through the following mechanisms instead of increasing oil prices in the U.S. A.

Ways of Reducing Pollution caused by Cars

First, the government should advise car manufacturers to come up with more environmentally friendly cars that do not have adverse effects on the environment. In this regard, car manufacturers in the U.S.A should therefore embrace the manufacturing of environmentally friendly cars from their counterparts in other nations like Japan, and Europe (Susmann, 2001). Cars should also be manufactured in a way that they do not consume much fuel. This can be achieved by ensuring that they do not produce toxic gases that pollute the air. The production of hybrid cars should be supported by the government through the provision of incentives to the companies that produce them (The Green Car Club, 2011). For example, they can be charged fewer taxes to enable them to produce more electric cars.

The government should come up with new rules on how the roads should be used in U.S. For example, the use of roads should be treated as a privilege and not a right. This is because when it is treated as a right, many citizens take that advantage to misuse their cars by even driving for leisure activities which also increase the rate of carbon emissions (Schwela, 1998). The roads should also be redesigned to facilitate effective driving of cars. For example, there should be specific lanes for commercial vehicles and lanes for fast cars. This will reduce traffic snarl-ups which also cause high fuel consumption by vehicles, which also results in environmental pollution. The cities should also be designed in a manner that will facilitate walking and riding of bicycles. For example, more paths can be created to make walking and cycling easier. Moreover, the roads should be designed to accommodate electric cars.

Decentralization of services can also be used as a strategy for reducing the rate of commuting. For instance, rezoning of towns and cities can facilitate easy access to services, hence, people will not have to travel long distances in order to get them. This will also make people work close to their residence and they will not have to drive to work (Kidd, 2005). The reorganization of traffic is also important in this process. For example, it should be organized in such a way that heavy commercial tracks can use the roads at night when there is less traffic on the roads. Carpools should also be rewarded and the idea of traveling to work by private cars ought to be discouraged by the government. Carpools involve a situation where people travel over long distances together in the same car (Colls, 2002).

If the public transport services can be improved by making them more comfortable, and convenient, many people can stop driving regularly. For example, electric trains can be developed in many parts of the cities because they can facilitate faster transportation of people (Leedy, 2009). Individuals who drive cars that consume a lot of fuel are supposed to be charged high taxes by ensuring that they pay high charges for their car licenses. The extra money collected from them can be used for controlling environmental problems that arise due to the use of such cars.

The government should also revoke the licenses of those people who have poorly maintained cars that pollute the environment. Besides this, car manufacturers that still produce cars that are not environmentally friendly should be stopped from operating (Evana, 2010). This can force them to produce good vehicles. Advertising expensive vehicles that consume a lot of fuel also lure people to buy them. Hence, such advertisements should also be stopped because they indirectly contribute to environmental pollution.

The cost of environmental damage and reclamation has to be added to the cost of owning and operating a car (Environmed Research Inc, 2010). For example, the cost of buying a vehicle should be raised and the government can stop giving subsidies to car owners. Even though increasing the cost of maintaining cars can be a solution, it should not involve increasing fuel prices. Drivers also need to be advised on how to best maintain their cars so that they do not pollute the environment. For example, they can be advised on various methods of saving fuel consumption in their cars.

It is also important for people to change their shopping habits. In this case, people should try to buy goods within their localities instead of driving to other places to buy them. This can limit environmental pollution. Apart from cars, there are also factories and machines, like generators, which consume fossil fuels. Such machines should also be improved so that they can be environmentally friendly. Companies can invest more in the wind and solar energy instead of relying on fossil fuels as a source of energy.

Conclusion

The environmental effects of using cars in America are likely to spiral out of control shortly if the government does not act immediately. Environmentalists have recommended various methods of mitigating the negative effects of using cars. Those recommendations should not only be adopted by the government itself, but by all U.S citizens. This is because the government cannot manage to maintain the environment without the support of the citizens. From the above discussion, it is also evident that there are better methods that can be used for reducing car pollution. Therefore, increasing fuel prices cannot be a sustainable mechanism for reducing car pollution. This is because people will still find alternative ways of meeting the high cost of fuel prices, and they will continue driving cars that pollute the environment. Environmental campaigns should not be limited to the U.S.A, but they should also be adopted in other parts of the whole world. Apart from maintaining the environment, the government is also keen on sustaining economic growth. In this case, it would be wrong for the government to adopt measures like charging high fuel prices that will hurt the economy of America.

References

Colls, J. (2002). Air Pollution: Measurement, Modelling and Mitigation. New York: Routledge.

Environment Research Inc. (2010). Cars, Trucks, Air Pollution and Health. Web.

Evana, J. (2010). Hazardous Waste Management. Chicago: Waveland.

Kidd, R. (2005). Air Pollution: Problems and Solutions. London: Chelsea House Pub.

Leedy, P. (2009). Practical Research: Planning and Design. Berkley: Prentice Hall.

Schwela, D. (1998). Urban Traffic Pollution. New York: Spon Press.

Sterner, T. (2011). Fuel Taxes and the Poor: The Distributional Effects of Gasoline Taxation and Their Implications for Climate Policy. New York: Earthscan Publications Ltd.

Susmann, G. (2001). American Politics and the Environment. New York: Longman.

The Green Car Club. (2011). A Guide to Sustainable Driving. Web.

Weshthoff, P. (2010). The Economics of Food: How Feeding and Fueling the Planet Affects Food Prices. London: Wiley.

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