Ocean Acidification
What are Fossil Fuels?
Fossil fuels are a natural resource made from decomposing animals and plants. It is found in the Earth’s crust and it contains hydrogen and carbon that is burned for energy. Types of fossil fuels include: coal, gas, and oil.
Fossil fuels are used in everyday life through transportation, manufacturing, and using electricity and heat. Fossil fuels are ingrained in every aspect in our lives but our use of them is causing detrimental effects on the environment. Our dependence on fossil fuels is fueled by a lack of market value on sustainable energy sources.
Fossil fuel companies lobby politicians to block bills which will put regulations on the extraction and usage of fossil fuels and this makes it difficult for any true conservation to be done.
Factory releasing carbon emissions
Conservative politicians often use talking points surrounding climate change that spread misinformation and fear surrounding the topic, which creates a general distrust in science.
Climate change denial was used wildly during George W. Bush’s time in office. When George W. Bush took office, so did his Vice President; Dick Cheney. Cheney, an ex-oilman, had connections deep in the fossil fuel industry which was beneficial for them when Bush’s first pick for EPA administration Christine Todd Whitman stated that CO2 should be regulated as a pollutant under the Clean Air Act. Halfway through Bush’s first term Dick Cheney took over energy policy and Whitman’s policy was never added.
During this time the U.S had also decided to pull out of the Kyoto Protocol in which industrialized countries commit to reducing and limiting greenhouse gas emissions.
Both Cheney and Bush had deep ties in Big Oil as both of them were in the industry themselves. Cheney was chief executive officer for Halliburton, the second largest oil service company in the world from 1995 to 2000 and Bush had founded Arbusto Energy, an oil and gas firm in 1977.
Protesters mock Bush Administration and Chevron Oil
According to Pew Research Center one-in-four republicans today believe that climate change is a major threat which is similar to the viewpoints held by republicans 10 years ago.
Climate change skepticism and denial from the general public makes it harder for legislation to be created and passed in both local and federal governments which can impact environmental justice communities and lead to less sustainable legislation being put into place.