Za Latt Phyu Sin Moe

Professor Kaiser

ESL 400

8 April 2024

Beyond the Bulb: Shedding Light on the Problems of Energy Overuse

In today's world, the flick of a switch or the press of a button powers not just our homes, but our entire way of life. Yet, this ease of use hides a complicated web of linked factors that are causing a global crisis: climate change. To help my mother, who is curious about these things but needs more information, it’s important to look at the interrelated chain reaction of human-caused energy overconsumption, demand for fossil fuels, and emissions of carbon dioxide. This chain reaction is what causes climate change, which affects the earth in deep and often terrible ways.

The energy resources are being taken for granted by people worldwide. For example, there are very few day-to-day activities that can be completed without the use of electricity because people are so dependent on it(PARA). We can see this in the book “The Story of More” by Hope Jahren. Jahren proved this by mentioning data compared with the 1970s. According to Jahren, “The total amount of energy that people currently use every day is three times greater than when I was a kid in the 1970s, despite the fact that the total number of people on the planet has only doubled”(Jahren 83). She stated that the total amount of energy now is three times larger than it was in the 1970s(NC). Much of this energy is spent as electricity, and the overall amount of electricity used per day has increased by more than four times within the past fifty years. Additionally, Jahren proves that people are relying on electricity without even noticing it by saying “The streetlights at which they stop and go, the water heater that warms their shower, and the array of battery-assisted devices…”(Jahren 84). Jahren provided evidence that people's daily actions are powered by electricity, often without their knowledge(NC). Everything from making meals to going down the street is powered by electricity. This tells us that we're using a lot more energy than we used to. Jahren's message reminds us that we need to find ways to use energy more efficiently to protect our earth for the future. 

There is a rise in the number of processes that convert fossil fuels into energy as the world population continues to grow and people keep consuming an increasing amount of energy(AdjC). In the book “The Story of More”, Hope Jahren mentions that the amount of fossil fuels for more usage has been increasing. “Globally, the total amount of fossil fuels burned each year has more than doubled over the last fifty years”(Jahren 114). According to the data provided by Hope Jahren, excessive energy consumption has led to a dramatic growth in the total amount of fossil fuels. Moreover, Jahren pointed out that in the past half century, people have dug up and burned through vast quantities of fossil fuels. This means that people all over the world are burning a lot more coal, oil, and natural gas than they used to. This information tells us that our energy habits are becoming unsustainable. Burning fossil fuels not only releases harmful gasses into the air but also damages the environment. 

The growing demand for fossil fuels leads to a surge in the amount of carbon dioxide that is released into the atmosphere at the very concerning rate(AdjC). As a result, weather patterns are being altered and the earth’s become warmer. We can see much related evidence in the book “The Story of More”. Jahren describes that through mining and then burning fossil fuels by humans, a lot of carbon dioxide is released into the air. “Humans have released a huge amount of carbon dioxide into the sky that would have remained buried deep in the earth otherwise”(Jahren 129). According to Jahren, people have dug up and burned through vast quantities of fossil fuels in the past half century and it has led to enormous amounts of carbon dioxide existing in the atmosphere. Jahren also revealed statistics about how the earth is becoming warmer because of carbon dioxide emissions. Jahren writes, “The average global surface temperature has increased more than 1.5 degrees Fahrenheit during the last one hundred years…The ten-year period between 2005 and 2016 was the warmest decade on record…”(Jahren 136). This information from Jahren's book tells us that our actions, like burning fossil fuels, are making the earth warmer. This warming can cause ravage(VOC) for people, animals, and the environment. 

Consequently, various types of ice, such as glaciers, sea ice, and ice sheets, are drastically(VOC) disappearing from the Arctic and Antarctic regions as a result of the warming of the earth. The melting of polar ice caps in turn leads to floods and storms across the globe as an erratic result of changes in weather patterns. In the article “To Hell with Drowning”, Julian Aguon specified that Micronesia has been the victim of climate change and has been dealing with the impacts of it. Aguon writes, “We are seeing a rate of sea-level rise two to three times the global average…most of our low-lying coral-atoll nations may become inhabitable as early as 2030”(par. 7). According to Aguon, sea levels are rising at a rate two to three times faster than the world average in Micronesia. By 2030, most of the low-lying, coral atoll (VOC) nations will be hostile according to some scientists. Some leaders have even considered purchasing land in neighboring nations in case they ever have to relocate their people(AdvC). Agoun added, “Guam…lies within one of the most active regions for tropical cyclones in the world”(par. 21). When it comes to tropical cyclones, Guam is right up there with the most active locations on Earth. Super typhoons, which are a kind of typhoon, have historically caused massive annihilation(VOC). This shows us how real people are being affected by climate change right now. It's not just something happening far away or in the future—it's happening to communities like those in Micronesia today. This makes it even more urgent for us to take action to reduce our carbon emissions and protect vulnerable communities from the impacts of climate change.

Despite the clear evidence showing that human actions are mainly responsible for climate change(AdvC), some people still disagree. They argue that natural changes in the Earth's climate are the main reason for the changes we see. They believe that human activities, like burning fossil fuels, don't have much of an impact. However, it's important to address these misunderstandings with facts and strong scientific evidence. Jahren also provides strong evidence about how climate scientists agree that human activities are the primary cause of climate change. They have studied the Earth's climate for years and have found clear links between human actions and the changes we're experiencing (Jahren 136). It is necessary to shed light on the true causes of climate change by highlighting the agreement among climate scientists. 

Therefore, our current patterns of energy consumption and reliance on fossil fuels are directly contributing to the crisis of climate change. It's imperative to recognize the urgency of this situation and take proactive steps towards sustainable solutions. By embracing cleaner energy sources and adopting environmentally conscious practices, we can collectively work towards a healthier and more resilient future for our planet and all its inhabitants.

Works Cited

Aguon, Julian. “To Hell with Drowning.” The Atlantic, 1 Nov. 2021

Jahren, Hope. The Story of More. New York, Vintage, Mar. 2020