The debate about fossil resources of energy such as fuels and sustainable and renewable resources on Earth is not new, nor is it revolutionary. It is about a reality that we are living with and, to some extent, we are suffering from. That is, climate changes, global warming, and environmental challenges are just a part of this debate. While, on the other side of the debate, there are still people who deny these facts and question whether those matters are real. The debate about this matter is rather a comprehensive one and includes several aspects that can not be addressed in one paper. However, the issue of fossil fuels and sustainable resources on Earth is a matter of concern. This is because this matter specifically is about human continuity on Earth. A study carried out by Philippe D. Torell and published in PNAS (2020) discusses large-scale human activity and its impact on Earth’s natural resources and considers it as an emerging threat. This essay aims to investigate the matter of renewable and sustainable natural resources to understand the threat of uncontrolled use of these resources and at the same time explore how this issue can be addressed.
The natural resources on Earth are the base on which human beings live on Earth because without those natural resources many aspects that shape humans’ life on Earth would never exist. Cars driving on fossil fuels are a good example of the exaggerated use of natural resources on Earth and consequently of the impact that humans make on those resources. Public opinion about this matter has been mobilized and many activists have tried to draw attention to this issue. While they succeeded, no remarkable actions with significant effects were taken in this context (Torell, 2020). In other words, attention to sustainability and wise use of Earth’s natural resources has gained increasing popularity and many people around the world already are engaged in these questions. This is even emphasized in the research of Haque M. Shamsul (2002) and published in JSTOR by BRILL. That includes that humans are aware of those issues and still powerful actions are to be taken into consideration and address this issue.
In this context, the threats that can emerge from the uncontrolled use of natural resources should be taken seriously by governmental bodies and other organizations that can make a difference. The threats include global warming, climate pollution, climate change, air and water pollution, and other health issues that humans may experience accordingly, according to the Green Peace organization (Donaghy, 2021). Beyond all those threats, the fact about unsustainable natural resources is a way darker. The abusive human use of natural resources can in the worst scenarios lead to humanity lacking the possibility to address simpler issues and, to some extent, it can threaten life on Earth, not only for humans but even for all creatures. In simpler words, we need to address this matter to avoid dealing with way more complicated issues that threaten the existence of humans on Earth.
In this regard, humanity needs powerful actions that leave an impact, that is a positive impact. To address the matter of sustainability and natural resources on Earth, organizations and governmental bodies should consider this issue seriously. It is not enough with random actions and regulations to address the matter but we need rather more organized and coordinated actions in different regions around the world to be able to address it as the impact that we leave on those resources is on a large-scale (Torell, 2020). Furthermore, renewable resources should replace fossil fuels and other unsustainable resources to achieve the highest possible perseverance of natural resources. That is, through sustainable energy sources, humanity can make sure that natural unrenewable resources remain unaffected. Furthermore, humanity needs to set some goals to achieve regarding environmental challenges and sustainability is among them. All these actions need to be taken to address the issue of sustainability, natural resources, and more crucially, the existence of humans on Earth.
Finally, the issue of sustainability is rather a complicated matter that needs more comprehensive research to investigate and explore from different perspectives. However, the debate still is ongoing and there still are people who deny climate change and environmental challenges. Still, some proven facts should be taken into consideration about sustainability. Not taking the matter of sustainability seriously includes threats to humanity beyond the environmental effects that this would result in. However, to address these issues, governments and organizations should consider putting powerful tools into action. That is to reduce damage to our environment and ensure human existence on Earth because otherwise, the consequences would be way more negative than anyone would consider.
References
Torell, D. P. (2020). Earth 2020: Science, society, and sustainability in the Anthropocene. PNAS. https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.2001919117 (Accessed 2022-05-06).
Shamsul. M., H. (2002). Review: Current Debates on Environment and Sustainability: Major Issues and Limits. JSTOR. Asian Journal of Social Science
Vol. 30, No. 2, SPECIAL FOCUS: The Internet and Social Change in Asia and Beyond (2002), pp. 441-451 (11 pages) Published By: Brill. https://www.jstor.org/stable/23654714 (Accessed 2022-05-06).
Donaght, T. 2021. 8 reasons why we need to phase out the fossil fuel industry. Greenpeace.org. https://www.greenpeace.org/usa/research/8-reasons-why-we-need-to-phase-out-the-fossil-fuel-industry/ (Accessed 2022-05-06).