why do some people think that using fossil fuels from crude oil is a waste of our resources?

Answer 1

There is probably another 100 years worth of oil left, and much more coal, but total supply isn't the only issue. While there is still a lot of oil left, getting it out of the ground is more difficult every year. Experts have estimated that the oil industry will reach peak production by 2010. Every year after that, world wide production is expected to shrink.

Even if it were easily extracted, the cost of oil (and coal) is far higher than what we see at the pump. Whether or not the global warming predictions are accurate, we know that a basic tenant of science is a play: If enough force is applied to anything, it will move.

By pumping carbon based fuels out of the ground and burning them, we apply pressure to our climate. This force will have an effect over time, that much is certain. The cost of countering these changes is much higher than the temporary benefits of burning oil, and that is why it is a waste of our resources.

Answer 2

Some very good answers follow. Crude oil supplies us with the starting materials for nearly all our chemicals. Chemicals that make detergents, plastics, wood preservatives, paint and many more. I sit here and look around this room, nothing here is made without crude.

We could make some of these chemicals from bio (natural, carbon neutral, i.e. plants) sources, like rape or corn oil. It is estimated that if we (Europe) we were to increase out diesel fuel from an estimated average of 3% to somewhere around 50% then there is not enough land left to "grow" all our fuel needs. So this is not a viable solution.

I heard an interview on TV where if current solar panel production were to double year on year, and become 10% more efficient each year (call that a stretch target) then after 20 years you would have enough solar power to support less than 1% of the world energy needs. So this is not a viable option.

Wind power is next, I understand that most turbines in UK are running at about 40-50%. Wonder how many we need to install to make this viable. You want a couple next door?

I thing burning fossil fuel is a sad and stupid waste of the worlds most valuable resources, but there is no current technically viable alternative. Europe, UK must invest in the alternatives as a matter of urgency (Who was it who said this in the 1980's)

Answer 3

Crude oil is a fossil fuel, just to clear that up. (More on that in a moment.) Don't worry what some people think. Resouces are what you have to use. Oil is something we have to use. So we use it. It should be conserved, used as efficiently as we can to extend the time it will be available to use (and just becuase one should never be wasteful of anything, in general.) But there's no cause for alarm about "what happens when we run out! Oh dear!" That's ridiculous. There's plenty of oil, there are known substitutes, and we always come up with something else when it's necessary ( We are resourceful. Get it? ) Have faith in our resourcefulness.

Back to Fossil Fuel: There is some evidence that crude oil isn't fossil fuel (some residue left from ancient living things. Oil is presumed old dinosaurs... coal is old plant matter.) But there is evidence oil is of the earth.. comes up from under the crust... and if so may be damn near inexhaustible anyway.

Answer 4

There's a limited amount of oil and other fossil fuels and they're running out. We've got about 30 years of oil left, maybe more if we find new oil fields, perhaps a maximum of 50 years supply. There's up to 200 years worth of coal but it's largely poor quality. When they run out we'll have no option but to switch to other energy sources such as solar, wind and tidal.

Running out of oil is the biggest problem, virtually every vehicle runs on it. Without oil we'd all have to switch to vehicles running on other fuels and that technology is still in it's early stages.

Answer 5

Nospamcwt has it exactly right.

If you want to know more, this is an excellent book:

http://www.amazon.com/End-Oil-Edge-Perilous-World/dp/0618562117/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-4980373-3254218?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1175953402&sr=8-1

Answer 6

because some think were using it faster than we can get another resource.

Answer 7

becasue there are other more efficient ways - but they don't beneift the president and his oil sucking comrades

Answer 8

some people.......aw, thats just the smart ones........the fuels have a finite supply u know.....