Scientist have predicted that due to global warming, sea levels could rise up to 8.2 feet in the next 80 years. This climate change could put many species around the word at risk the sea level rise that comes with this could impact countless coastal communities and island nations around the world. However, scientists believe that shifting the way we create our energy can help. Do you think this is a real threat or not? If you do, which type of energy do you think should be used the most to combat this? Those are the questions I am tying to answer in this survey. Here is some background information on each type of energy mentioned in this survey. You can read this or look for the types of energy you want to know about to make an informed decision.
I will start with mentioning the pros and cons of non renewable sources. Coal is very abundant and inexpensive. However it can release many different greenhouse gases that harm the environment and contribute to the aforementioned climate change. "Clean coal" can help reduce this but is more expensive. Petroleum is reliable but also releases greenhouse gases and drilling for it harms the environment. Natural gas is the cleanest of all non-renewable sources and is already widely used but still releases some greenhouse gases.
Here are some other options that release little to no greenhouse gases. Biolfuel is made from many different sources, is renewable and is even cheaper than non-renewables, but does release some greenhouse gases and isn't completely clean. Geothermal energy does not release a lot of greenhouse gases and is reliable, but are expensive at first and have to be managed properly. Hydropower is also reliable does not pollute the water or air, but is expensive, may cause people and animals to relocate, and can harm or disturb fish and river life. Solar energy is available all around the world, is low maintenance, and doesn't pollute, but cost a lot upfront, takes up a lot of space, may release some gases during production and has reduce power output on days that aren't sunny. Nuclear energy is clean, and more cheap and reliable than many other renewable sources. However it can cause extremely sever health issues during nuclear accidents and uses a lot of water. Wind power does not pollute, does not need a lot of space, and is available around the world. The cons of it are that it may harm birds, are noisy, cost a lot upfront, and are less reliable during non windy days. Tidal energy is clean, low maintenance, is reliable and predictable, and has the added benefit of protecting the coast against storm surge and high tides. However it is only available during certain times of day, can block the migration of sea life, and it is expensive and can only be used close to the shore. It is also a new technology that is still being researched.
Thank you for taking the time to read this and/or refer to this when making your choice. Please pick what you think is the best option to switch to/continue using currently.
https://www.climate.gov/news-features/understanding-climate/climate-change-global-sea-levelhttps://www.aje.com/arc/energy-types-pros-cons/https://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/infrastructure/news/a27886/how-does-clean-coal-work/