Evironmental Technology by Nupur

Evironmental Technology by Nupur - February 2018 Scholarship Essay

Climate change and global warming are major environmental problems that we face today. Based on observations made by scientists in the last decade, the impacts of climate change are only increasing and becoming more evident. Currently, the burning of fossil fuels is known as the source for multiple problems related to climate change, including the increase in the number of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, pollution from point and nonpoint sources of the air, roads, and water, potential acid rain etc.

Fossil fuels are non-renewable sources of energy, which means they will not last forever and we will eventually have to find an alternative. However, that is not happening anytime soon- definitely not as soon as 2038. In today’s world, we are heavily dependent on fossil fuels. The United States alone obtains 81% of all its energy from oil, natural gas, and coal which are all different fossil fuels. We use fossil fuels to power vehicles, heat our homes, and they are also used in manufacturing and industrial work.

By 2038, the negative impact of fossil fuels on the environment will have potentially reached a highly damaging and even dangerous level, and due to this, alternatives to fossil fuels will be an integral part of education in the year 2038.

‘H Power’ or hydrogen fuel is an alternative for fossil fuels that is already rising in popularity and can be used in the operation of vehicles. The way that hydrogen fuel is created, is through the process of making water. Water is made by combining hydrogen and oxygen, and during this process, electricity is generated. This offers people a pollution-free alternative to traditional fossil fuels that are in use today. Unfortunately, the chemical process of making and producing water requires energy from other sources before it can produce its own, therefore defeating the purpose of making this an entirely ‘clean fuel’. However, scientists are finding ways to power daily use technological items including laptops and phones with fuel cells. Multiple companies also believe that they will soon be able to produce a pollution-free fuel that is entirely clean. I personally believe that by 2038, this will have been done.

In terms of education, I believe students will be taught about different environmental advances in technology, but especially alternatives to fossil fuels, as fossil fuels are highly responsible for several climate change-related problems. H power and other developed alternatives to fossil fuels will be critical parts of education, along with the emphasis on how they will benefit the planet and what that is necessary.