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Some Energy Issues, page 2
Issue 1: Finiteness
The fact that fossil fuels do not last forever is one of their main disadvantages. Interestingly we will run out of oil first. The substance that supported the industrial revolution will disappear first. Estimates are difficult and vary greatly, but many predict that oil consumption will peak around the middle of this century, in about 30 – 40 years and then decline, because increasing scarcity and cost of production. Coal may last well into the next century.
The calculations depend on many factors and vary greatly but given the strong - and increasing - reliance of our societies on energy, this is a short time frame.
Two other problems related to fossil fuel are pollution and politics.
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