Benefits fossil fuels

Why is fossil energy important?

Fossil energy has been a fundamental driver of the technological, social, economic, and development progress that has followed. Fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas) have, and continue to, play a dominant role in global energy systems. But they also come with several negative impacts.

Can burning fossil fuels improve air quality?

New research shows that improved air quality caused by reducing emissions from burning fossil fuels and other sources could improve human health and prevent economic losses. That’s according to projections by scientists at NASA, Duke University and Columbia University.

What are the benefits of fossil fuels?

These benefits add up quickly on a country-wide scale. More productivity at work grows the economy. So does less spending on healthcare, which frees governments to make more long-term investments in education or infrastructure. Pollutants from fossil fuels also harm important ecosystems, like our waterways.

Why do we need fossil fuels?

From the electricity that lights our homes to the cars we drive to work, modern life was built on fossil fuels like coal, oil and natural gas. But burning them creates climate change and releases pollutants that lead to early death, heart attacks, respiratory disorders, stroke, asthma, and absenteeism at school and work.

Should we stop burning fossil fuels?

Studies like this show that moving away from burning fossil fuels can almost immediately begin to save lives and boost the economy. And at the same time, cutting fossil fuel usage protects us from the worst effects of future climate change. Read more Ask MIT Climate

How do fossil fuels affect the climate?

The combustion of fossil fuels produces emissions of the long-lived greenhouse gas carbon dioxide and of short-lived pollutants, including sulfur dioxide, that contribute to the formation of atmospheric aerosols1. Atmospheric aerosols can cool the climate, masking some of the warming effect that results from the emission of greenhouse gases1.