FOSSIL FUELS AND ENERGY
Be Informed
Our modern world is built around energy. From heating and cooling, transport, manufacturing, mass food production, computing, and travel.
Coal has an energy density of approximately 24 MJ/kg and 1 horsepower (the estimated output of 1 horse) is = 2.7 MJ, therefore 1 kg of coal can produce the equivalent energy output of 9 horses. Think of the amount of hay alone that is needed to generate the same energy as 1kg of coal.
Current estimates of fossil fuel reserves are:
Coal - 863 billion tonnes
Oil - 262 billion tonnes
Gas - 0.13 billion tonnes
Combined, if these these fuels are burnt (for energy - electricity, transport etc), it will create 2,000 billion tonnes of CO2.
Look at the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration website and see how we are currently tracking on atmospheric CO2. If you looked at that page, you have good reason to be become really concerned.
Also, have a look at our Trees and Vegetation page for a bit of background of those resources.
And, have a look at our Population page, which gives some idea of the scale of potential impact unless drastic action is taken.