reover, carbon-based fossil fuels emit greenhouse gases, which contribute, at least in part, to global warming and climate change, there s a risk to our planet's environment and to all living organisms upon it. Climate change is a significant global environmental issue. Increasing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are largely, but not exclusively, related to the production and use of fossil fuels. Carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted from the burning of fossil fuels accounts for roughly 55% to 60% of global GHG emissions (Reduce the Environmental Impact of Energy Consumption and Production). Although there was a reduction of energy related emissions to below 2000 levels, however the important factors that contributed to the decrease in carbon dioxide emissions that year were higher energy prices, especially during the summer driving season, slowing economic growth, and a decrease in the carbon intensity of energy supply (Environment).
             What would be a direction for the world going forward? It begins with consuming less (conservation), thus reducing our reliance on energy produced from fossil fuels, and recycling or reusing what we can, leftover from what we consume; developing renewable, alternative energy sources (wind, solar, hydroelectric, geothermal, biomass) for supplying energy; and encouraging innovation of new technologies such as hybrid and flex-fuel
             vehicles. The United States consumes more energy than needed, compared to the rest of the world. However, to properly address such an issue as over consumption of energy, one first must understand what "energy" is.
             Energy is the ability for something to do work, create heat, or emit light. By this definition, energy can be anything from a sandwich to uranium. However, for the sake of simplification, this essay will focus on the United States' consumption of fossil fuels (oil, coal, and gas), which constitute eighty-six percent of American energy (Lehrman 2).
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