The use of fossil fuels contributes to global climate change

Fossil fuels are a huge contributor to climate change, so phasing them out can only be beneficial to society. The use of fossil fuels contributes to global warming through the release of greenhouse gases, which in turn contributes to the melting of polar ice caps. As polar ice caps melt, sea level rises and threatens the safety of coastal cities. Studies show that continued reliance on fossil fuels can lead to a sea-level rise of 1.7 to 4.3 feet in the 21st century alone. Reducing heavy reliance on fossil fuels can reduce the sea-level rise to 0.8 to 2.0 feet. ^[1] For the removal of fossil fuels to have the most substantial effect on global warming, experts suggest that all fossil fuel use would have to be eliminated within the next 40 years for temperatures to stay below the critical threshold. ^[2] The goal of the exercise is to prevent the excess release of carbon which will stifle the greenhouse effect, and that is the process by which greenhouses gases contribute to the planet's warming cycle. If one can control the amount of carbon in the atmosphere, it stands to reason that one can also control the rate at which the Earth warms. Without these changes, climate change will continue in earnest.