| Fossil fuel reserves are diminishing rapidly across the | | | | dumped nearby, causing more environmental |
| world, intensifying the stress on existing reserves | | | | contamination.c) The rise in sea levels |
| day-by-day due to increased demand. Not only that, | | | | Sea levels are rising twice as fast as they were 150 |
| fossil fuels, presently contributing to 80% of world | | | | years ago and man-made greenhouse emissions are |
| primary energy, are inflicting enormous impacts on | | | | the prime cause, a study by scientists in America has |
| environment. Energy sector has a key role in this | | | | found. |
| regard since energy during its production, distribution | | | | Tide lines worldwide are raising by about 2 millimetres |
| and consumption is responsible for producing | | | | a year, compared to 1 millimetre a year in 1850. First, |
| environmentally harmful substances. There is an | | | | accelerated sea-level rise seems to be one of the |
| urgent need for a quicker switch over of energy | | | | more "certain" consequences of global climate change |
| systems from conventional to renewables that are | | | | with a "worst scenario" increase of 95 cm by 2100. |
| sustainable and can meet the present and projected | | | | The UNEP in its regional seas program in 1989 has |
| world energy demand. Hydrogen, in the capacity of | | | | included Pakistan in a group of countries, which are |
| energy vector and storage medium is expected to | | | | vulnerable to impact of rising sea level. If the present |
| be the optimum solution for intermittency and | | | | trend of sea level rise (SLR) at Karachi continues, in |
| storage of energy produced by renewables. Within | | | | the next 50 years the sea level rise along the |
| the context of Pakistan solar and wind power are | | | | Pakistan Coast will be 50 mm (5 cm). Since the rising |
| two of the most promising renewables. | | | | rates of sea level at Karachi within the global range |
| The present energy situation, led by fossil fuels, has | | | | of 1–2 mm/year, the trends may be treated as |
| three major concerns—depletion of resources, | | | | eustatic sea level rise. Historical air temperature and |
| environmental impacts and security of energy supply. | | | | sea surface temperature (SST) data of Karachi also |
| During energy use, varied stresses are created on | | | | show increasing pattern and has registered increasing |
| the natural environment, some of which have global | | | | trend of about 0.67 °C in the air temperature over |
| implications like the global warming while others cause | | | | the last 35 years. Whereas the mean SST in the |
| local impacts such as their effect on human health | | | | coastal waters of Karachi has also registered an |
| and ecology. Coal exploration and mining causes land | | | | increasing trend of about 0.3 °C in a decade [2].d) |
| degradation through subsidence and mine fires. The | | | | The acidic pollution |
| impact of mining on forest areas is of particular | | | | Although first recognised as a regional problem in |
| concern. | | | | Europe and the US, 1 over the past 10 years acid rain |
| Similarly, with onshore oil and gas production drilling | | | | has been observed at sites throughout the world, |
| waste fluids, drilling waste solids, produced water and | | | | from the polar ice caps to the tropical rainforests of |
| volatile organics exhibit the potential to contaminate | | | | Asia, Africa and South America. Within just a single |
| surrounding water bodies. Nuclear power also has | | | | generation, acid rain has grown from being a local and |
| serious reservations due to its associated radioactive | | | | regional nuisance to a major global problem. |
| emissions. | | | | More recently, alarm has been expressed about |
| Environmental implications: | | | | increasing levels of acidification in East Asia.2-4 |
| Environmental impacts of fossil fuel are coupled to a | | | | Approximately one-third of the world's population |
| number of naturally irreversible factors that are | | | | resides in East Asia and the region has been |
| detrimental both on local and global scale. They have | | | | experiencing phenomenal economic growth over the |
| been categorized and described individually in the | | | | past two decades. The rapid growth of industrial and |
| following section:a) The increase of green house | | | | agricultural production, especially in China, India, |
| effect; Global warming; Climate Change | | | | Thailand, and Indonesia, has resulted in a remarkable |
| Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a "greenhouse gas," trapping | | | | increase in SO2 and NOx emissions during the past |
| heat in the lowest part of the earth's atmosphere. | | | | decade, and these emissions look set to grow |
| This contributes to "global warming" - the average | | | | further. Although emissions of these pollutants are |
| temperature of the earth slowly increases, affecting | | | | lower than in Europe and the US on a per capita |
| ecosystems across the globe. Climate change is | | | | basis, experts predict that total emissions in East Asia |
| responsible for huge economical consequences. | | | | will surpass the combined emissions of Europe and |
| Between the 1960s and the 1990s, the number of | | | | the US by the year 2020.e) Health implications |
| significant natural catastrophes such as floods and | | | | Evidence of the ill effects of fossil fuels is endless, |
| storms rose nine-fold, and the associated economic | | | | and can take on many forms. Some forms are not |
| losses rose by a factor of nine. Figures indicate that | | | | easily seen by the human eye, although the |
| the economical losses as a direct result of natural | | | | disastrous results such as the loss of aquatic life can |
| catastrophes over 5 years between 1954 and 1959 | | | | be seen somewhat after the fact. |
| were US$35 billion while between 1995 and 1999 | | | | According to World Health Organisation (WHO) as |
| these losses were around US$340 billion [1]. | | | | many as 160,000 people die each year from the side |
| Europe’s extreme summer heat wave was the | | | | effects of climate change and the numbers could |
| biggest single event in the year 2003—costing | | | | almost double by 2020. These side effects range |
| more than $10 billion in agricultural losses alone and | | | | from malaria to malnutrition and diarrhoea that follow |
| killing some 20,000 people [1].b) Accumulation of solid | | | | in the wake of floods, droughts and warmer |
| wastes | | | | temperatures. Another example of the severe impact |
| Converting fossil fuels may also result in the | | | | caused by the global warming is the heat wave that |
| accumulation of solid waste. This type of | | | | hit across the Europe in summer of 2003 causing |
| accumulation has a devastating impact on the | | | | deaths in tens of thousands [2].f) Shift in the |
| environment. Waste requires adequate land space for | | | | Ecological balance and land impacts |
| containment and/or treatment, as well as financial | | | | Extraction of fossil fuels requires significant |
| support and monitoring for waste not easily disposed | | | | infrastructure to remove the fuel from the earth. |
| of. This type of waste also increases the risk of | | | | Roads, storage tanks, oil and gas wells, and other |
| toxic runoff which can poison surface and | | | | development must be built to support extraction. |
| groundwater sources for many miles. Toxic runoff | | | | Because much fossil fuel extraction takes place in |
| also endangers surrounding vegetation, wildlife, and | | | | rural or wild areas, this development often has |
| marine life. | | | | significant impacts on plants and wildlife. |
| Possibly the most visible impact of fossil fuel | | | | Oil, coal, and gas are typically found underground |
| production is the potential for environmental disaster | | | | below groundwater levels. During extraction, drilling |
| during transportation. A number of high-profile oil spills | | | | can break the barrier between fossil fuel and |
| have illustrated the extent of environmental damage | | | | groundwater reserves. Later during storage and |
| possible. On a smaller scale, storage tank leakage and | | | | transportation, broken pipes or storage tanks can |
| other accidents can directly damage local | | | | also contaminate water supplies. |
| environments. The pollution effects of these | | | | When oil and gas are removed from a reserve under |
| accidents can last for tens of years and sometimes | | | | the earth, this leaves what is essentially a large hole |
| longer, and cleanup is often costly. The disastrous oil | | | | underground. When there is no longer anything to |
| spillage of “Tasman spirit” of more than | | | | support the land above, the land can collapse, causing |
| 12000 tons July 2003 is not very distant on the time | | | | environmental and property damage. During the |
| line. The coast line of Karachi was completely | | | | electricity-generation process, burning fossil fuels |
| intoxicated. A conclusive report on the damage to | | | | produce heat energy, some of which is used to |
| the ecology is still to be compiled. Coal mining, | | | | generate electricity. Because the process is |
| especially strip mining, affects the area that is being | | | | inefficient, much of the heat is released to the |
| mined. Characteristically, the material closest to the | | | | atmosphere or to water that is used as a coolant. |
| coal is acidic. After the mining is completed, the land | | | | Heated air is not a problem, but heated water, once |
| will remain barren unless special precautions are taken | | | | returned to rivers or lakes, can upset the aquatic |
| to ensure that proper topsoil is used when the area | | | | ecosystem. Production, transportation, and use of oil |
| is replanted. Materials other than coal are also brought | | | | can cause water pollution. Oil spills, for example, leave |
| to the surface in the coal mining process, and these | | | | waterways and their surrounding shores uninhabitable |
| are left as solid wastes. As the coal itself is washed, | | | | for some time. Such spills often result in the loss of |
| more waste material is left. Finally, as the coal is | | | | plant and animal life. Coal mining also contributes to |
| burned, the remaining ash is left as a waste product. | | | | water pollution. Coal contains pyrite, a sulphur |
| During extraction, drilling fluids or "muds" are used for | | | | compound; as water washes through mines, this |
| lubrication. These muds contain certain toxic and | | | | compound forms a dilute acid, which is then washed |
| non-toxic, but damaging, chemicals. They contaminate | | | | into nearby rivers and streams. |
| the immediate area being drilled and are often | | | | |