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Fossil fuels is one of the most prominent sources of energy with over 86% of the world’s energy consumption. Although fuel alternatives like solar and wind energy are gaining popularity, fossil fuel remains the most used source of energy across the world.

Although fossil fuels consumption has resulted in many environmental effects, there is continued discussion on the pros and cons of the energy source in today’s society.

Pros:

1. Reliable source: The amount of energy produced depends on the amount of fossil fuel available for burning. This makes fossil fuel a reliable source of energy compared to other sources of energy like wind and solar energy.

2. Cheap: Cost-effective fuel infrastructure system has been developed to extract fossil fuel energy sources. Coal, natural gas and oil are one of the inexpensive sources of energy in the world.

3. Low infrastructure requirements: Since fossil fuel has been in use for many decades, the infrastructure, pipelines and other systems used to harness fossil fuel energy is well developed.

4. Efficient: It is more efficient compared to other sources of energy. Fossil fuel energy reserves produce more energy based on their size making them more energy dense.

5. Safe and easy to transport: Safe and stable energy transportation system is established making the fossil fuel easy and low-risk form of energy to transport over long distances.

6. Useful byproducts: Decomposed animals and dead Plants are some of the sources of fossil fuels. Oil extracted from the earth can be used for different purposes. Petroleum produces plastics products used in various areas.

7. Global distribution: There are large resources of fossil fuels almost everywhere. Rich veins of coal, crude oil, and natural gas spread across the world.

8. Easy to set up: With the increased use of fossil fuels, the energy generation plants are easy to install, use and maintain.

9. Job creation: Many people work at the mine areas and power generation plants creating employment worldwide.

10. Wide use: Refineries, transportation, and plastic production rely on fossil fuel production. This results in high energy output production.

Cons:

1. Non-renewable: Fossil fuel in a non-renewable source of energy. The energy reserves get depleted with time and it may take many years for the formation of fossil fuel to take place in large quantities.

2. Contributes to global warming: Fossil fuels emit a high amount of carbon gases which contributes to global warming and climate change.

3. Unsustainable: Spending more on fossil fuel energy will make the fossil reserves unsustainable. This will force us to look for other sustainable and renewable sources of energy like solar or wind.

4. Government Incentives: Government incentives on coal, natural gas, and petroleum makes these fossil fuels cheaper compared to other renewable sources of energy.

5. Human health: Burning of coal and other fossil fuel lead to air pollution. Soot and nitrogen oxide compound produced cause allergies and asthmatic conditions to children and adults.

6. Environmental effects: Mining of coal and drilling oil or gas pollute and destruct the environment. Mining removes the rich nutrients found in the soil for plant and animal growth. It also causes soil erosion in the area.

7. Results to more accident: There are more accidents associated with the nuclear power plants making fossil fuels regeneration unsafe. Oil spills can in oceans affect marine life.

8. Rising costs: Fossil fuel reserves are becoming scarce and difficult to extract them from the earth surface thus you need more resources to find them. This adds to the cost of extracting the energy.

9. Waste products: Coal and oil production waste products are environmentally harmful. The waste products need a proper disposal otherwise high concentration of sulfur and other byproducts affect the natural ecosystem.

10. Increased global movement to use renewable sources: There is an increasing movement to reduce on consumption of fossil fuels and use renewable sources of energy.