Why should human beings stop burning fossil fuels?

Answer 1

I think that we're working on it. It's just that the U.S. is pretty money-driven, and until recently there hasn't been an economic imperative to cut down. I think we're starting to get there, considering how gas prices have fallen so much since demand has fallen. We want as much as we can for as little as we can, and so we have fossil fuel-driven agriculture and cheap goods made of plastic.

Many people do believe that, as our current VP Dick Cheney said, the American way of life is non-negotiable. In many ways our way of life is built on fossil fuels.

People have to be willing to make do with less, though most likely a less of a higher quality than the more of now. I think we're getting there. I just hope there is enough of a change before there is a economic, political, or ecological disaster.

Answer 2

Often it is because it is cheaper to use fossil fuels as opposed to alternatives short-term (although some alternative sources of energy are more cost-effective in the long-term), it takes time and money to adapt certain technologies to accept other forms of fuel, and trade of fossil fuels is an extraordinarily lucrative business and many don't want to give it up.

Answer 3

Burning fossil fuels has been identified as the main reason for the present global warming. (The other is deforestation.) When we burn fossil fuels we are releasing age-old carbon dioxide that has been hidden away for millions of years. This extra CO2 is adding a burden to the carbon cycle that it cannot deal with. This is why we have global warming.

Answer 4

Because we won't have cars,buses,airplanes, and trains.