Regan Brown
Fossil fuels are severely damaging our environment, and there is an urgent need to transition to clean energy. However, this is challenging due to the abundance and inexpensiveness of fossil fuels. While walking is often touted as a more environmentally friendly mode of transport than driving, it is important to consider the fossil fuels used in the food-supply chain to replace the calories burned while walking. This means that in some cases, walking can be more polluting than driving a small or moderate-sized car. Nevertheless, reducing motorized transport and increasing active transport can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve health. To significantly reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, a combination of strategies is necessary, including the use of public transportation, telecommuting, and energy conservation practices.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Walking to work saves fossil fuels | Walking to work can be more polluting than driving because walkers use fossil fuels to replace the calories burned while walking. |
| Fossil fuels are hard to quit | Fossil fuels are inexpensive and plentiful, and technology has brought about a boom in oil production. There is also no good substitute for oil in terms of availability and fitness for purpose. |
| Ways to reduce reliance on fossil fuels | Use LED light bulbs, turn off electrical devices when not in use, use solar energy, walk or cycle whenever possible, use public transport, and avoid using nylon. |
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What You'll Learn
Walking to work may use more fossil fuels than driving
Walking to work may, surprisingly, use more fossil fuels than driving. This is because the human body is inefficient at converting the energy in food into walking. Only about 15% of the energy in food goes into walking, and a mere 1.3% of the fossil fuel energy in the food supply chain is converted into walking by the human body. In contrast, 14 to 30% of the potential energy in gasoline is used to move cars.
Derek Dunn-Rankin, a professor of engineering at the University of California, Irvine, and an avid environmentalist, calculated that a 180-pound person walking one mile to and from work at a pace of two miles per hour would burn 200 calories above their basic metabolism. However, the production of those 200 calories of food requires 15 to 20 times more energy in the form of fossil fuels. This means that driving a high fuel economy car (40 miles per gallon) will use only about two-thirds to half the energy that the person uses in replacing the calories burned while walking.
Heavier walkers use even more energy when they walk and when they replace the greater calories they expend in moving their weight. Dunn-Rankin concludes that "walking can be 1.5 to 2 times more polluting than driving (if you use a high mileage car). If you use a monster car, you are better off walking always."
However, it is important to note that this argument has been criticized for being incomplete. For example, it does not consider the energy costs of the automobile supply chain, such as the energy it takes to make the car, refine the oil, and produce and deliver the gasoline. Additionally, it assumes that walkers will replace the calories burned while walking, which may not be the case for people who walk for health reasons or those who are more likely to eat organic produce. Furthermore, walking has health benefits that can reduce the costs associated with asthma and other lung problems, which may offset the fossil fuel costs.
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Fossil fuels are hard to quit due to their availability and fitness for purpose
For example, in aviation, maritime shipping, or long-haul trucking, electric vehicles cannot match the energy density of fossil fuels. Similarly, industrial processes that require very high heat, such as steel, cement, and glass production, are challenging to power with electricity. The production of these materials often relies on burning fossil fuels, creating a technology-driven feedback loop that increases energy demand and global emissions.
Additionally, fossil fuels are deeply entrenched in the global economy and geopolitics. There are significant financial interests tied to the continued use of fossil fuels, and transitioning away from them will require significant political will and public pressure. While clean technologies have emerged, consumption levels and population growth have resulted in the continued extraction and burning of fossil fuels.
Furthermore, the human body is also a factor in the continued use of fossil fuels. Walking instead of driving may seem like a way to reduce fossil fuel consumption, but the production of food to replace the calories burned while walking can require more fossil fuel energy than driving a fuel-efficient car. This highlights the complex trade-offs involved in reducing fossil fuel dependence.
To address these challenges, a multi-dimensional approach is needed. This includes adopting clean technologies, improving energy efficiency, transitioning to renewable energy sources, and implementing carbon capture solutions for hard-to-decarbonize industries. Public advocacy, such as supporting climate marches and petitions, can also help drive the necessary political change to prioritize a safe planet over cheap and convenient fossil fuels.
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Fossil fuels are used to provide firm power to electricity grids
Fossil fuels have been the main energy source for generating electricity over the past century. In 2017, fossil fuels generated 64.5% of electricity worldwide, with coal, oil, and natural gas being the most common sources. Fossil fuel power plants burn coal or oil to generate heat, which is used to produce steam to drive turbines that generate electricity. However, burning fossil fuels has severe environmental consequences, as it releases carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, contributing to climate change.
The use of fossil fuels for electricity generation is expected to decrease as economies transition towards sustainable renewable energy sources. Renewable energy sources, such as hydroelectricity, nuclear energy, and solar power, offer cleaner and more sustainable alternatives. In 2020, renewable energy accounted for about 20% of US electricity generation, and this share is projected to increase. Additionally, nuclear power, which generates electricity through the process of nuclear fission, produced 10.5% of the world's electricity in 2018, and it is considered a reliable and environmentally friendly option.
While the transition to renewable energy sources is underway, it is important to recognize that fossil fuels still play a significant role in providing firm power to electricity grids. The reliability and affordability of fossil fuels have made them a dominant energy source worldwide. However, the environmental costs associated with burning fossil fuels are significant, and the progress made through the use of fossil fuels must be balanced with the need for a sustainable future.
To reduce the reliance on fossil fuels, individuals and communities can take several measures. These include increasing energy efficiency by using LED lights and energy-efficient appliances, adopting renewable energy sources such as solar power, and reducing energy consumption through proper insulation and energy-saving practices. Additionally, transportation choices can significantly impact fossil fuel usage. Opting for walking, biking, or using public transportation can help decrease the demand for fossil fuels in the transport sector.
While walking may seem like an environmentally friendly alternative to driving, it is important to consider the energy used in producing the additional food required to replace the calories burned while walking. According to some calculations, walking can be up to 1.5 times more polluting than driving a high fuel economy car, as the production of food to replace burned calories requires a significant amount of fossil fuel energy. Therefore, in addition to encouraging walking and other sustainable transportation methods, it is crucial to promote energy-efficient practices in food production and supply chains.
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Fossil fuels are used in the production of food
The human body is inefficient at converting the potential energy in food into useful work, with only about 15% of the energy in food going into activities like walking and maintaining bodily functions. This means that the energy expended in walking to work, for example, may result in a higher overall energy usage and pollution compared to driving, if the calories burned during walking are replaced through food.
To reduce the use of fossil fuels in food production, a transformation of food systems is necessary to break the link between food and fossil fuels. This includes reducing the demand for energy-intensive and ultra-processed foods, as well as the use of fossil fuel-based inputs in agriculture. Moving towards more renewable and sustainable energy sources, such as solar power, can also help decrease the reliance on fossil fuels.
Additionally, individuals can contribute by reducing their consumption of ultra-processed foods, which have a higher fossil fuel intensity compared to unprocessed alternatives. Walking, cycling, or using public transportation instead of private cars can also help, although it is important to consider the energy required to replace the calories burned during these activities. Overall, a combination of policy changes, industry transformations, and individual efforts is necessary to reduce the use of fossil fuels in food production and mitigate the impacts of climate change.
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Fossil fuels are used in the production of clothing
The fashion industry has become synonymous with overconsumption, a snowballing waste crisis, pollution, and the exploitation of workers. The average consumer buys 60% more clothing than they did 15 years ago, yet each item is worn for half as long. This is enabled by the cheapness of synthetic fibres, which are derived from fossil fuels. Polyester, for example, costs half as much per kilo as cotton and has cemented itself as the backbone of today's throwaway fashion model.
The production of synthetic fibres for the textile industry currently accounts for 1.35% of global oil consumption, exceeding the annual oil consumption of Spain. In 2015, polyester production for textiles alone was responsible for emissions of over 700 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent. This is projected to nearly double by 2030, reaching twice the GHG emissions of Australia.
Synthetic clothing sheds microplastics throughout its life, and researchers estimate that 35% of microplastic pollution in our oceans comes from synthetic clothing. Between 2015 and 2050, clothing production and use could spew up to 22 million metric tons of microplastics into the ocean.
However, walking instead of driving may not be the solution to reducing fossil fuel consumption. While driving a car clearly involves the use of fossil fuels, walking also uses fossil fuels through the food eaten to replace the calories burned while walking. Derek Dunn-Rankin, a professor of engineering at the University of California, Irvine, computes that the production of 200 calories in food takes fifteen to twenty times as much energy in the form of fossil fuels as the calories themselves contain. Thus, walking can be 1.5 to 2 times more polluting than driving a high fuel economy car.
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Frequently asked questions
Walking more could reduce fossil fuel usage by reducing the number of cars on the road. However, walking requires energy, and the production of food to replenish that energy takes 15 to 20 times more fossil fuel energy than the energy expended in walking. Therefore, the fossil fuel saved by walking instead of driving depends on the fuel efficiency of the car that would have been used.
The fossil fuel usage of walking and driving is comparable in some settings. While driving directly emits fossil fuels, walking increases food consumption, which requires fossil fuels for production and transportation.
The food industry in the United States burns 10.3 quads of fossil fuel energy, with only about 13.5% of that energy being converted into food.
Besides walking, other ways to reduce reliance on fossil fuels include using public transportation, telecommuting, using energy-efficient appliances, and recycling.
A sudden halt in fossil fuel production would be catastrophic, causing blackouts and impeding the delivery of essential goods. Therefore, a well-planned transition to clean energy is necessary to balance the build-out of renewables with the phase-down of fossil fuels.
