Oil and Gas
The global demand for oil and gas is increasing. Some believe that we should therefore encourage the exploitation of remote areas.
Do the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages?
The growing global demand for carbon-rich sources of energy like oil and gas has led many to question whether remote regions are viable for energy exploitation. In my opinion, the potential environmental and cost-related ramifications far outweigh any health benefits to the public.
On the one hand, there are some health benefits associated with exploiting far-off areas for fossil fuels. Extracting fossil-based energies such as fracking is often associated with pollutants that can be harmful to public health. For example, there have been reported cases of both workers and city residents suffering from health complications, including respiratory illnesses and even cancer, due to inner-city energy exploitation. Given that the majority of the global population is concentrated in a few major cities, outsourcing the extraction of conventional, carbon-rich energies to far-away locations could be a sensible approach, with a focus on public health while still striving to address the current energy crisis.
However, this approach is short-sighted and impractical due to several drawbacks, primarily related to cost and the environment. Exploiting remote regions can cause the degradation of pristine natural lands, leading to the devastation of local ecosystems, the decimation of animal species and their habitats, and in extreme cases, irreversible damage to lands that date back thousands of years. Additionally, outsourcing energy exploitation to far-away lands raises logistical concerns, including the transportation of human resources and machinery, potentially resulting in insurmountable costs. These expenses could have been used to fund research and development of more energy-efficient forms of power such as renewable energy sources.
In conclusion, despite the apparent health benefits, the environmental drawbacks and prohibitive costs of this proposal make it a negative overall. Policymakers should work together to harvest renewable energy sources in the most cost-effective manner possible to maximize advantages while minimizing drawbacks.
Essay Breakdown
Structure
Introduction
[1] The growing global demand for carbon-rich sources of energy like oil and gas has led many to question whether remote regions are viable for energy exploitation. [2] In my opinion, the potential environmental and cost-related ramifications far outweigh any health benefits to the public.
1. Paraphrase the given topic.
2. Answer the question and state my clear stance
Body
Paragraph 1
[1] On the one hand, there are some health benefits associated with exploiting far-off areas for fossil fuels. [2] Extracting fossil-based energies such as fracking is often associated with pollutants that can be harmful to public health. [3] For example, there have been reported cases of both workers and city residents suffering from health complications, including respiratory illnesses and even cancer, due to inner-city energy exploitation. [4] Given that the majority of the global population is concentrated in a few major cities, outsourcing the extraction of conventional, carbon-rich energies to far-away locations could be a sensible approach, with a focus on public health while still striving to address the current energy crisis.
1. A topic sentence showing the main idea – benefits
2. Explain the main point
3. Give examples to support the main point
4. Keep developing the main point and provide a final result
Paragraph 2
[1] However, this approach is short-sighted and impractical due to several drawbacks, primarily related to cost and the environment. [2] Exploiting remote regions can cause the degradation of pristine natural lands, leading to the devastation of local ecosystems, the decimation of animal species and their habitats, and in extreme cases, irreversible damage to lands that date back thousands of years. [3] Additionally, outsourcing energy exploitation to far-away lands raises logistical concerns, including the transportation of human resources and machinery, potentially resulting in insurmountable costs. [4] These expenses could have been used to fund research and development of more energy-efficient forms of power such as renewable energy sources.
1. A topic sentence expressing the main idea – drawbacks, stating clearly two supporting ideas (cost & the environment)
2. Explain and provide examples to support the first main point (environmental drawbacks)
3. Explain and provide examples to support the second main point (economic drawbacks)
4. Keep developing, and conclude the paragraph
Conclusion
[1] In conclusion, despite the apparent health benefits, the environmental drawbacks and prohibitive costs of this proposal make it a negative overall. [2] Policymakers should work together to harvest renewable energy sources in the most cost-effective manner possible to maximize advantages while minimizing drawbacks.
1. Restate my opinion
2. Extend the viewpoint by stating a final thought, in this case providing a viable solution
Vocabulary
The growing global demand for carbon-rich sources of energy like oil and gas has led many to question whether remote regions are viable for energy exploitation. In my opinion, the potential environmental and cost-related ramifications far outweigh any health benefits to the public.
On the one hand, there are some health benefits associated with exploiting far-off areas for fossil fuels. Extracting fossil-based energies such as fracking is often associated with pollutants that can be harmful to public health. For example, there have been reported cases of both workers and city residents suffering from health complications, including respiratory illnesses and even cancer, due to inner-city energy exploitation. Given that the majority of the global population is concentrated in a few major cities, outsourcing the extraction of conventional, carbon-rich energies to far-away locations could be a sensible approach, with a focus on public health while still striving to address the current energy crisis.
However, this approach is short-sighted and impractical due to several drawbacks, primarily related to cost and the environment. Exploiting remote regions can cause the degradation of pristine natural lands, leading to the devastation of local ecosystems, the decimation of animal species and their habitats, and in extreme cases, irreversible damage to lands that date back thousands of years. Additionally, outsourcing energy exploitation to far-away lands raises logistical concerns, including the transportation of human resources and machinery, potentially resulting in insurmountable costs. These expenses could have been used to fund research and development of more energy-efficient forms of power such as renewable energy sources.
In conclusion, despite the apparent health benefits, the environmental drawbacks and prohibitive costs of this proposal make it a negative overall. Policymakers should work together to harvest renewable energy sources in the most cost-effective manner possible to maximize advantages while minimizing drawbacks.
Vocabulary Highlight
- growing global demand: the increasing worldwide need
- carbon-rich sources of energy: fuels that contain high levels of carbon, such as oil and gas
- energy exploitation: the act of using natural resources to generate power
- potential environmental and cost-related ramifications: possible negative consequences related to the environment and expenses
- associated with pollutants: linked to harmful substances that contaminate the air, water, or soil
- harmful to public health: detrimental to the well-being of the population
- health complications: medical issues
- respiratory illnesses: diseases affecting the lungs and breathing
- conventional, carbon-rich energies: traditional energy sources that contain high levels of carbon
- sensible approach: a reasonable and practical method
- short-sighted and impractical: not considering the long-term consequences and not feasible
- degradation of pristine natural lands: destruction or damage to untouched and pure natural areas
- devastation of local ecosystems: the destruction of the natural environment and living organisms in a particular area
- decimation of animal species and their habitats: causing significant harm or death to animal populations and their natural homes
- irreversible damage: the harm that cannot be undone
- transportation of human resources and machinery: the movement of personnel and equipment
- insurmountable costs: expenses that cannot be overcome
- renewable energy sources: energy generated from natural resources that are replenished over time
- policymakers: people who make decisions and set policies on behalf of the government or an organization.
Grammar Gems:
PRESENT PARTICIPLE
“Given that the majority of the global population is concentrated in a few major cities, outsourcing the extraction of conventional, carbon-rich energies to far-away locations could be a sensible approach, with a focus on public health while still striving to address the current energy crisis.”
In this sentence, the phrase “outsourcing the extraction of conventional, carbon-rich energies” uses the present participle “outsourcing”.
Reading
Further reading can be found here:
https://www.wilderness.org/articles/blog/7-ways-oil-and-gas-drilling-bad-environment
Listening
Further listening can be found here:
