The article talks about the European satellite which saw areas in Russia, USA, and parts of Asia that could help fight climate change due to its emissions of methane. The European satellite saw methane leaks in these 3 areas, and by these finds, we have the ability to reverse these areas that are emitting such methane levels. By reducing what is about 9 million tons of greenhouse gasses each year in these areas, we are able to take a step in the right direction and remove these natural gasses that are contributing to global warming. 

I am happy about the discovery of these high methane emitters as there is now a solid source to the high producers of natural gasses and think that someone must be held responsible and actions must be taken. I am however curious as to what actions can be taken to reverse these methane leaks, because the article mainly talks about how to prevent these methane emitters from happening in the future, but there is not much talk about what can be done to reverse the damages, Overall, I am grateful for these discoveries despite the lack of effort being done to reverse the natural gas damage because at the end of the day, we are able to prevent this from happening in the future, and have the technology to discover other high emitting natural gas sites.

This article focuses on the earthquakes in texas, and how the increase use of oil is driving earthquakes and rumbling home walls. To be technical, fracking i not causing the tremors, but rather the waste in the water wells are causing enough damage that there had to be new rules set to manage the disposed water. The way these earthquakes are occurring is when the water that is being drilled into the ground fills up empty space, but the empty space might happen to be a fault line, and if a fault line is triggered, so is an earthquake.

As someone who lives in california, I am extremely fortunate to not have to experience severe earthquakes due to fracking especially because of how harmful california can be with earthquakes. I also think that the waste water from fracking is already harmful enough, but with recent news about how it causes earthquakes makes alternative energy sources extremely useful. Specifically, I think we need to invest into solar and wind energy as these are renewable energy sources and effectively provide energy without the cause of natural disasters.

The article talks about the increase of price for oil, any why they are going up along with if they will remain at high prices. Specifically; The main reasons for high oil prices are a high demand along with inflation which to our economy, makes gas prices about a dollar higher than last years. If the united states makes a deal to fix a nuclear agreement with Iran, there is hope to lower the cost of oil because the deal with Iran involves an increase production of oil.

As of right now, I am not too phased because aaia cannot drive, and the oil price increase does not affect me greatly, but I fear that the high oil prices can ruin our economy and drive inflation levels even higher if no action is taken. I also believe that this increase of oil prices will become a pressing issue that many more people will begin to fight for, and I don’t think we should focus on methods to increase the production of oil, but rather explore new alternative energy sources that can be as effective, and economically & environmentally friendly.

This study researches how people, specifically the elderly are dangerously affected by living near areas where fracking occurs. Due to the harmful pollution that fracking emmits, people who live near fracking drills have a higher chance of dying early, and elderly people who live near fracking sites have higher chance of death. The article talks about how it was the “first major study into the link between premature death in older people” which is shocking due to the amount of time fracking has been used, and how many lives have been affected without them even knowing

My opinion on the article is that we need to find alternative ways of energy. While this article focuses on how fracking is harmful to those who live near the areas, on a larger scale of when the pollution reaches a threat level of everyone, this can be extremely dangerous to everyone. This article proves that the pollution from fracking is enough to lower lifespans, which alone should be enough to be treated seriously, and actions should be taken to reduce the amount of fracking. Lastly, the harms that fracking causes not only on our environment, but on the people who live near fracking facilities should not longer have to be an question of wether or not fracking is worth the risk because of the clear signs that fracking is harmful to us. 

The article focuses on the demand of oil, and how there is a natural increase of fracking due to this. Specifically, how there has been an increase of people working by about 5%, and how the demand for oil has caused the price to increase to over 80$! 

I think that there needs to be an alternative source of energy besides fracking because the increase of oil causing for an increase of price hurts both our economy and our environment. Many people are not aware of the hidden factors behind the overuse of oil such as the water usage/water pollution, the greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere, and soil pollution. Additionally, the increase demand causes the price to increase which mainly affects us when it comes to the gas prices, which are already nearing an all time high in the US. When it comes to possible solutions, we are already working towards alternate sources of energy such as solar, nuclear, wind, etc, and even have electric cars to stop the necessity of gas cars. These alternate sources of energy is a start towards a decrease in fracking, but begs the question of wether or not there is anything more that we can do.

“California Takes Steps to Ban Fracking by 2024 and Will Halt Oil Extraction by 2045.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 23 Apr. 2021, www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/apr/23/california-fracking-ban-oil-extraction. 

California, one of the higher end states in terms of consumption of electricity and gas, has finally decided to put laws down to control the amount of fracking set for 2024. Taking steps such as banning high end computers that consume high energy, and by now taking actions to set strict permits on fracking will benefit the environment and climate change because the reduction in gas production can lower the global warming issue and can give habitats towards animals in need of one once the environment is better.

Im in favor of cutting the production rate of gasses because this way the world can remain in a healthy state and less habitats will be lost. Because mining for gasses and fracking is harmful towards our world, Im excited to see the world take a step forward in attempts to help the environment. The only issue I can currently see is the change of gas prices. Many people of california will be angered on the price of gas increasing exponentially.

Egan, Matt. “No, Joe Biden Didn’t Just Ban Fracking.” CNN, Cable News Network, 27 Jan. 2021, www.cnn.com/2021/01/27/business/fracking-ban-biden-federal-leasing/index.html. 

Joe Biden is taking slight measures to lower the oil and and gas production and many people are upset that he is not upholding the promise of doing everything in his power to drastically lower the production rate. As Biden attempts to slow the rate of the gas and fracking production, many companies whom which produce gasses are attempting to retaliate and fight back so they can continue making large profits. Biden is also putting restrictions to help limit the fracking production rate which can drastically help the environment if the limits are strict and efficient. The issue with the restrictions is the fracking factories fighting back in attempts to exploit their business and profits that they can produce.

I agree with Biden on the limits as long as all companies uphold their part. I somehow doubt that all companies will agree to limitations, and will likely lead into a debate on wether or not limitations should be set. Limitations will also put gas prices high which will likely put many people in sour moods, but overall, the world and ecosystems will continue to improve and some of the damage caused  by humans may be reversible.

“U.S. Energy Information Administration – Eia – Independent Statistics and Analysis.” U.S. Oil and Natural Gas Production to Fall in 2021, Then Rise in 2022 – Today in Energy – U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), January. 2021, www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=46476. 

As the increase of years passes, the increase of production within the natural gases is produced, the increase of climate change also occurs. Statistics show that nearly 100 billion marketed natural gas was produced in 2021. Most people are blinded by the statistics and downsides to producing so much natural gas, and only see the benefits for example lower gas prices. Based off of the knowledge of the previous years of gas production, it is only reasonable to estimate that the numbers will go up unless laws are put into place controlling these numbers. It is also dangerous in terms of climate change and groundwater as it is harmful towards both. 

As I’m surprised with the high numbers with the natural gas production, Im also concerned with a solution that can help both the environment and the human civilizations. The most efficient way I believe that would help both would be to set laws in place to control the numbers, or to increase the price of gasses. The issues with both methods is that to put a law into place would mean many people have to agree which would be hard considering the selfishness of humans, and increasing the prices of gasses would make people upset and would eventually be changed. After seeing the statistics, I am at a loss of how we can fix our world while making everyone happy or if it is even possible.

“Fracking: What Is Fracking?: Shale Oil and Natural Gas: IPAA.” Independent Petroleum Association of America, 24 July 2021, www.ipaa.org/fracking/. 

Fracking is the process of mining oils safely by creating tension and adding liquids so that we can have oil today. The process of fracking provides a benefit towards the economy as it opens many opportunities for workers, however it becomes subjunctive when deciding if it is a benefit towards the environment. The increase of temperature and fracking have a correlation, and  the factories and habitat loss may not help the world. The only other issue is the minor causing of earthquakes that occur rarely, but the little effect it has on the causes of earthquakes is too insignificant to be afraid of.

I feel that fracking is necessary towards our civilizations as habitat loss and global warming is the only main factor of harming the environment meaning it does cause global warming and is not a threat to our health. The amount of jobs that the factories of fracking puts people in outweighs the downside of the fact that habitats are lost, and therefore proves that fracking is a benefit towards humanity because it is necessary for humans despite the cost. 

“Natural Gas (Fracking).” The New York Times, The New York Times, 13 Aug. 2021, www.nytimes.com/topic/subject/natural-gas-fracking. 

The New York Times article focusing on the politician side of the natural gas & fracking raises the point of weather or not it is worth it to cancel the use of fossil fuels. Many of the politics who oppose the democrats have started to agree with the fact that fracking can cause global warming and climate change, but it is also a necessary step when powering our civilizations. As most of the politicians are pushing towards the neutral side of fracking but not exploiting fracking, the environment will still worsen, but not greatly.

I 100% agree with the stance of the politicians. I believe that it is necessary to use natural gasses, and not exploiting it would not overkill our environment. The only issue I see when not exploiting is the subjective debate on what is considered exploiting, or if people will stick to not exploiting. Humans can be selfish when it comes to what they can gain, and I feel this may become a future problem. Overall, the agreement of not exploiting natural gasses is the most efficient and safest way for both human civilization and ecosystems to prosper simultaneously.