Reduction of Petroleum Consumption

Abstract

Petroleum is one of the major sources of energy in the world. Petroleum and its by-products are used to fuel various forms of transportation, industry, and domestic electricity use. It is also used to manufacture plastics which provide products essential for daily life. In addition, petroleum has helped in the creation of many products like cosmetics, tires (rubber), and pesticides. However, reducing petroleum consumption is vital due to the environmental effects accruing from its usage which are mainly negative in the long run. A major example is the toxicity of petroleum which contributes to air pollution, acid rain, and global warming and has been linked to be responsible for a number of illnesses in humans. Petroleum also facilitates climate change because of the increase in greenhouse gas emissions during its extraction, refinement, transport, and consumption phases. Mitigation can be referred to as an anthropogenic intervention to reduce the sources or enhance the sinks of greenhouse gases (IPCC 2001). It is a form of human intervention aimed at reducing the emissions of greenhouse gases by sources or enhancing their removal from the atmosphere by "sinks" (UNFCCC 2009). Climate mitigation which is one major aspect of mitigation is any action taken to permanently eliminate or reduce the long-term risk and hazards of climate change to human life and property (Kabani 2012). Climate change mitigation refers to efforts used to prevent or reduce the emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere by incorporating the use of new technologies and renewable energies, increasing energy efficiency, or changing management practices or consumer behavior (IPCC 2014). Adaptation is the adjustment in natural or human systems to a new or changing environment. Adaptation to climate change therefore refers to adjustment in natural or human systems in response to actual or expected climatic stimuli or their effects, which moderates harm or exploits beneficial opportunities. Various types of adaptation can be distinguished, including anticipatory and reactive adaptation, private and public adaptation, and autonomous and planned adaptation (IPCC 2018). Climate adaptation is the ability of a system to adjust to climate change (including climate variability and extremes) to moderate potential damage, to take advantage of opportunities, or to cope with the consequences (Kabani 2012).