Fossil fuel consumption, CO2 and its impact on the global climateContext: At the beginning of human history, we had to satisfy our energy needs (for food, heating and movement) by using our own muscular strength and by gathering or hunting naturally available plants, animals and wood. Each stage of the evolution of human society (development of agriculture, domestication of animals, exploitation of wind and hydraulic energy) has increased the average energy consumption per capita, but it is the industrial revolution and the exploitation of fossil fuels which marked the transformation of society. societies with today's energy-intensive economies. Since the 18th century, industrialized countries have come to depend on non-renewable energy resources, and currently about 80 percent (Myers, 1994) of the world's commercial energy comes from oil, coal, and gas. . Although it has been observed that the growth in energy consumption is closely correlated with the increase in gross national product. Thus, for our economic development, the main sources of energy (i.e. fossil fuels) are “stock resources”. Fossil fuels are consumed through use and current consumption patterns are unsustainable. It is recognized that energy conservation and the development of renewable energy sources will be necessary to support economic growth. The amount of fossil fuel ultimately recoverable is limited by geology and remains a matter of suspicion, but the view from the 1970s that shortage was imminent is still popular. It was the oil crisis of 1973 that marked the transition from abundant, inexpensive energy to an era of rising prices and scarcity. Today, concerns about scarcity have been overtaken by the question of whether humans can afford the environmental costs of continued fossil fuel consumption. One of the most widespread concerns is global climate change. Introduction: Climate represents the normal weather conditions of a region over a period of years. This contrasts with weather which is daily changes in the atmosphere. We now realize that our global “climate normals” have fluctuated over the past millions of years, completely unrelated to human activities. However, with the increase in human population and our dependence on fossil fuels since the last century, we have definitely "participated" in the climate changes that are occurring to some extent...... middle of paper .... .increasing over the last decade. Additionally, it is a fact that the burning of fossil fuels releases infrared-absorbing carbon dioxide into our atmosphere. Therefore, it is a logical conclusion that the greenhouse is there, as always. There appears to be excessive heating inside the greenhouse that is induced by our increasing rate of fossil fuel consumption and the problems behind global climate change. are of great significance. Perhaps the real limit to our consumption of fossil fuels will be the CO2 problem, but not the size of the resource. A Chinese proverb says that “prevention is better than cure”. Energy conservation approaches could be the key. A., 1994, The Human Impact on the Natural Environment, Cambridge: TheMIT Press, 301-7. Kraushaar, JJ & Ristinen, RA, Energy and Problems of a Technical Society, John Wiley &, 61--71.