• Fossil fuels have some unfortunate problems.oil well image by michael langley from Fotolia.com
  
  There are many reasons why consumers are taking a look at limiting their use of fossil fuels. These commonly used fuels are convenient, but they also come with some serious drawbacks. Some of the problems associated with the burning of fossil fuels include increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, environmental pollution that contributes to ill health and wars that are fought over scarce carbon-based fuel resources.
  
  

Greenhouse Gases

• When fossil fuels are burned, huge amounts of carbon dioxide are released into the air, and that excess carbon dioxide in the atmosphere contributes to global climate change. Some of the results of this global climate change include stronger storms, more severe hurricane seasons and the melting of the polar ice caps. Limiting the burning of fossil fuels and replacing the energy with green alternatives is one of the best ways to reduce the amount of carbon in the atmosphere.
  
  

Degradation of Productive Land

• Mining for fossil fuels like coal can have a severe impact on the land, and in some cases this impact can still be felt decades later. Many towns that had once been coal mining towns are now suffering from a variety of ill effects, including underground fires, sinkholes and an inability of the land to grow food crops. For this reason, many environmentalists urge governments to limit the use of potentially destructive fuel extraction techniques.
  
  

Air Pollution

• Air pollution is a leading cause of many health problems, including serious lung problems and breathing difficulties. When fossil fuels are burned, this pollution works its way into the air, and it can cause some serious health problems among those with compromised immune systems and underlying chronic conditions. By reducing the amount of fossil fuels we use, we can reduce the pollution in the air and the health problems that pollution can create.