ABSTRACT
This chapter illustrates how fossil fuels became the primary source of energy for the world's leading economies at the onset of industrialization, and, in turn, set them on a seemingly inevitable path of continued fossil fuel dependence. It focuses on how the fundamental shaping forces of history, such as industrialization and globalization, have been fueled by and contributed to a global addiction to fossil fuels. The chapter surveys the fossil fuel industry, emphasizing its widespread perception as the symbol of the rich and the powerful. In evaluating the environmental consequences of fossil fuels, it is of course important to distinguish between different types. While comparing the local environmental damage caused by coal, oil, and gas is difficult, their climate effects can be evaluated more easily. In China, the rapid growth of coal-powered electricity generation has reduced air quality in major cities, with negative health and environmental impacts.
