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People around the world use energy
for many different purposes – from
powering cars, to heating homes.
Most of this energy comes from
burning coal, oil, and natural gas
(fossil fuels). But these fuels won’t
last forever, and their fumes are
damaging the atmosphere.
The energy crisis
Global warming
Burning fossil fuels fills the air with greenhouse
gases, which trap some of the Sun’s heat in
the atmosphere. If Earth becomes too warm,
deserts will spread, icebergs will melt, and
sea levels will rise.
What are fossil fuels made of?
Planet Earth
Alternative energy
We need to find sources of
energy other than fossil fuels
– sources that cause less
pollution and will not run
out. Nuclear power is one
option. Others possibilities
include energy from
sunlight, wind, and waves.
Heat from the Sun
enters through the
atmosphere.
Greenhouse gases trap
heat, although some
escapes back into the
atmosphere.
The wind provides a limitless supply
of non-polluting energy. However,
wind turbines are large and can
be costly to set up.
Nuclear power stations
generate energy by
splitting atoms.
