Ecology is sometimes described as the “scientific study of how everything is connected to everything else.” That may not be a totally accurate description, but it’s close. Many unexpected relationships have come to light by way of ecological investigations. Some of these relationships have proven to be hard to understand by some individuals; or in other cases, hard for them to accept.

The relationships between fossil fuel production and use, and many environmental problems; especially atmospheric pollution and climate degradation (typically called climate change) are complex and provide fuel for seemingly endless arguments. Nevertheless, the relationships between the forms of energy used by humans and the negative effects of humans on the Earth’s life support ecosystems is arguably the most important aspect of present ecological studies.

It’s helpful to take a look back into the misty ancient landscapes of primitive humans. In the earliest stages of human development our distant ancestors survived by using whatever they could scrounge from the environments around them. These proto-humans had virtually no effects on their environments. The first major change occurred when humans learned to control fire. This allowed them to live in places previously intolerable and to use foods that had been indigestible. Human populations exploded in numbers and the land areas occupied by them suffered.

Over time humans domesticated an array of animals to provide foods. “Animal energy” did strenuous work humans could not do. Domesticated grains and fruits expanded the energy resources of the rapidly developing human civilizations. Learning to use fossil fuels, starting with coal and later petroleum, initiated the development of modern human civilization.

Unfortunately, the ever-expanding use of fossil fuels has brought us to the point where pollution from this use disrupts natural ecosystems to the point where the existence of human life is threatened.