Introduction to carbon civilization

Abstract

Carbon is the basis of life on our planet: starting from the discovery of fire, our civilization vitally depends on carbon for its energy and livelihood; for this reason, it is often called “Carbon Civilization.” Our entire way of life is physically constructed around carbon fuels, and this “carbon entanglement” factor is the primary reason for the very slow and modest progress of carbon mitigation policies over the last couple of decades. There are clear indications, however, that the high-carbon economical model may face serious challenges; the continued heavy reliance on a narrow set of conventional fossil fuel-based technologies is a significant threat to energy security, stable economic growth, and the environment. A brief history of carbon fuels, their origin, diversity, abundance, and crucial role in supporting and sustaining humans’ well-being in the past, present, and future is discussed in this chapter. It examines the main grounds of our addiction to carbon fuels, controversies around “peak oil” concept, and new paradigms of dealing with the “tide” of carbon fuels and coping with their environmental impact.