Can Fossil Carbon Fuel the 21st Century?

Abstract

Fossil fuels, despite their drawbacks, have been fueling the world economy for the last two centuries. They have proven abundant, easy to use, and low in cost. Contrary to common belief, fossil fuels are not likely to run out any time soon. For the foreseeable future, fossil fuels may continue to be the most cost-effective energy resource, even as concerns over climate change will force the implementation of technologies to capture and dispose of the carbon dioxide generated in their use. With a successful implementation of the carbon management technologies that are under development today, the use of fossil carbon could be sustained for at least another century.