Fossil fuel combustion, the technology on which the world relies most heavily for power generation, heating and transportation, was adopted long before its environmental burdens had been fully recognized. The results of our recent efforts to mitigate these environmental costs are perceptible, but still modest and very costly. Despite the use of sulfur scrubbers, acid rain remains a serious regional threat, especially with the increased use of lowquality coals. Catalytic converters have reduced nitrogen oxide and carbon monoxide emissions from automobiles in some countries, but the poor air quality of many of the world's urban areas nonetheless constitutes a severe health threat. New, more efficient power plants and automobiles generate less carbon dioxide per unit of useful energy than did their predecessors, but atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations continue to rise, intensifying the threat of global warming. Despite our diligent efforts, a major strategic shift in energy production may be required to achieve more than incremental and perhaps inadequate advances. What is needed is an energy conversion technology that is inherently clean, efficient and compatible with renewable energy sources.What the world needs now is an environmentally benign way to generate electric power efficiently. The emerging technology of fuel cells is rising to meet the challenge. © 1994, American Institute of Physics. All rights reserved.
