With the increasing demand for energy sources of oil and gas, people should look for sources of oil and gas in remote and untouched natural places. Do the advantages outweigh disadvantages of damaging such areas？
利大于弊
Some people ask whether the advantages of looking for more available oil and gas in untouched areas outweigh the disadvantages of the damages that often result from the process of securing this oil and gas. I believe that the advantages are significant when those who explore the areas remain environmentally-conscious.
The most significant benefits are obvious. The extra resources from unexploited areas can surely bring down the skyrocketing oil and gas prices in some countries where there is serious shortage of energy resources. Almost all individuals would benefit from lower oil and gas prices.
Besides, the less money people spend to heat their homes or to fuel their cars, the more disposable income they will have to spend on other goods and services. As a result, the spending on other consumer goods will directly or indirectly contribute to economic growth.
On the other hand, it is questionable whether exploiting resources in untouched natural places is worth it when done at the cost of damaging the environment. There are reports regarding oil spills that have occurred in many places around the world. If we were to use the same kind of drilling equipment in the untouched areas, no one could be sure that the land and water would not suffer from the damage. Apart from that, in other areas where oil and gas drilling has been prevalent, there has been a substantial increase in the number of earthquakes in that area and this will probably happen to a new site for oil drilling.
Despite these possible disadvantages, I still think the advantages should not be understated. When we are careful about every action we take during the exploitation, it would be possible to reduce environmental damage to the minimum level.