Physics and the environment Physics and the Environment directly connects the physical world to environmental issues that the world is facing today and will face in the future. It shows how the first and second laws of thermodynamics limit the efficiencies of fossil fuel energy conversions to less than 100% while also discussing how clever technologies can enhance overall performance. It also extensively discusses renewable forms of energy their physical constraints and how we must use science and engineering as tools to solve problems instead of opinion and politics.