Answer :
They are burned to power our technology (cars, factories, etc.)
We consume them in our never-ending quest for energy to run our cars,
light our homes and streets, pump and heat our water, do our laundry, keep
our factories humming, reap and sow our crops in the fields, and operate our
radios, TVs, cellphones, hand mixers, stoves, blenders, freezers, hair dryers,
flashlights, toasters, computers, electric percolators and espresso machines,
hedge trimmers, leaf blowers, lawn mowers, paint sprayers, garage door openers,
microwave ovens, etc.
I have read that the USA alone uses more energy for home air conditioning alone
than every person and every country on the entire continent of Africa uses for all
purposes !