U.S. is the largest economy in the world and one of the major energy producer and consumer, thus, it is only reasonable for the global community to expect from U.S. to lead the charge in the fight against global warming. Due to its economic and political advantage on the global stage, U.S. is in a position to set powerful precedents for other countries. The fight against global warming is not only being led in the U.S. in the public arena but private sector is also playing a major role by making significant investments in cleaner and sustainable technologies. One thing is clear that the government is serious in gaining energy independence through development of reliable and cleaner energy sources that would also help the country significantly lower its carbon emissions.
The most important public agency in the U.S. to lead the charge against global warming is Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The agency employs various tools to increase awareness, fund research, and influence energy consumption patterns. First of all, the agency creates rules and standards to influence organizational and individual behaviors. EPA is now working on Carbon Pollution Standards to regulate power plants, the largest source of carbon pollution in the country. The agency also works closely with the private sector to implement programs that resulted in reduction of 345 million metric tons of greenhouse gases in 2010 alone. Similarly, the agency funds a number of research activities to better understand climate change as well as develop policies that may be effective in combating it. The agency also provides consultation services to state, local, and tribal governments (United States Environmental Protection Agency).
Climate change is getting attention at the highest levels of U.S. Government now, with President Obama personally committed to the fight against global warming. Earlier this year, President Obama reiterated that we have to do something about global warming before it’s too late. He even instructed the State Department not to approve the construction of the XL pipeline until it can be proven that the project will not lead to a net increase in greenhouse gas emissions. He claimed that the project’s climate impact will need to be understood before deciding whether the project should be allowed to move forward. In his final term, President Obama’s strategy to combat global warming has three main elements which are cutting carbon emissions, preparing the country for impacts of climate change, and leading international efforts against carbon pollution.
The Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA is the result of a 1970 executive order by President Richard Nixon for the purpose of protecting the environment of the United States through regulation on business and citizens. Public opinion on the Environmental Protection Agency has been divided fairly evenly across the population of the United States as of recently, as compared to the widespread public concern of the 50’s and 60’s that led to the agency’s creation. Recently the agency has come under scrutiny for its contributions of millions of dollars in grants to researchers in order to hide the potential trade off of its actions in order to further the agency’s agenda. The EPA’s ever-expanding regulation could end up harming more than it actually
The reliance on other countries for fossil fuels that produce energy have put the United States of America at risk of being pulled into unstable regions around the world jeopardizing international relationships and putting its own citizens in harm’s way. America needs to balance both the pursuit of alternative energy solutions and reduce energy usage. Our military runs on fossil fuels produced by other nations who do not have similar interests or values as the United States, ultimately adding unwanted risk that becomes difficult to manage. There are advantages to alternative energy solutions that could allow for America to become an independent energy nation that would eliminate the need to support and stabilize various regions around the world. The U.S. Military needs to reduce its overall energy usage by taking advantage of breakthrough technologies that could be integrated onto current systems.
Our new leaders in Congress have vowed to do everything in their power to stop him” (Environment America, n.d.). It is statements like this that makes us think that political involvement could be paramount in the step to solving our global warming issues, at least a strong start. We are aware the renewable energy is the wave for a more sustainable future and to make this happen politics must be involved, we need our government to take a stand in producing energy that does not pollute the earth causing such catastrophic events as “tsunamis” that kill thousands of unsuspecting people. This article talks about what types of things our government can get in pace with such as, “renewable energy via solar, wind and energy efficiency” (Environment America, n.d.). In June 2014, the President has moved forward starting with the “clean power plan” per the article “Global Warming Solutions” (Environment America, n.d.) we need and must demand future political involvement for this
Global warming is a serious issue in today?s society. World powers such as the United States, Japan, Canada, and Australia can usually see eye to eye with each other about global warming. Other countries, either less developed or more climate aware, do not agree with the countries that are more industrial, because they want strict regulations on air pollution that the more developed countries do not want. The more industrialized countries complain because they say that in order to keep the world going at a safe and orderly pace, they cannot have a change the lifestyle that we are used to today. Both sets of countries know that the amount of greenhouse gasses need to be lightened, but cannot come up with a viable solution.
It has all become so real so quick. Just a few years ago climate change was taken by people as something preventable, or at least reversible. Today there is no doubt it is a major threat not just to humankind but to the whole planet and every living thing on it. In the article “Stepping into the Vacuum,” Jonathan Ellis collected all the latest events, decisions, and reactions concerning the Trump’s decision not to participate in Paris climate accord. In spite of the choice the president of the US had made on June 1st several States, along with leaders of some big companies, and many americans by themselves decided to support the union of counties in their fight against climate change. THere are 321 million of people in this country, sure we can make a noticeable difference, if everyone of us will follow the simple rules: don’t fly on the plane, be more economic with electricity, use less of “one time use” things
We humans cannot help but feel a twinge of regret when we contemplate how we brought forth the plague of global warming by our own hands in the passing years. Aside from rising sea levels as deluging coastal cities and depleting ozone layers as increasing cancer rates, we inevitably come face to face with one simple realization: it’s getting too hot in here. Moreover, we have been devastated by various extremes of nature, with spring frost storms and summer hurricanes arriving with increasing frequency. However, numerous though the causes of global warming may be, the general consensus is that carbon dioxide, which results from the burning of fuels such as coal, is the main culprit; this gas has now formed a high concentration blockade in the atmosphere, preventing heat from escaping and thus increasing the temperatures of our planet. Therefore, after assessing all facts of the problem, I humbly propose that we collect the CO2¬, compress it, and then place it into soda cans. Then, we shall store the soda cans underground, whence the CO2 originally came.
Before a person can tackle handling the concept of global warming, they first must analyze the true definition of what it is. Climate change periodic modification of Earth’s climate brought about as a result of changes in the atmosphere as well as interactions between the atmosphere and various other geologic, chemical, biological, and geographic factors within the Earth 's system. (britannica) Since all 196 countries in the world have to share the oxygen and carbon dioxide, we all should take a part in the responsibility of taking care of earth. On November 6, 2012 President Obama said that we want our children to live in a world without the destructive power of a warming planet. The biggest challenge we face is not only saving a warming
Although it is often a topic for contention in politics, global warming over the span of several decades, has led to climate change, which has had an alarming impact globally. Climate change needs to ...
A prevalent issue in today's society is the use of fossil fuels and the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Transportation, deforestation, and technology are all factors associated to climate change. This issue is significant to me due to the fact that I was born and raised in California, and the recent drought in California can be linked to global warming. Every day an excess of CO2 is released, the world is drastically changing. However, there are steps that the public can take to counter the devastation these changes will cause.
California is among the states that are on the lead in the fight against climate change. The reduction of the global footprint has proven to be a key issue for California hence the enactment of policies that seek to reduce the damages caused by industries and individual households. One such move includes the Clean Energy and Pollution Reduction Act of 2015 by California, which seeks to increase the sale of renewable electricity by up to 50% before 2030. Additionally, the Act seeks to increase the levels of energy savings of electricity and the natural gas by the same target year (Bulkeley et al.). The world in general has also woken up on this issue, and the UN General Assembly is constantly meeting to review and structure a path that would lead the world in the fight against climate change by reduces its
Global warming is an extremely important and troubling aspect of the world’s current situation. This is due to the fact that the majority of the world’s energy production is from non-renewable energy sources, which are energy sources that either can not be naturally replenished or require thousands of years to be restored. Based on our current energy usage growth rates, there are an estimated 100 years left before our natural resource reserves are exhausted. (Non Renewable Natural Resources: How Much Is Left, Environmental Thinker) China alone consumes nearly as much coal as the combined usage of coal from the rest of the world. (US Energy Information Administration, China Consumes Nearly as Much Coal as the Rest of the World Combined) There is visible evidence of this happening with the increasing pollution levels. Carbon Dioxide and Methane pollution levels in the world reached a record high in 2012 and are 260% higher than the pre-industrial levels. (UN: CO2 Pollution Levels at a Record High, John Heilprin) Converting our world into a more renewable energy dependent society is the most advantageous and likely method for preserving our dwindling fossil fuel supply while also protecting the world that we call home.
Background and Audience Relevance: There are always conversations about our planet. We see our earths glaciers melting, weather temperature rising, and pollution affecting our resources. But for some reasons we tend to look away. We should be more aware of this potential event and I’m here to inform everyone about what actually is global warming and the effects of it.
Global warming has become on of the most controversial issues in the media today. While most of the Western world countries have generally accepted the premise that man's chemical emissions in the atmosphere can and are affected by the world’s climate patterns, in the United States, the issue has become so politicized with many republicans challenging the science behind the theory. Global warming is a greenhouse effect whereby gases are trapped on the earth’s surface causing it to heat up (Maslin 14). It is based on the worldwide temperature records that have been maintained by human beings through their activities since the 1880,s. In addition, global warming is not only caused by human activities only but also through climate changes in solar radiance. The problem is that, humans continue to contribute to the global warming phenomenon. All citizens should work in reducing human activities that cause global warming and also support the development of nuclear power. Scientists deem that, global warming is mainly caused by human activities which accelerate the natural process by creating greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Human activities have become a great contribution to the greenhouse effect and this means that climate changes are inevitable. They further argue that, if these activities continue and are not reduced, it will lead to more trapping of energy radiated from the earth and this will likely lead to extreme weather and global warming. Global warming should be at reduced levels or else, it will be catastrophic.
Climate change has been an extremely controversial topic in recent history and continues to create much debate today. Many questions concerning climate change’s origins and its potential affect on the globe are not fully understood and remain unanswered. What is climate change? Is climate change happening? Is it a natural cycle of the world or are there other catalysts involved such as human activity? What proof is there? What data correlations show climate change is accelerated by humans? How serious is climate change and how will it affect the future of our globe? What are we doing to address climate change? Should we really be concerned about climate change? Questions such as these have made climate change a very serious issue in today’s world and created the ideology of climatism. The issue of climate change has affected many different aspects of our lives and the world we live in. Policymaking, human activism, technologies, emission control, global warming, alternative energy sources and many other things have been greatly affected by the mania of climate change. This research report will present climate change in a light of common sense and rationality that will take a grounded discussion of the science behind climate change, global warming, human activity, and how the ideology of climatism has corrupted and driven the actions to combat climate change.
The world that we live into today affords us the expectation that the flip a switch will turn the lights on. As populations increase and developing nations undergo dramatic economic growth, this energy demand will only continue to grow. The International Energy Agency (IEA) believes that “the world’s energy needs could be 50% higher in 2030 than they are today” (ElBaradei). Given this projected growth, it is necessary for world leaders must take action to secure the energy supply. Meaning that world leaders need to start seriously considering an alternative to non-renewable energy sources. “In 2012, the United States generated about 4,054 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity. About 68% of the electricity generated was from fossil fuel (coal, natural gas, and petroleum), with 37% attributed from coal” (U.S. Energy Information Administration). The fossil fuels that are used to supply over half of our country’s energy are in finite supply and are increasing in price to astronomical heights.