He ordered the head of the EPA to declare carbon dioxide as a pollutant. His signature air quality achievement imposes new restrictions on mercury and other emissions from power plants (America Magazine). At a United Nations meeting about climate change in Peru, Barack Obama engaged China to agree, for the first time to substantial carbon reduction goals. This one action is likely to have more of an effect in mitigating climate change than other symbolic actions taken to date (Star
There are 7.3 billion people on Earth (United States Census Bureau, 2016). More specifically, there are 7.3 billion people who depend on Earth for food, water, and shelter. If there is one thing that every living organism has in common, it’s our dependence on the planet to survive. Unfortunately, since the Industrial Revolution, humans have been systematically degrading the Earth and its resources. President Obama’s final State of the Union address was structured around four main points, one of which was centered around innovation (2016). His points focused on the impending reality of climate change and America’s potential to lead the world down a path of sustainability and green innovation. His hour long speech devoted a mere five minutes to climate issues, further suggesting that climate change remains a less pressing issue than the economy, for example, and I felt that he oversimplified an incredibly complex issue. President Obama’s economic appeals paint a hopeful picture without acknowledging the potential pitfalls associated with climate capitalism. However, President Obama’s strong stance claiming that climate change is in fact happening is an incredibly positive step in the fight against climate change.
Climate change is a change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns when that change lasts for an extended period of time. These long lasting changes are detrimental to multiple aspects of society (global warming). The Environmental Protection Agency has said the Keystone XL pipeline will impact global warming as well. Senator Sanders has led the opposition to the Keystone XL pipeline. Energy efficient products are available to help combat climate change. Senator Sanders secured $3.2 billion in the economic stimulus package for energy efficient upgrades to buildings. That program resulted in energy efficient upgrades for thousands of buildings and installation of thousands of solar energy systems. Senator Sanders also combats climate change by supporting tax on carbon and methane emissions. Scientists are convinced that methane produced by livestock is a major cause of global warming. Taxing meat would lower the demand for it and therefore reduce the production of global warming gasses from livestock. That is why Senator Sanders supports the carbon and emissions
First, I am going to consider the issue, “impacts of climate change”, voted in 2014. This is an offer for an amendment to the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriation Act. This act is to prohibits federal agencies to consider
That same year, Obama reached a climate agreement in which China and the U.S. agreed to significantly reduce carbon emissions. That accord helped launch the United Nations Climate Change Conference in 2015, at which almost every country in the world agreed to control its emissions and create a plan to diminish them.
“All across the world, in every kind of environment and region known to man, increasingly dangerous weather patterns and devastating storms are abruptly putting an end to the long-running debate over whether or not climate change is real. Not only is it real, it's here, and its effects are giving rise to a frighteningly new global phenomenon: the man-made natural disaster.” BARACK OBAMA, speech, Apr. 3, 2006. Climate change is not a theory contrary to what many individuals believe and is in fact confirmed by major scientific agencies such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in the United States. Global Warming causes are mainly due to greenhouse gases
In order to examine and combat global warming, Senator Bernie Sanders and Barbara Boxer introduced the Global Warming Pollution Reduction Act of 2007 on Jan 15th, 2007. The act was proposed to increase performance abilities for electricity generation and motor vehicles with the choice in emissions “cap and trade” system. Unfortunately, the bill failed to pass committee in 2013. (Environmental Defense Fund, 2007)
The Heritage Foundation claims that controlling carbon dioxide would inflate federal expenditure and have negative economic impacts (Lieberman, 2008). Additionally, Lieberman (2008) claims that the EPA should not act on climate change issues before Congress takes a firm stance on either side of the issue. Controversy concerning this matter has prevented the EPA from moving forward and making any limits on carbon dioxide. The Clean Power Plan, which was introduced in 2008, was the first federal plan to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. However, this plan is currently being reviewed by the Trump administration and may be dismantled or drastically altered to halt the implementation of renewable energies. If the EPA were to mandate reductions in carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions, air quality would decrease because less particulates would be in the
The environment and climate change have recently become high profile issues, but that does not mean they haven’t been issues in the past. In 1903, Theodore Roosevelt created the National Wildlife Refuge System is the system of public lands and waters set aside to conserve America's fish, wildlife and plants. In 1970, Richard Nixon created the Environmental Protection Agency protecting human health and the environment by writing and enforcing regulations based on laws. The Bush and Obama administrations had different stands on a lot of issues, and it’s no different when it comes to issues regarding the environment.
Some believe global warming isn't a man made problem, but just a cycle of ‘weather patterns’. For example, our now president -Donald J. Trump- doesn't consider climate change to a threat to the inhabitants of earth. Our president also said that global warming is a ‘hoax’.
The release of carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gases (GHGs) due to human activity is increasing global average surface air temperatures, disrupting weather patterns, and acidifying the ocean (1). Left unchecked, the continued growth of GHG emissions could cause global average temperatures to increase by another 4°C or more by 2100 and by 1.5 to 2 times as much in many midcontinent and far northern locations (1). Although our understanding of the impacts of climate change is increasingly and disturbingly clear, there is still debate about the proper course for U.S. policy—a debate that is very much on display during the current presidential transition. But putting near-term politics aside, the mounting economic and scientific
The dichotomy of climate change can divide the world down the middle. Those who believe in climate change advocate for earth-friendly policy to better the environment and help society as a whole. Those who believe the evidence does not support a climate change theory simply ignore scientists and do not advocate for any type of change in living. However, change is necessary to preserve the planet and maintain the modern democracy- not just in the US, but in the world. Those who deny climate change also deny the chance for cleaner, eventually cheaper energy, long-term jobs, healthier lifestyles, and greater unity between nations. The best and most efficient way to control the path to sustainable, green living is through the government.
“There’s one issue that will define the contours of this century more dramatically than any other, and that is the urgent threat of a changing climate.” - Barack Obama. Climate change has been a popular topic of discussion, because of the threat to our environment. The world will forever be changed if climate change isn’t taken into serious consideration and not in a good way. Climate change has been a popular topic of discussion, because of the threat to our environment. Climate change has had many negative effects, for example, damage to coral reefs, the increase of wildfires, and most importantly rising sea levels. The damage to our earth cannot always be undone nevertheless it can make some things disappear forever.
The United States, as well as all other developed and developing countries, must chose the welfare of the earth over the huge amounts of money to be made by exploiting the earth 's riches. Our great country should become the leader in paving the way for a brighter and safer future for our next generations. The United States should also continue to develop treaties with other major countries such as China, Russia, and Japan to slow the poisoning of the earth 's air and water supply. We must act and invest now in new technologies which assist in detecting and proving theories such as global warming.