Climate Change and Global Warming
November 17, 2009 by admin
Filed under Environment
Enviro Saver asked:
A common mistake made by people who have a limited understanding about global warming will often loosely refer to the problem as either climate change or global warming. While the two have much to do with each other, they are two separate things that are related to the same cause, which is carbon dioxide put into the atmosphere by human activity. Global warming is referring to the rise in the average global temperature. It is this rise in temperature that causes the climate changes being seen around the world.
It may seem like it isn’t a big deal, but this really is something people should be concerned about. Global warming has been proven to be greatly caused by the greenhouse gases, mainly carbon dioxide that people are putting into the air through their daily activities. These emissions are caused by cars, airplanes, factories, businesses, or anything else that burns fossil fuels. While there are other greenhouse gases put into the air, carbon is what makes up the largest contributor from human activities. Many don’t realize that global warming affects everyone, perhaps not in the most obvious way every day, but it does affect everyone. Global warming is what is causing the earth to warm, which, as mentioned before, causes the major climate changes that are being seen. What are some of these major climate changes and what does this have to do with people? Floods, severe hurricanes, odd weather patterns such as abnormally cold or warm winters; all of these are products of global warming.
It is something that people can change if they can take responsibility over it. It is possible to slow and stop the global warming, making the world a healthier place with the necessary resources available. It means that the burning of fossil fuels has to stop. Using energy sources that don’t require the burning of fossil fuels is what is needed. The sun and wind are both excellent examples of the tireless sources of energy available to humans. Saving water and producing less waste is also needed to reduce the carbon emissions. As more people turn to alternatives instead of burning fossil fuels, global warming could be stopped, which in turn would stop causing the major climate changes that have been the cause of such devastation in recent years.
A common mistake made by people who have a limited understanding about global warming will often loosely refer to the problem as either climate change or global warming. While the two have much to do with each other, they are two separate things that are related to the same cause, which is carbon dioxide put into the atmosphere by human activity. Global warming is referring to the rise in the average global temperature. It is this rise in temperature that causes the climate changes being seen around the world.
It may seem like it isn’t a big deal, but this really is something people should be concerned about. Global warming has been proven to be greatly caused by the greenhouse gases, mainly carbon dioxide that people are putting into the air through their daily activities. These emissions are caused by cars, airplanes, factories, businesses, or anything else that burns fossil fuels. While there are other greenhouse gases put into the air, carbon is what makes up the largest contributor from human activities. Many don’t realize that global warming affects everyone, perhaps not in the most obvious way every day, but it does affect everyone. Global warming is what is causing the earth to warm, which, as mentioned before, causes the major climate changes that are being seen. What are some of these major climate changes and what does this have to do with people? Floods, severe hurricanes, odd weather patterns such as abnormally cold or warm winters; all of these are products of global warming.
It is something that people can change if they can take responsibility over it. It is possible to slow and stop the global warming, making the world a healthier place with the necessary resources available. It means that the burning of fossil fuels has to stop. Using energy sources that don’t require the burning of fossil fuels is what is needed. The sun and wind are both excellent examples of the tireless sources of energy available to humans. Saving water and producing less waste is also needed to reduce the carbon emissions. As more people turn to alternatives instead of burning fossil fuels, global warming could be stopped, which in turn would stop causing the major climate changes that have been the cause of such devastation in recent years.
Global Warming Prevention
November 17, 2009 by admin
Filed under Environment
Enviro Saver asked:
There is a lot of debate going on regarding whether Global Warming is actually here or not. Many of the world’s leading scientists are saying that Global Warming has already arrived, so there is very little anyone can do to stop it; however, there are steps that people can take in order to reduce the effect of Global Warming. At this point, doing as much as one can do reduce the effects is essential, which means making some sacrifices and making some big changes in how one lives their life. Whether Global Warming is already here or has not quite arrived yet, it is best to start making the healthy changes now; healthy changes that will not only help them, but will also greatly help the natural environment.
How much does one have to change their life? Really, it all depends on how the person lives their life now. If a person already lives a very green life, then they will not have to change a lot; however, a person who is used to living in a way that takes a large toll on the environment will have to make some big changes. First, a person should live in a smaller home. Larger homes are only a drain on the resources and are one of the largest greenhouse grass producers, after vehicles, businesses and factories. Getting rid of the old car and purchasing a hybrid, riding a bicycle or just walking are other things a person needs to do to reduce the effects of Global Warming. Becoming more environmental in general, by planting trees, purchasing local foods, re-using more, recycling more, avoiding plastic and paper when possible and doing what they can to their house to reduce energy consumption are all ways that can reduce the effects of global warming.
All it takes is one person to become greener in how they live. It only takes one person changing how they live to a better way of life to bring out the same kind of change in others. That one person who shares their ideas will influence others who will think the changes are a good idea and start to make the same changes in their own lives. Those people will then influence others in the same way. People will often forget the power that one person has in influencing change; one person has the power to make all the difference in the world when they put their energy into it.
There is a lot of debate going on regarding whether Global Warming is actually here or not. Many of the world’s leading scientists are saying that Global Warming has already arrived, so there is very little anyone can do to stop it; however, there are steps that people can take in order to reduce the effect of Global Warming. At this point, doing as much as one can do reduce the effects is essential, which means making some sacrifices and making some big changes in how one lives their life. Whether Global Warming is already here or has not quite arrived yet, it is best to start making the healthy changes now; healthy changes that will not only help them, but will also greatly help the natural environment.
How much does one have to change their life? Really, it all depends on how the person lives their life now. If a person already lives a very green life, then they will not have to change a lot; however, a person who is used to living in a way that takes a large toll on the environment will have to make some big changes. First, a person should live in a smaller home. Larger homes are only a drain on the resources and are one of the largest greenhouse grass producers, after vehicles, businesses and factories. Getting rid of the old car and purchasing a hybrid, riding a bicycle or just walking are other things a person needs to do to reduce the effects of Global Warming. Becoming more environmental in general, by planting trees, purchasing local foods, re-using more, recycling more, avoiding plastic and paper when possible and doing what they can to their house to reduce energy consumption are all ways that can reduce the effects of global warming.
All it takes is one person to become greener in how they live. It only takes one person changing how they live to a better way of life to bring out the same kind of change in others. That one person who shares their ideas will influence others who will think the changes are a good idea and start to make the same changes in their own lives. Those people will then influence others in the same way. People will often forget the power that one person has in influencing change; one person has the power to make all the difference in the world when they put their energy into it.
Bush On Global Warming: Decider Or Dissembler?
November 4, 2009 by admin
Filed under Environment
James Nash asked:
President George W. Bush once famously declared: “I’m the decider, and I decide what’s best.” But when it comes to environmental issues, especially global warming, Bush often sounds more like the dissembler than the decider.
Throughout his presidency, Bush’s so-called leadership on global climate change has lurched from outright stonewalling in the early years, when he refused to discuss or even acknowledge the issue, to misdirection and political sleight-of-hand.
Speaking recently from the White House Rose Garden to consider new climate change strategies, the president set what he called a “realistic” national goal to stop the growth of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by 2025.
Unfortunately, the president offers no actual plan for achieving the new goal, instead calling on Congress to find some way to make it happen. More to the point, the goal itself falls far short of what many scientists believe must be done to prevent the most catastrophic effects of global warming, which is to reduce total greenhouse gas emissions at least 15-20 percent by 2020 and 80 percent by 2050, not simply to stop emissions from increasing.
Bush believes that it is possible to protect the environment without hurting the economy, and said any new policies or legislation must strike that balance. Bush thinks advanced technology is the key to solving global warming and recommended incentives that would make it more cost-effective for businesses to adopt new clean-energy technology instead of sticking with old systems that emit more greenhouse gases. Again, he never offered a plan for how to get the job done.
Bush praises his administration for increasing the use of wind and solar power and called for continuing investments in renewable energy and carbon sequestration, but he points to nuclear energy and coal – including so-called “clean coal” – as the keys to America’s “energy and economic security.”
The president says his administration has provided “billions of dollars for next generation nuclear energy technologies” and “in 2009 alone, the government and the private sector plan to dedicate nearly a billion dollars to clean coal research and development.”
Bush criticizes U.S. courts for applying what he considers narrow and outdated laws to a broad issue such as global warming. Specifically, he says “the Clean Air Act, the Endangered Species Act, and the National Environmental Policy Act were never meant to regulate global climate.” He took a slap at the U.S. Supreme Court decision that the Clean Air Act gives the EPA authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles.
The president believes stretching environment laws “beyond their original intent” could force the federal government to act like a local planning and zoning board and to regulate a wide range of small energy users and producers – from schools and stores to hospitals and apartment buildings – which he says would have “crippling effects on our entire economy.”
In discussing various vague strategies that might help fight global warming, the president rejects tax increases, tariffs, trade barriers, and regulations that might lead to higher costs for businesses. Instead, Bush recommends creation of an international clean technology fund “that will help finance low-emissions energy projects in the developing world” and called on all nations “to help spark a global clean energy revolution by agreeing immediately to eliminate trade barriers on clean energy goods and services.”
Many concerned observers are unimpressed with the president’s new strategy to address the problems of greenhouse gas emissions and global warming.
“Unfortunately, President Bush retains the mantle of the most anti-environmental president in history,” stated Gene Karpinski, president of the League of Conservation Voters, in a telephone interview with The Guardian. Karpinski pointed out that Bush’s 2000 presidential campaign promise to cap global warming pollution from power plants was never honored. “Since that time, all we’ve had is empty words but no serious action.”
“This basically sounds like the same quarterback calling the same play,” said Daniel J. Weiss, director of climate strategy at the Center for American Progress, in an interview with the Washington Post. “It’s just another way of Bush saying no.”
President Bush believes that the strategy he has laid out shows faith in the ingenuity and enterprise of the American people – and that’s a resource that will never run out. He is confident that with sensible and balanced policies from Washington, American innovators and entrepreneurs will pioneer a new generation of technology that improves our environment, strengthens our economy, and continues to amaze the world.
Let’s hope so, because the only amazing thing about the president’s strategy for greenhouse gas emissions and global warming is its lack of any real effort to address such serious problems.
President George W. Bush once famously declared: “I’m the decider, and I decide what’s best.” But when it comes to environmental issues, especially global warming, Bush often sounds more like the dissembler than the decider.
Throughout his presidency, Bush’s so-called leadership on global climate change has lurched from outright stonewalling in the early years, when he refused to discuss or even acknowledge the issue, to misdirection and political sleight-of-hand.
Speaking recently from the White House Rose Garden to consider new climate change strategies, the president set what he called a “realistic” national goal to stop the growth of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by 2025.
Unfortunately, the president offers no actual plan for achieving the new goal, instead calling on Congress to find some way to make it happen. More to the point, the goal itself falls far short of what many scientists believe must be done to prevent the most catastrophic effects of global warming, which is to reduce total greenhouse gas emissions at least 15-20 percent by 2020 and 80 percent by 2050, not simply to stop emissions from increasing.
Bush believes that it is possible to protect the environment without hurting the economy, and said any new policies or legislation must strike that balance. Bush thinks advanced technology is the key to solving global warming and recommended incentives that would make it more cost-effective for businesses to adopt new clean-energy technology instead of sticking with old systems that emit more greenhouse gases. Again, he never offered a plan for how to get the job done.
Bush praises his administration for increasing the use of wind and solar power and called for continuing investments in renewable energy and carbon sequestration, but he points to nuclear energy and coal – including so-called “clean coal” – as the keys to America’s “energy and economic security.”
The president says his administration has provided “billions of dollars for next generation nuclear energy technologies” and “in 2009 alone, the government and the private sector plan to dedicate nearly a billion dollars to clean coal research and development.”
Bush criticizes U.S. courts for applying what he considers narrow and outdated laws to a broad issue such as global warming. Specifically, he says “the Clean Air Act, the Endangered Species Act, and the National Environmental Policy Act were never meant to regulate global climate.” He took a slap at the U.S. Supreme Court decision that the Clean Air Act gives the EPA authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles.
The president believes stretching environment laws “beyond their original intent” could force the federal government to act like a local planning and zoning board and to regulate a wide range of small energy users and producers – from schools and stores to hospitals and apartment buildings – which he says would have “crippling effects on our entire economy.”
In discussing various vague strategies that might help fight global warming, the president rejects tax increases, tariffs, trade barriers, and regulations that might lead to higher costs for businesses. Instead, Bush recommends creation of an international clean technology fund “that will help finance low-emissions energy projects in the developing world” and called on all nations “to help spark a global clean energy revolution by agreeing immediately to eliminate trade barriers on clean energy goods and services.”
Many concerned observers are unimpressed with the president’s new strategy to address the problems of greenhouse gas emissions and global warming.
“Unfortunately, President Bush retains the mantle of the most anti-environmental president in history,” stated Gene Karpinski, president of the League of Conservation Voters, in a telephone interview with The Guardian. Karpinski pointed out that Bush’s 2000 presidential campaign promise to cap global warming pollution from power plants was never honored. “Since that time, all we’ve had is empty words but no serious action.”
“This basically sounds like the same quarterback calling the same play,” said Daniel J. Weiss, director of climate strategy at the Center for American Progress, in an interview with the Washington Post. “It’s just another way of Bush saying no.”
President Bush believes that the strategy he has laid out shows faith in the ingenuity and enterprise of the American people – and that’s a resource that will never run out. He is confident that with sensible and balanced policies from Washington, American innovators and entrepreneurs will pioneer a new generation of technology that improves our environment, strengthens our economy, and continues to amaze the world.
Let’s hope so, because the only amazing thing about the president’s strategy for greenhouse gas emissions and global warming is its lack of any real effort to address such serious problems.
