Contemporary affairs thinggggg
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Climate change is caused by greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide trapping heat in the atmosphere and warming the planet. There is a scientific consensus that human activity, like burning fossil fuels, is the leading cause of increased greenhouse gases and accelerated climate change. While some politicians disagree on the severity and causes of climate change, most countries are taking steps to transition to cleaner energy and reduce emissions. However, converting to 100% renewable energy would require massive financial investments and present technical challenges. Failing to adequately address climate change could have severe environmental and economic consequences around the world.
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Contemporary affairs thinggggg
- 1. Climate Change Robert Mcartor Cowan Stevens Jarrod Hufford Brandon Ridenbaugh
- 2. Essential Questions Is climate change an issue worth addressing? What steps should we take to address the issue? Is climate change natural or man-made? Is it worth spending trillions of dollars to convert to cleaner energy or should we continue burning fossil fuels? How do other countries combat this issue? Is it the job of politicians to address and fix this issue? What do you think are the consequences if this issue isn't fixed in a timely
- 3. History 1970 - President Richard Nixon enacts the EPA, or Environmental Protection Agency 1972 - First UN environmental conference where climate change was briefly mentioned 1975 - The term global warming is put into public view 1988 - The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) formed to collate and assess evidence on climate change. 2007- The IPCC concludes that there is a 90% chance that humans are the leading contributors of climate change 2013- 95%
- 4. The Science Behind the Issue Climate Change is caused by the greenhouse effect which is essentially greenhouse gases, mostly carbon dioxide (CO2) which traps heat molecules stopping them from leaving the atmosphere which in turn creates a warmer climate. Most of the Co2 gets trapped in the Troposphere, the lowest atmospheric level. Causing the earth to warm.
- 6. Causes of Climate Change
- 9. Effects on Environment: Pt 2
- 11. World Leaders Al Gore- Gore has been involved in environmental issues since 1976. James Inhofe- “I have offered compelling evidence that catastrophic global warming is a hoax. That conclusion is supported by the painstaking work of the nation's top climate scientists” (James Inhofe). Donald Trump- Donald Trump is notorious for calling climate change a complete hoax made up by the Chinese.
- 12. Partisan Disagreement “Among Democrats, more than eight in 10 say global warming is a serious problem”(Washington Post) “Among Republicans, nearly 6 in 10 say it is not a serious problem”(Washington Post)
- 13. What steps are being taken?
- 14. Solutions for Climate Change
- 15. Solutions for Climate Change
- 16. Negative Effects of Renewable Energy
- 17. Essential Questions Is climate change an issue worth addressing? What steps should we take to address the issue? Is climate change natural or man-made? Is it worth spending trillions of dollars to convert to cleaner energy or should we continue burning fossil fuels? How do other countries combat this issue? Is it the job of politicians to address and fix this issue? What do you think are the consequences if this issue isn't fixed in a timely
- 18. Bibliography "U.S. Greenhouse Gas Inventory Report: 1990-2014." EPA. Environmental Protection Agency, 23 Feb. 2017. Web. 17 Apr. 2017. https://www.energy.gov/science-innovation/energy-sources/renewable-energy http://www.globalchange.gov/climate-change
Editor's Notes
- -Brandon
- Jarrod de Hufford - So there are these gases, and they make the air hot. Which in return, makes the earth hot. WHICH THEN, make stuff melt and die.
- -Brandon The countries that produce the most greenhouse gases are typically those who are most industrialized. Carbon dioxide if the most prevalent greenhouse gas, taking up 65% of all greenhouse gas emissions. China and the United States are the leading industrial producers of carbon dioxide, at 28 and 16 percent respectively. The U.S. produces 60% more carbon dioxide than the 28 member countries of the European Union combined.
- -Brandon Although the Earth naturally experiences massive climate fluctuations, climate change is largely attributed to the activities of humans. Something known as the “greenhouse effect” traps heat in the Earth’s atmosphere, heating up the Earth and changing it’s climate. Greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide and methane, add to the atmosphere and trap the sun’s UV rays inside the Earth, warming it and affecting the climate. Deforestation is one of the largest contributors to global warming. As forests are cut down and used for industry and construction, there are less trees to soak up carbon dioxide, increasing the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, and effectively heating the earth. Loss of forests contributes to between 12 to 17 percent of greenhouse gas emissions according to the World Resources Institute. Power generation, industrial processes, fuel burning, agricultural by-products, and fossil fuels are all major contributors to greenhouse gas emissions.
- When you think of climate change, more often than not you think of machines and factories. We invent cars which run on electric and have impressive emission efficiency, yet it may surprise you that we are overlooking a vast section of greenhouse gas emissions, that being the agriculture industry, most notably the meat section of it. This industry accounts for some 9% of emissions in the US and some 24% worldwide.
- Jarrod de Hufford Climate Change from greenhouse gases have many affects on the environment and ecosystems. Some examples are: Disappearing Habitats - As Earth gets warmer, plants and animals that thrive in the cold will slowly die off. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), “If the Earth keeps getting warmer, up to ¼ of the Earth’s plant and animal population could become extinct within 100 years”. Coral Reefs - As the water gets warmer, the reefs are starting to “coral bleach” which is a loss of algae and algae pigments within the reef. Once coral bleaching starts, it kills the reef. While common now “by 2050 live coral reefs could become rare” (EPA). In fact, the Great Barrier reef has shrunk by over 50% in the last 27 years largely due to the effects of climate change.
- Jarrod de Hufford
- German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
- Paris Agreement - Initially 55 parties/countries represented, ratified documentation of their intent to lower greenhouse gas emissions, and with it, the global temperature. To date, 142 parties/countries have ratified the document. EU issued directives to have 20% of their energy needs to be renewable by 2020. Under Obama, Executive Order 13693 directed that 30% of US energy consumption ought to come from renewable resources by 2025. Currently unsure how Trump’s energy plan will affect this.
- -Brandon Hydroelectric power is created by establishing a dam next to a reservoir or body of water. The force of the water running through the dam spins the blades of a giant turbine, producing electricity. Solar power is harnessed by solar panels, which can be placed independently in fields or on buildings and objects. These panels are engineered to absorb the energy of the sun which is transferred into electricity. Wind energy is created when wind turbines take the kinetic energy found in wind and convert it into mechanical energy, which can then be used with a generator to create electricity. Other clean energy sources include biomass, tidal energy, geothermal energy, and the use of alternative fuels such as biodiesel and ethanol.
- -Brandon
- The biggest negative in terms of switching from fossil fuels to renewable energy in cost as renewable energy far exceeds the cost we currently spend on our current energy source. The other problem with renewable energy is that the energy output can be inconsistent as it relies on things such as sunlight and wind which aren't constant.
- -Brandon