Nationwide Procrastination: Climate Change in America
For the majority of the last decade, the US has treated Climate Change as an issue that surpassed the bipartisan party system in America. Starting in 2008, a campaign ad characterized by images of smoke-screened factories and melting polar ice sheets was not in support of a democrat, but rather in support of Senator John McCain, the nominee of the 2008 Republican Party. In 2017, the new leader of the Republican Party, President Trump, who has denied global warming, has completely undone the environmental policies that Senator John McCain advocated for in his run for president. From removing the U.S. from the Paris Climate Accord and posting provoking Tweets, it is certain that the Republican Party has moved on from debating policies that should be done for climate change to arguing that it does not exist. The US is regressing into an antiquated debate, and debating over a matter of beliefs is not a priority that the world can benefit from.
Recently, a United Nations panel of scientists has claimed that every small step towards a world unsuitable for life brings us exponentially closer to an irreversible worldwide catastrophe. According to the UN, we have just 12 years to make "massive and unprecedented changes to our global energy infrastructure" (Vox). It is unprecedented, in the sense that the demand for action is unlike any document recorded in history. Recently, the UN's goal has even changed from completely reversing the effects of global warming to returning the world to limiting the effects at tolerable levels. The issues of global warming go beyond sea levels rising, hurricanes going beyond coastlines, and forest fires spreading uncontrollably; global warming is a potential catalyst for economic regression, famine, disease, and refugee crises. These issues are making the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals increasingly difficult, forcing countries like the US to create a new set of goals to limit the amount of destruction. To reverse global warming demands tremendous transitions in transpiration, energy structures, sustainable infrastructure, and sustainable industrial systems. Preventing the emissions of carbon dioxide is no longer a viable goal. There is now a demand for new technologies that can remove carbon dioxide directly from the air. Yet in spite of these goals, there is little to nothing being done by those in power to remedy the world. The issue now is not what new goals to set for countries in power, but rather how seriously governments can take the goals that we set for them. If history repeats itself, new global warming findings will receive little to no attention. While there is progress being done, it is not on a large enough scale. School institutions are striving to become LEED certified and companies like Tesla are powering their own facilities as well as returning their excess power to the local power grid. Progress is being made, but the negative net regression will continue to worsen global warming for future generations to come.
Recently, a United Nations panel of scientists has claimed that every small step towards a world unsuitable for life brings us exponentially closer to an irreversible worldwide catastrophe. According to the UN, we have just 12 years to make "massive and unprecedented changes to our global energy infrastructure" (Vox). It is unprecedented, in the sense that the demand for action is unlike any document recorded in history. Recently, the UN's goal has even changed from completely reversing the effects of global warming to returning the world to limiting the effects at tolerable levels. The issues of global warming go beyond sea levels rising, hurricanes going beyond coastlines, and forest fires spreading uncontrollably; global warming is a potential catalyst for economic regression, famine, disease, and refugee crises. These issues are making the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals increasingly difficult, forcing countries like the US to create a new set of goals to limit the amount of destruction. To reverse global warming demands tremendous transitions in transpiration, energy structures, sustainable infrastructure, and sustainable industrial systems. Preventing the emissions of carbon dioxide is no longer a viable goal. There is now a demand for new technologies that can remove carbon dioxide directly from the air. Yet in spite of these goals, there is little to nothing being done by those in power to remedy the world. The issue now is not what new goals to set for countries in power, but rather how seriously governments can take the goals that we set for them. If history repeats itself, new global warming findings will receive little to no attention. While there is progress being done, it is not on a large enough scale. School institutions are striving to become LEED certified and companies like Tesla are powering their own facilities as well as returning their excess power to the local power grid. Progress is being made, but the negative net regression will continue to worsen global warming for future generations to come.
Diego, nice work. Your brief blog entry encapsulates the sense of urgency, the glimmers of hope, and the need for action. I recently heard a Texas Tech professor (Dr. Katharine Hayhoe), who co-directs the university's Climate Science Center, speak on NPR about the very significant climate report by several US govt departments. She addressed numerous climate issues around the world and their social, political and economic impact in the coming years.
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