Opinion Essay Sources

In the United States, electric power plants emit more than two billion tons of carbon dioxide each year, or roughly 40 percent of total emissions. The nation's landmark air pollution law could cut that number significantly. 

Author: nrdc
Website: http://www.nrdc.org/air/pollution-standards/
Date: Available on September 3rd, 2014.


Not only are global warming-induced changes currently underway, but scientists also expect additional effects on human society and natural environments around the world. Some further warming is already unavoidable due to past heat-trapping emissions; unless we aggressively reduce today's emissions, scientists project extra warming and thus additional impacts.

The Climate Hot Map arranges current and future climate impacts into five main groupings:

• People
• Freshwater
• Oceans
• Ecosystems
• Temperature

Each of these major groupings, in turn, is divided into specific categories that describe more fully some of the consequences we may face. Click on any of the categories listed on the left for more information.

Author: Union of Concerned Scientists

Website: http://www.climatehotmap.org/global-warming-effects/

Date: 2011

America Can Lead by Example

Global warming from the burning of fossil fuels is not the planet’s biggest problem. One can think of at least a dozen more dangerous phenomena that could destroy us long before growing greenhouse gas emissions cause the oceans to rise and species to die off. But that’s not to say we shouldn’t be
concerned about climate change.

The best way for the United States to “lead the way on a comprehensive, international approach to addressing global warming” is by example. GHGs in America are lower today than 20 years ago, even with an economy that’s 50 percent larger, mainly because we use energy more efficiently. Today, we can produce a dollar of GDP with half the energy input required a few decades ago. At the same time, we’re substituting clean-burning natural gas for coal in power generation and industrial boilers. We could further reduce GHGs by developing the infrastructure to fuel more of the country’s 300 million motor vehicles with compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquefied natural gas (LNG).

Author: Bernard L. Weinstein 

Date: September 2013

Website: http://www.nationaljournal.com/policy/insiders/energy/is-global-warming-the-planet-s-biggest-problem-20130930