(An article for my college newspaper, the Randolph-Macon Yellow Jacket, written in 2007)
As a species, humans have been expanding and industrializing for decades, but not until the mid-1900s did we stop to look back at the consequences of our actions. With the publication of Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring concerning the harmful effects of pesticides, the environmental movement became a real public concern. Several Supreme Court cases and acts of Congress, including the National Environmental Policy Act and the Clean Air and Water Acts, pushed our nation into the environmental decade of the 1970s.
Today, however, our continued growth threatens the balance of the world ecosystems upon which we depend. Overpopulation, overuse of resources, and pollution are among the major concerns, but the one issue receiving the most attention by far is the menace of global climate change.
While some opponents to the green movement state that global warming is simply a theory, it is impossible to deny that our dependence upon oil will become an international problem as resources continue to be depleted. Currently, there are approximately 200 million vehicles in the US. Each gallon of gasoline burned combines with oxygen in the air to produce 20 pounds of carbon dioxide, leading to 300 million tons of carbon emissions per year in the US alone.
Some say that temperature and carbon dioxide levels are following a cyclical pattern that can be traced throughout history. But science shows, as demonstrated by Al Gore in An Inconvenient Truth, that levels are exponentially rising and are now higher than any point in the past 60 thousand years. In the coming century, the melting of the polar ice caps could lead to flooding of hundreds of major cities around the globe. This could occur in our own lifetimes, making us witnesses to the disruption of thousands of communities and millions of lives.
Oil is a non-renewable resource, and we are quickly heading to a point of “peak oil” at which the maximum rate of oil extraction will be reached. This will be followed by the path toward depletion of the world’s reserves. How will we sustain our society and economy without a continuous influx of foreign oil? The answer lies in improving fuel mileage while increasing research into alternatives.
Petroleum accounts for 40 percent of the US energy sources, but by raising fuel efficiency standards of vehicles by about 8 miles per gallon, America could eliminate all oil imports from the Gulf region, according to Robert Kennedy, Jr. a study in atmospheric Environment reported that hybrid vehicles currently have the highest fuel efficiency among the widely available cars on the market today.
Science must take the nation a step further by turning potential alternatives to petroleum into actual realities. The use of corn-based ethanol has, over time, lead to an imbalance in the economy by transforming agricultural markets. This has shifted the availability of other crops and may contribute to global food shortages. Because ethanol is combined with gasoline, its price is dependent on the oil market. Therefore, it will allow for the continued rise in gas prices.
The nation needs completely oil-independent and clean resources. Solar and wind energy are promising replacements for petroleum, hydrological, and nuclear sources of power. By switching to solar energy within your home, you can even receive a federal tax credit of up to 2,000 dollars. However, at the end of 2007, consumer tax credits for efficient utilities, such as furnaces and water heaters, will cease.
While the federal government has taken numerous steps to combat global warming, public pressure needs to continue to prevent such stagnation in policy. The green movement provides significant momentum for these efforts, and organizations such as Greenpeace are pushing legislators to take action against global warming. Currently, Greenpeace recruits hundreds of volunteers, including students on college campuses, to take part in Project Hot Seat. Communities are joining together to encourage members of the House of Representatives to pass legislation such as the Safe Climate Act, introduced by Representative Henry Waxman, which would implement a national cap and trade system to reduce emissions, a renewable energy standard of 20 percent by 2020, and an increased fuel economy of 40 miles per gallon.
What can you do?
These changes cannot take place without individual efforts. In your own life, you can take daily measures to reduce your carbon emissions significantly. Recycle as much as you can, as often as possible. Reuse resources by shopping for second hand items. Reduce the amount of disposable items you use and replace them with plastic containers. Conserve water. Ride your bike or walk rather than drive, when the distance is short. Buy locally produced, organic food and hygiene products, and limit your meat consumption, as factory farming is a huge contributor to pollution emissions. Use fluorescent rather than incandescent light bulbs, and research the most efficient power options for your home. When you must use oil, offset your carbon emissions by donating money to green causes.
Finally, volunteer your time to change the national attitude and stay informed about the issue. Join an environmental group in your community or campus. Contact your congressman and tell him or her that you need a leader to fight global warming. Stay involved in environmental politics.
Here are some resources to help you take action: