The Energy Crisis

 SAVE OUR PLANET!!!
Between automobiles and coal burning power plants we the United States of America are the largest source of carbon dioxide pollution on the planet.  Each year in the U.S.A, automobiles create almost 1.5 billion tons of carbon dioxide. The coal burning power plants produce about 2.5 billion tons of carbon dioxide pollution each year.  “In fact the United States emits more carbon dioxide than China, India, and Japan combined.” (NRDC 8)  Colorado, Arizona, and Oregon experienced their worst wildfire season in 2002. A terrible drought caused awful dust storms in Montana, Colorado and Kansas. Also in Texas, Montana and North Dakota they experienced hundreds of millions of dollars in water damage from severe floods. 

Our World is already showing many different signs of climate change all over the world. The hardest and most devastating global warming to predict is the effect on our worlds living ecosystems. The smallest change could kill many different types of species.  Although many plants and animals would be able to adapt there are a lot that would also become extinct.  Reports from the (IPCC) Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Control have documented that “11 of the past 12 years are among the warmest since 1850”

“The Arctic is feeling the effects the most “according to the multinational Arctic climate report between 2000 and 2004 (National Geographic News 4) “Average temperatures are twice the global average in Alaska, Western Canada, and Eastern Russia.  In 1910 Montana’s Glacier National Park had 150 glaciers. Now with the mountain snow melting and the glaciers melting as well. There are only 27 left.  The ice in the arctic is disappearing fast and will most likely have its first ice free summer by 2040. (National Geographic News 5)

 What can you as American’s and people from all over the world do to help our environment. Reduce your carbon foot print. “Reduce what you can, Offset what you can’t.” (Carbonfund.org 1) Think about the decisions you make in your daily life. What can you do to make the world a better place now and for the future?  We have to do our best to Reduce, reuse, and recycle. Everyday things can help you have a smaller footprint. The way we drive “Studies have shown up to 30% of the difference in miles per gallon is due to driving habits” you can save more than a ton of CO2 per year just by driving the speed limit, keeping your tires properly inflated, have your car running efficiently, and make you next vehicle purchase a fuel efficient one. (carbonfund.org 6) You can also reduce your carbon footprint by carpooling even just once a week, if you travel a lot by airplane try and look for a nonstop flight. At home make sure the lights are off, look for energy star labels when it comes to appliances and new windows. Use less hot water, plant a tree. Try and get other to help conserve as well. The smallest changes in your life can have the biggest outcome when it comes to the environment. It’s time everyone joins together to stop global warming.