Greenhouse Effect

Greenhouse Effect

Thesis statement: Although greenhouse effect is an important naturally occurring process, human activity causes the emission of more gases into the atmosphere, which deplete the ozone layer and cause climate change.

1. A. Causes of greenhouse effect

• Naturally occurring gases such as water vapor, methane, carbon dioxide and nitrous oxides
• Anthropogenic gases such as chlorofluorocarbons, hydrofluorocarbons hydrochlorofluorocarbons, sulfurhexafluoride among others (Mines & Lackey, 2009).
• burning fossil fuels such as natural gas, oil and coal

B. Effects of greenhouse effect

• A warmer atmospheric temperature (D. Hyndman & D. Hyndman, 2008).
• CFCs cause damage to the ozone layer and this can have harmful effects on human life (Sullivan & Krieger, 2001).

2. Stakeholders

A. Who they are

• The government through the Environmental Protection Agency
• Non-governmental organizations that are concerned with environmental issues
• Individuals environmentalists willing to make a positive and significant change

 

1. Their interests

• Living in a clean environment free of pollutants
• Reducing the emission of greenhouse gases
• Noting the culprits responsible for the increase in greenhouse emissions, which include individuals, companies and organizations

1. Actions taken by stakeholders

• They have taken it upon themselves to bring to the attention of the relevant authorities the effects of greenhouse gas emissions
• They have educated the public on various issues concerning the environment
• They have assisted in the formulation of policies and legislature regarding greenhouse effects and other related matters.

3. Development of various policies concerning the issue

A. Current status of the issue

• The United States emits more greenhouse gases, especially carbon dioxide, more than any other country (White, 2008)
• Carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases were recognized as air pollutants in 2009 by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
• Introduction of a mandatory cap-and-trade system (Rahm, 2010).

B. Proposed resolutions

• The American Recovery Act to allocate money to fund renewable energy and energy efficient projects.
• Laws to be put in place that are aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions by the year 2020 (Rabe, 2010).

References:

Hyndman, D., & Hyndman, D. (2008). Natural hazards and disasters. Independence, KY: Cengage learning

Mines, O. R., & Lackey, L. (2009). Introduction to environmental engineering. Denver, CO: Prentice Hall

Rabe, G. B. (2010). Greenhouse governance: Addressing climate change in America. Washington, DC: Brookings Institution Press.

Rahm, D. (2010). Climate change policy in the United States. McFarland: McFarland Publishers.

Sullivan, B. J., & Krieger, R. G. (2001). Clinical environmental health and toxic exposures. New York, NY: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

White, E. J. (2008). Contemporary moral problems. Cengage Learning: Independence, KY.

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