Overlooked Tool to Fight Climate Change: A Tweak in Fuel Standards

Unit 4: The Bureaucracy

Article Date: MARCH 28, 2016

By modifying the already standing bureaucratic regulation of making changes to vehicle fuel efficiency standards, the use of greenhouse gas emissions could be greatly reduced. The purpose climate change accord, recently passed by the United Nations, is to reduce decrease greenhouse gas emissions and slow down the effects of climate change. To meet these requirements, the United States needs to reduce carbon pollution generated from power plants as an authorization legislation. In addition, since this reduction will not be enough, fuel economy of automobiles will also need to be modified. On proposed plan is for the Environmental Protection Agency to review CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) standard. Thinking about fuel economy, not just gas mileage per gallon, is one way of effecting change.  If the lifetime gasoline consumption of each car model is taken into account, the article states we can calculate the CO2 emissions by car group over its anticipated lifetime. By doing so, the government could issue permits to car manufacturers based on fuel efficiency. Car companies could then use a "cap-and-trade program" to sell permits with other manufacturers.

Personally, I feel like we should be working to slow the effects of climate change, and beginning with improving the fuel efficiency of cars will be a beneficial improvement. This specific federal bureaucracy will work to improve the efficiency of cars so that fuel can be saved even more. Even though this process will involve a lot of bureaucratic red tape, is it definitely worth it to protect our environment.











Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/29/upshot/overlooked-tool-to-fight-climate-change-a-tweak-in-fuel-standards.html?rref=collection%2Ftimestopic%2FEnvironmental%20Protection%20Agency&action=click&contentCollection=timestopics&region=stream&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=8&pgtype=collection

The Danger of a Runaway Antarctica

Unit 4
March 31, 2016

The Earth's rising temperatures are becoming more and more of a problem, and much of the weight from this issue is to be put on the president (POTUS). In January of 2015, scientists noted that it was the hottest year on record. The upcoming year, and years to come, could get even worse. Climate change should be one of the top subjects on the policy agenda because it is impacting our Earth faster than we believe. Obama most likely sits in the west wing and contemplates the censure that will occur if a member of the government takes a wrong step in dealing with global warming. While a variety of environmental problems will begin to arise, the rising sea level is a concern that already needs to be addressed. President Obama has done his part on the matter. He has worked to move aggressively to increase automobile efficiency, develop cleaner sources of energy, as well as impose strict new limits on greenhouse gases from coal-fired power plants. On the other hand, Donald Trump and Ted Cruz, the leading Republican candidates, are criticizing Obama's ambition to save the planet and are even questioning the issue itself.

Obama is correct to be worrying about saving our planet, but he is soon to be a lame duck. Our

global health is a serious issue that people need to open up their minds to. It is time that Republicans take a look at what is really around them, and realize that global warming is happening whether we like it or not. Climate change should be one of the top subjects on the policy agenda because it is impacting our Earth faster than we believe. This article addresses to me the implications that are arising politically.

Article: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/01/opinion/the-danger-of-a-runaway-antarctica.html?rref=collection%2Ftimestopic%2FObama%2C%20Barack&version=latest&contentPlacement=3&module=ArrowsNav&contentCollection=Opinion&action=keypress&region=FixedLeft&pgtype=article