Name:
Tutor:
Course:
Date:
Climate change
Climate change is an environmental challenge facing the world in general. Since 1990’s, scientists have raised claims about global warming. Global warming caused by mainly greenhouse gases emissions has led to changes in weather patterns. The world is at risk of experiencing a rise in temperatures, sea levels decline and drought. The changes in the weather patterns have necessitated the world to come together and implement policies that would limit carbon emissions to sustain future generations. The United States, as the super power, needs to take actions to limit the crisis. Nations believed that US, being the leading nation in industrial activities, had to lead the way in solving the climate change crisis that was termed as the environmental threat to the world.
The politics of climate change particularly, global warming was an issue the federal government tried to ignore. The republican government led by President Bush tried to ignore the climate change issue. From 1988, the climate change had affected the American lands; the year was characterized by forest fires and high temperatures. International agreement was signed to limit the green house effect. United States administration ignored the issue as they argued that economic development was their major concern. The agreement was not legally binding, and the US has failed to act on the biggest environment challenge of that time. A remarkable treaty that proposed that the US reduce their carbon emissions to the levels they had produced in 1990’s. The United States wanted the regulation be mandatory. Clinton government came into power, and it successively failed to act on the environmental change. In 1997, the Kyoto protocol was signed that required nations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The Kyoto protocol in the United States was a treaty that would setback their economy. In 2001, George Bush said it would not implement the protocol. The government would come up with principles that would reduce the greenhouse effect. Bush administration undermined the world’s effort to moderate global warming. Over the years, economic development was the main agenda of the government. Arguably, United States believed that developing nations were the main emitters of carbon gases due to their immense economic activities. The three administrations from 1990 to 2008 had not successfully solved the climate change challenge. They had implemented measures like litigation, regulation, taxation, but all were unsuccessful. The green houses gases were emitted in high numbers due to the booming economy. Serious protests from all over the world rose to fight the United States stand.
However, global warming is gradually accepted. Scientists insisted on the solving the matter. Successively, the administration termed the climate change a global crisis. Environments conservatives were simultaneously changing their stand regarding the green house effect. Key energy industries continuously adapted measures to go green. They limited their carbon emissions. Importantly, coal use was slowly changing from being the major source of energy. The coal plants are slowly reducing and this stern step is a major step in reducing carbon emissions. Governors and mayors have come in with an effort to limit their carbon emissions in the world. Energy plans like renewing energy, reducing dependence on foreign oil and implementing the cap and trade system are highly sought. The US has supported the Copenhagen accord. The accord mandates them to pledge to lower gases emission. It was argued the time for denial, delay and dispute over climate change was over. Diplomacy actions needed to be dramatic and focused globally. The documentaries focus on the environment as the pillar of the society. The United States being the leading emitter of carbon gases has taken the challenge to lead by better energy policies.