Now Do You Believe in Global Warming? (Part 2)

Those of us who support the Green movement and conscientiously work toward reducing our own carbon footprints have long understood that the continued proliferation of greenhouse gas emissions from industry, transportation and a myriad of other sources has, slowly but surely, resulted in the rising temperatures on the surface of the earth known as global warming.  Then there are those folks, and there are still plenty of them, who continue to believe that global warming is a myth concocted by Democrats and tree-huggers to justify their liberal, anti-business political agenda.  On the heels of the May 6 release of the National Climate Assessment, which details numerous ways in which the United States is already suffering the consequences of climate change and predicts much worse to come if this country fails to change its evil ways, the Obama administration has announced a plan designed to achieve a 30% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from power plants by 2030.

In one of its biggest steps ever toward confronting the issue of global warming, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will, tentatively by 2015, finalize regulations creating the first national limits on the carbon dioxide emitted from this country’s power plants.  Currently, carbon dioxide pollution from power plants comprises a third of America’s greenhouse gas emissions that, collectively, make the U.S. the second-biggest culprit on earth in causing global warming (China has the dubious honor of being first).  According to Frances Beinecke of the Natural Resources Defense Council, “The purpose of this rule is to really close the loophole on carbon pollution, reduce emissions as we’ve done with lead, arsenic and mercury and improve the health of the American people and unleash a new economic opportunity.”

The EPA regulation of carbon emissions is at the forefront of the Obama administration’s mission to convince other countries to join in the effort to reduce global warming when negotiations for a new international treaty continue in 2015.  Meanwhile, 2012 was the hottest year ever recorded in the United States.  Six states (Arizona, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and California) have set monthly heat records, eight (Iowa twice, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, New Jersey, Oregon and Washington) set monthly precipitation records, two set draught records (New Mexico and Utah) and two set records for coldest monthly temperatures (Maine and North Dakota).  Yet, representatives from the oil and coal industries and business groups are calling the EPA rule and the report that precipitated it “alarmist.”  Jay Timmons, CEO of the National Association of Manufacturers, feels that the new EPA regulation, “could singlehandedly eliminate (the U.S.’s) competitive advantage by removing reliable and abundant sources of energy from our nation’s energy mix.”

The way I see it, a national competitive energy advantage pales in comparison to a livable climate, sufficient food and water, and our citizens’ homes remaining on dry land.  Stay tuned; the fireworks over this issue are just beginning.