All across the world, in every kind of environment and region known to man, increasingly dangerous weather patterns and devastating storms are abruptly putting an end to the long-running debate over whether or not climate change is real. Not only is it real, it’s here, and its effects are giving rise to a frighteningly new global phenomenon: the man-made natural disaster. – President Obama

It is sad to say that global warming and climate change isn’t a threat anymore and hasn’t been for a long time but people don’t listen. They don’t listen to 115 mph winds of a massive hurricane, they don’t see the polar ice caps melting in front of their eyes, and they don’t feel the 110 ◦F temperatures. People everywhere are still in denial about the damaged we have done to our Earth; some think it is a massive hoax, and others are trying to do something about it but it is not enough. The president’s Climate Plan is a good example people trying to do the right thing too late and with many mistakes.

Global warming is the escalation of Earth’s average surface temperature due to greenhouse gases, like carbon dioxide emissions from burning fossil fuels from deforestation, which trap heat that would normally escape from Earth. There are certain facts about climate change that are not disputable anymore (even for the doubters):

1. Sea level rise: Global sea level rose 17 centimeters (6.7 inches) in the last century.
2. Global temperature rise: Most of Earth’s warming has happened since 1970’s, with the 20 warmest years occurred since 1981.
3. Warming oceans: they absorb most of the increased heat, top 700 meters showing warming of 0.302 ◦F since 1969.
4. Shrinking ice sheets: Greenland lost 36-60 cubic miles of ice between 2002 and 2006. Antarctica lost 36 cubic miles.
5. Glacial retreat: Mountains such as the Alps, Himalayas, Andes, etc. are losing their snowcaps.
6. Extreme events: Increasing events such as hurricane Sandy, extreme temperatures (hot and cold), intense rainfall, increased forest fires, have risen since 2005.

President Obama’s action plan states true facts about climate change as well and the effects it has had on the United States and the world. It explains that 2012 was the hottest year on record for the U.S. and that one-third of the population experienced 100◦ temperatures. Also that it was the fifteenth driest year on record with precipitation 2.57 inches below the century average costing $30 billion to the American economy. Wildfires burned 9.3 million U.S. acres costing $1 billion.

Carbon pollution is the biggest contributor of climate change with the largest contributor being electricity (33%) and the second largest transportation (28%). The President’s plan is to direct the EPA to establish carbon pollution standards for new and existing power plants. Assures $8 billion in loans for fossil fuel projects. Permits the Interior Department to permit ten gigawatts of wind and solar projects on public lands by 2020. Hopes to set a standard for American appliances and federal buildings so that carbon pollution can be reduced by 3 million metric tons by 2030. Aims to reduce hydro-fluorocarbons and develop a comprehensive methane strategy. The action plan also commits to forest and landscape protection.

The climate plan also seeks to prepare America and the world for the climate change happening today that is irreversible. The plan directs agencies to support investment of vulnerable communities so that they can become more resilient to the effects of climate change. To establish a flood-risk reduction standard in hurricane Sandy affected regions. Distribute scientific information to farmers and create sustainable and resilient hospitals. Establish National Drought Resilience Partnership to make rangelands less vulnerable to forest fires.

The president also aims in leading global efforts to address climate change around the World.

“America must help forge a truly global solution to this global challenge by galvanizing international action to significantly reduce emissions, prepare for climate impacts, and drive progress through the international negotiations”.

President Obama aims to lead global sector public financing towards cleaner energy by calling for end of U.S. government support for public financing for new coal-fired power plants overseas, except for the most effective coal technology available in the world’s poorest countries, or facilities deploying carbon capture and sequestration technologies. Commit to expand new major and existing international inactivates, including bilateral initiatives with China, India, and other major emitting countries. As well as strengthen global resilience to climate change by expanding government and local community planning and response capacities.

President Obama’s plan has incredible strategies and great progress to counter climate change but it is not enough (even if we must take baby steps) and some of the methods are more harmful then helpful. Not mentioned Obama’s plan would impose permanently higher energy prices and most likely a hidden tax on American families to complete his expensive goals. Which to me is worth the extra cost on higher prices but not in hidden taxes. The president calls natural gas “clean” despite knowing it is still a major greenhouse gas emitter and that hydro-fracturing is unsafe poisoning wells and streams. Thanks to the president, the Keystone XL pipeline is already moving forward, with zero regard for carbon emissions or America’s interests. The pipeline is now 90 percent complete in Texas and Oklahoma. If Obama does not intervene to prevent the last stages of its construction, Keystone will transport toxic tar sands from Canada to Texas refineries by the end of this year. The president fails to call for an end to the cruel practice of mining coal by blowing off the tops of the Appalachian Mountains. The president’s plan falls short we need to look at getting all hands on deck and not just setting plans in motion that are bound to fail or will never clean up greenhouse gasses in time.

Lastly it appears that the average American isn’t truly getting all the facts about climate change. Many people are uninformed what is going on whether it be global warming or global cooling and everyone is kept slightly in the dark which is extremely unacceptable.

References:

1. http://climate.nasa.gov/evidence
2. http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/06/25/fact-sheet-president-obama-s-climate-action-plan
3. http://apps.washingtonpost.com/g/page/national/highlights-of-obamas-plan-to-cut-carbon/263/
4. http://ecowatch.com/2013/08/12/president-obamas-climate-action-plan-not-even-close/
5. http://www.forbes.com/sites/robertbradley/2013/08/06/president-obamas-new-climate-action-plan-is-all-pain-negative-gain/
6. http://www.whitehouse.gov/share/climate-action-plan
7. http://www.whitehouse.gov/share/climate-action-plan