IS IT HOT IN THIS ELECTION YEAR?

In December 1997, there was in initiative that met in Kyoto, Japan between industrial and developing countries to develop a program to reduce greenhouse gas emission and came to be known as the Kyoto Protocol.  Accomplishing this would mean improving gas consumption in vehicles and reducing our dependence on fossil fuels (Sforza 14).  Since 1997 there have been no implementations of the Kyoto Protocol, and due to economic constraints it will probably never be implemented (Rowen and Weyant 87).  Basically, we are still where we were three years ago.

The concentration of CO2 in our atmosphere has seen a huge increase because of the industrial revolution. Right now, over half of the globes carbon emissions come from industrial countries.  The leading countries are the United States with 23% total emissions and China at 14%. However, even though industrial country outputs are growing, they are doing it slower than non industrial countries.  It is estimated that industrial and non industrial country emissions will be equivalent by the year 2015. The first estimates had our carbon dioxide levels at 280 parts per million before we industrialized, but because of our heavy emission of greenhouse gasses (mostly carbon dioxide) we can expect the concentration to meet or exceed 600 parts per million by the end of this century (Rowen and Weyart 87).  Currently, three billion tones of CO2 gets pumped into our air annually by humans ("Greenhouse" 47).

According to The Greenhouse Effect  there will be a staggering increase in temperature (as much as 3.5°C) over the next century (47).  This may not seem significant unless it is considered that during the peak of the Ice Age (20,000 years ago), Earth's temperature was 5°C less than our present climate (Weiner 102).  The rise in our atmospheric temperature could lead to catastrophic problems for future generations.  We could be facing a complete climactic change over the next one hundred years.  There could be a decisive change in weather patterns.  Monumental rain damage and an increase in storm intensity could occur.  Entire food crops could produce little or no yields for our planet's population.  All this leads to the potential for a colossal loss of life (Greenhouse 47).

Fossil fuel emissions by automobiles are also contributing to the global warming problem.  According to John Browne, CEO of BP Amoco, oil demand is up almost 15% from the last ten years and the need for gas is up 30% (73).  As our demand for these products increases, so does our contribution of greenhouse gasses to the atmosphere.  All of the by products of these fossil fuels must go somewhere.  From here there is nowhere to go but up, into the atmosphere.
 

Ironically, some companies, namely big oil and petroleum, believe the greenhouse effect is actually a hoax.  William O’Keefe, Vice President of the American Petroleum Institute, contends even though global warming may turn out to be a real threat in the future, currently “what is masquerading as the most serious of environmental threats may be just another hobgoblin being used to advance agendas that can't survive on their own merits” (81).  These types of opinions are most likely shared by people who believe global warming is just a medium to help form government policy and have no basis of scientific proof.  To disprove this type of thinking, a group of climate scientists have begun to use climate model tests to provide scientific evidence to the contrary.  They wanted to see if there were other causes for the global warming phenomenon such as natural variations in temperature, sun changes, or volcanic gas output.  However, none of these variables seemed to matter.  In fact, when models of the past 100 years introducing greenhouse gasses were used, a large resemblance to the warming we see today emerged (Kerr 1).

It can be undeniable that we significantly contribute to the greenhouse effect and global warming.  And as such, only we can put a stop to the damage being caused.  This is why we need a strong president in the White House.  This year is the perfect time for every registered voter to make a stand on this issue.

Al Gore has dubbed the next ten years the “Environment Decade”.  Vice President Gore truly believes in this cause.  In the Presidential debate on October 11, 2000, he said:  “In the twenty-first century, we will see the effects of Global Warming”.  This is a very strong statement from a political leader.  He has declared that some of the government budget surplus would go to create a National Energy Security and Environment Trust Fund to protect the environment.  Its goal is to reduce our countries dependence on OPEC and create jobs.  Gore also wants to give tax cuts to manufacturers of automobiles that produce cleaner engines.

Governor Bush has done some significant things to better the environment in Texas such as increasing the safety of public drinking water and cleaning up contaminated properties from toxic waste (Bush).  However, in the Presidential debate on October 11, 2000, Bush emphasized that he does not know the solution to global warming.  His contention is to wait for all the data before we start with a solution.  When he decides on a policy, it could be too late not only for Americans but everyone.

In relation to this issue, I completely endorse Vice President Al Gore for president in 2000.  He clearly shows his willingness to make his vision for an environmental decade a reality.  When Gore is elected, everyone on Earth can "breathe" a sigh of relief.