Team+3+-+Issues

=__Issues__=

The main [|issue] of climate change is that it could potentially raise the Earth’s temperature from 1.5 to 4.5 degrees Celsius. This rise in temperature could have devastating effects such as the loss of glaciers due to melting. Many cities around the world depend on the seasonal melt water from glaciers for their water supply. Without the water supply from the glaciers, many cities will have water shortages. Also, as more and more glaciers melt and their water reaches the oceans, the sea level will continue to rise which in turn will flood coastlines. Coastline homes will be destroyed and millions of people will have to relocate. In addition, animals such as the polar bear will be threatened because of loss of their habitat. Another result of climate change would be the expanding of deserts around the world including the Sahara. A third result of climate change would be the spreading out of invasive species such as mosquitoes. They would be able to move further north bringing their plague of diseases with them. Finally, a change in climate could cause extreme weather. Global warming heats the ocean waters which in turn leads to more powerful hurricanes. Researchers have found that even a small increase in the ocean surface temperature had a large impact on the strength of hurricanes. ( An Inconvenient Truth) Also, a warmer climate will lead to heavier rainfalls and more flooding. ([])

=__Viewpoints__= There are various viewpoints on the issue of climate change. Many scientists believe that climate change is affected by greenhouse gas emissions. They claim that since the industrial revolution greenhouse gas levels have increased in the Earth's atmosphere trapping the sun's heat and therefore raising Earth's temperature. There are also skeptics who believe that global warming is minor issue that is caused naturally. They look towards Earth's history and point out the medieval warm period that was part of Earth's natural cycle. Skeptics also claim that climate change data has been embellished by many scientists. ([])

= = = = =Interests= The interests of many major companies are at stake due to climate change. They are going to have to decide whether to keep contributing to climate change or to transfer to cleaner renewable energy sources. Also, the interests of the United States and many other countries are at stake because they have to decide together if they want to address the issue or else the problem would just continue. Most importantly, the interests of average citizens would be at stake because if action was taken to combat climate change the way we live our lives would change. For example, if the use of nonrenewable resources was limited, then the average citizen would have to pay higher oil and gas prices.

=__Alternative Energy Issue__=

Many people believe that carbon dioxide emissions created by the burning of fossil fuels are affecting climate change. Therefore, there is a large controversy about using alternative energy sources. First, wind power can be an efficient way of producing electrical energy. They produce no pollutants and is a renewable energy source ,but you would need a consistent flow of wind and if it were to decrease so would the amount of electricity produced. Secondly, solar power can be harnessed for heating and electricity. However, solar power is not produced when the sun is not shining and solar power plants are very expensive to build. That could damage the country economically. Lastly, geothermal energy can be used to produce heat. The problem is that geothermal energy can release harmful minerals and gases as it is harnessed by drilling into Earth. Also, if geothermal energy is harnessed incorrectly pollutants could be produced. []

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