2008 Woodie Awards
U.S. leadership necessary on climate change issues
Issue date: 11/13/07 Section: Editorials
Last Monday scientists and delegations from more than 140 countries met to begin drafting a new climate change report. It is anticipated that this new report will present some of the strongest evidence yet offered linking climate change to human produced greenhouse gasses, and conference participants have expressed hope that these findings will help induce the United States and China to agree to greenhouse gas reductions. While there are economic consequences of such measures, U.S. interests rest in imposing stricter emission standards.
First, mounting scientific evidence overwhelmingly points to human produced green house gas emissions as being a key factor in global warming trends. As one of the world's largest producers of greenhouse gasses, the U.S. has a moral responsibility to take the lead in addressing this problem. While it will be necessary to get developing countries to reduce their emissions if current global warming trends are to be halted, the U.S. can make a strong statement to the rest of the world by taking the first step.
Imposing stricter carbon emissions standards in the U.S. will also be an important catalyst for industry to develop alternative energy. Since global warming has emerged as a hot button issue, the market has responded with a host of corporations seeking to market themselves as being "green." However, tougher emissions standards would propel this trend and further development into sustainable, eco-friendly energy sources.
According to many estimates, the long-term costs to the American economy from the consequences of climate change far outweighs those temporarily incurred by introducing tighter emission standards. Indeed, as many foreign companies, already faced with higher energy costs, increase efficiency and pour capital into research, tighter emission standards could actually be a boon to the long-term competitiveness of American companies by putting them on a level playing field with their foreign competitors.
First, mounting scientific evidence overwhelmingly points to human produced green house gas emissions as being a key factor in global warming trends. As one of the world's largest producers of greenhouse gasses, the U.S. has a moral responsibility to take the lead in addressing this problem. While it will be necessary to get developing countries to reduce their emissions if current global warming trends are to be halted, the U.S. can make a strong statement to the rest of the world by taking the first step.
Imposing stricter carbon emissions standards in the U.S. will also be an important catalyst for industry to develop alternative energy. Since global warming has emerged as a hot button issue, the market has responded with a host of corporations seeking to market themselves as being "green." However, tougher emissions standards would propel this trend and further development into sustainable, eco-friendly energy sources.
According to many estimates, the long-term costs to the American economy from the consequences of climate change far outweighs those temporarily incurred by introducing tighter emission standards. Indeed, as many foreign companies, already faced with higher energy costs, increase efficiency and pour capital into research, tighter emission standards could actually be a boon to the long-term competitiveness of American companies by putting them on a level playing field with their foreign competitors.
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