In an ever-growing capitalistic society, demand, production and consumption are at an all-time high. On a global scale, these might be signs of growth, success and prosperity; however, these achievements are deceiving because the factors involved in their attainment are taking a large toll on our environment. Our world is currently facing one of the most dangerous threats in history: the rapid development of global warming. This is the process through which CO2 and other greenhouse gasses envelop the Earth, trapping in the heat received from solar rays. After decades of speculation and research, scientists have finally determined that the human combustion of fossil fuels (ex: oil, gas, coal…) “to drive cars, generate electricity, and operate our homes and businesses” is the primary cause of global warming (“Global Warming 101”). 

Therefore, we ask ourselves, what can we do to lessen the amount of greenhouse gasses in our atmosphere to be able to appease and diminish global warming? 

Well, various limitations and controls have been placed in the form of laws and acts to be able to regulate the “amount of carbon that polluters are allowed to emit” (“Global Warming 101”). Nonetheless, these actions are not sufficient enough to have the large-scale impact needed to significantly reduce high-carbon emissions. Accordingly, the focus must be oriented towards the research development of clean, renewable energies such as wind and solar energy. Renewable energies are “generated from natural processes that are continuously replenished” (Ciolkosz) and have zero carbon emission; ergo, they are the perfect substitute for our current high-carbon emission fossil fuels.

For centuries, our energy needs were simple and moderate. The sun was the primary source of heat, and when it was not shining we resorted to burning wood or straw. Transportation and field labor were dominated by horses and livestock rather than our modern-day heavy and burdensome machinery ("A Short History of Energy."). Moreover, modest day-to-day necessities such as grinding grains for flour or pumping water out of a well were executed by simple mechanisms powered by wind and the flow of streams as well as primitive apparatuses capable of harnessing the power of steam ("A Short History of Energy." ). As communities grew, the demand for more food and faster transportation grew as well. The evolution of the steam engine led to “significant adaptations of Thomas Newcomen and James Watt in the mid 1700s that gave birth to the modern steam engine, opening up a world of possibility… powered by coal dug from the mines of England and Appalachia, could do the work of dozens of horses.” (“A Short History of Energy”). Much cheaper and more convenient, coal became the newest most appealing commodity on the market, in fact, its expansion went hand in hand with the development of steel factories, the first locomotives and central heating in buildings ("A Short History of Energy." ). Soon after, came the first electric generator powered by a coal steam engine which first powered lights for the financial district on Wall street in New York City. This life altering innovation led to the beginning of the industrial revolution where whale oil was replaced by petroleum in the early 1800’s. Until then, petroleum had “been a nuisance, contaminating wells for drinking water” (“A Short History of Energy”); however, much like coal in its beginning petroleum prospered as an immensely valuable asset and became the focal point of trade and business. Ironically, “electric cars were a rich woman's toy… Quiet and clean, electric cars started without a starter crank, an exertion that would have overtaxed the gentle ladies of the day.” (“A Short History of Energy”), until “cars adopted electric starters, their superior range quickly drove the electrics out of the market.” (“A Short History of Energy”). The “low-cost automobile and the spread of electricity” across the nation changed our society’s energy consumption forever (“A Short History of Energy”).  At this point, “the efficient use of energy was simply not a concern.” ( Nissarian). Colossal coal-fired power plants emerged from small mines and coalfields all over the country as energy consumption doubled every decade throughout the 1900’s. 

After World War II, with the recent introduction of nuclear power, we began to implement “the peaceful atom” (Nissarian) into our power regimen by building two-hundred nuclear power plants all over the United States. These plants were such an accomplishment, therefore, to “take advantage of this power that would be ‘too cheap to meter.”(Nissarian) large suburbs were built near them with houses built with overall electric heating and appliances. Contrary to popular belief, the notion of global warming is far from recent as it has been around for about two-hundred years. In fact, the first to ponder the idea of global climate fluctuation was a scientist by the name of Fourier who discovered that the Earth would be considerably colder without the presence of an atmosphere as well as the greenhouse effect in 1824. The greenhouse effect is caused by greenhouse gasses –mainly water vapor, carbon dioxide and methane– which trap heat depending on their concentration in the atmosphere. The presence of this natural envelop is indispensable to life on Earth since without it our planet’s average temperature would be around 0F. However, throughout the course of the past two-hundred years, the concentration of carbon dioxide in the Earth’s atmosphere has risen from 10 to 400 parts per million by volume (ppmv), (Sadoway). This astonishing deviation from the natural trend has undoubtedly been the product of human carbon dioxide emissions which accounts “for about 80.9% of all greenhouse gas emissions from human activities” (EPA, United States Environmental Protection Services).  Evidently, steps towards the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions have to be taken.

Without a doubt, one can distinctly come to the realization that global warming is detrimental to the environment and therefore has a direct impact on our society; however, many remain oblivious to the immediate, dire ramifications that it has on the numerous sectors of our lives such as forests, agriculture, human health, water resources, energy and more.           

At the root of all ecosystems, our forests are one of the principal hosts to vast varieties of living organisms such as animals, plants, fungi and many more. In the US alone, forests cover over 740 million acres of land which represents about one third of the nation. Forests are not just a nerve center for a prospering fauna and flora, “forests provide many benefits and services to society, including clean water and air, recreation, wildlife habitat, carbon storage, climate regulation, and a variety of forest products.” (Climate Change).  Unfortunately, global warming can indirectly affect forests through fluctuations in precipitation (droughts, floods) or temperature (Climate Change). For instance, with the upcoming global warming, previously wintry mountainous areas will become warmer, thus affecting the climate required for the growth of certain plant species. Also, the change in climate, will cause imbalances in precipitation causing severe droughts as well as relentless flooding. 

 Likewise, agriculture will experience the effects of global warming through natural hazards. Established as one of the largest contributors to the US economy, the food-service and agriculture-related industries account for “more than $750 billion to the Gross Domestic Product.” (Climate Change). Global warming will unquestionably affect the main factors of production that link together the agricultural sector while also dangerously disturbing the “food security at the global, regional and local levels.” (Climate Change). Initially, the “rising CO2 can stimulate plant growth, it also reduces the nutritional value of most food crops.” (Climate Change). Rising levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide reduce the concentrations of protein and essential minerals in most plant species, including wheat, soybeans, and rice (Climate Change).. Furthermore, weeds, pests, fungi and viruses that “thrive under warmer temperatures, wetter climates and increased CO2 levels” will develop and cause presently unknown maladies on certain crops causing the production to decline or completely fail (Climate Change). These pests, fungi and viruses which affect crops will also affect livestock, the rising temperature will increase the prevalence of parasites and diseases. Heat waves projected to increase will also directly affect and threaten livestock. 

Moreover, possibly the most crucial sector to be affected by global warming is human health. Due to global warming, average global temperatures are “projected to increase by about 3°F to 12°F”; accordingly, heat waves will last longer and become more frequent (Climate Change). These intensified heat waves will increase the number of deaths caused by heat stroke, dehydration, cardiovascular or cerebrovascular disease “reaching as much as thousands to tens of thousands of additional deaths each year by the end of the century during summer months.” (McLamb). Other than heat related deaths, global warming can also affect air quality. “Warmer temperatures and shifting weather patterns can worsen air quality, which can lead to asthma attacks and other respiratory and cardiovascular health effects.” (Climate Change).  Scientists also predict that higher temperatures will increase the frequency of occurrences of unhealthy amounts of ozone, a noxious pollutant contained in smog. Unnecessary exposure to high levels of ground ozone will risk developing respiratory problems as well as premature death (Climate Change).. Also, the “direct effect of rising CO2 on the nutritional value of crops represents a potential threat to human health. Human health is also threatened by increased pesticide use due to increased pest pressures and reductions in the efficacy of pesticides.” (Climate Change). Other health concerns include the contamination of potable water. Large amounts of rainfall –mainly in the Northeast and Midwest of the US– are predicted to harness such overwhelming forces capable of flooding water infrastructures such as sewers and water treatment plants (Climate Change). These circumstances will cause “sediments, nutrients, pollutants, trash, animal waste, and other materials” to infiltrate our drinking water, which would make them unsafe fore human consumption.

As a matter of fact, impacts on our water supply are particularly compelling since they are one of the only byproducts of global warming currently unfolding. Not only is water indispensable to the development and survival of all ecosystems, it is also essential to the flourishing of society. Historically, civilization has bloomed and subsisted near rivers, lakes and major waterways.  “We depend on a reliable, clean supply of drinking water to sustain our health. We also need water for agriculture, energy production, navigation, recreation, and manufacturing.” (Nissarian). With this in mind, concerns and apprehensions are intensified with the quick advancement of global warming over the past 200 years. Precipitation imbalances will without a doubt become one of society’s primary concerns since our Earth’s “water cycle…is a delicate balance of precipitation, evaporation, and all of the steps in between.” (Nissarian). For one, serious water shortages due to major droughts will exponentially worsen throughout the western half of the United States. Many of the side effects generated by the proliferation of global warming oftentimes seem to be issues of the future, however, “many areas in the West have experienced less rain over the past 50 years, as well as increases in the severity and length of droughts.” (Nissarian). With such a boost in demand and a simultaneous decline in water supplies, providing water to farms, ranches and manufacturers in the neighboring areas will become incredibly challenging thereupon affecting agriculture as well as production of various goods.

Many scientists, when discussing the topic of global warming, claim that the “Earth is locked on an “irreversible” course of climatic disruption” (Gill).  Faced with future of rising sea levels, extreme weather, and the melting of ice caps, only an unparalleled global action to significantly reduce emissions “within a relatively short time period will prevent temperatures from crossing a threshold that scientists say could trigger far more dangerous disruptions, the panel warned.” (Gill). In light of these events, the optimum solution consists of the development of renewable energies to provide affordable and reliable electric generation without imperiling our health and global climate. However, no single source of energy is capable of such advancement; perhaps, the ultimate resolution to the growing energy threats and hardships flows from The Union of Concerned Scientists: “No single solution can meet our society’s future energy needs. The solution instead will come from a family of diverse energy technologies that share a common thread — they do not deplete our natural resources or destroy our environment.” (McLamb). 

Renewable energies are “non-polluting, renewable and efficient” energies, generated by natural recourses (naturally replenished), mainly sun, wind and water (McLamb). The sun is at the source of most renewable energies, for example, solar energy can be used directly for heating and lighting homes and buildings, for generating electricity and a variety of commercial and industrial uses. Similarly, the sun's heat is indirectly at the origin of winds, which can be captured by wind turbines. Since “Electricity production accounts for more than one-third of U.S. global warming emissions”, the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory explored the possibility of “generating 80 percent of the country’s electricity from renewable sources by 2050 and found that global warming emissions from electricity production could be reduced by approximately 81 percent.” (“Benefits of Renewable Energy Use”).  Focusing on the U.S., efforts towards the dominance of renewables in the energy sector are already underway. More then ever before, “Solar power is more affordable, accessible, and prevalent in the United States” (“Solar Energy in The United States”). In fact, since 2008, solar installations in the U.S have “grown seventeen-fold from 1.2 gigawatts (GW) to an estimated 30 GW today.”, which is enough to power 5.7 million average American households (“Solar Energy in The United States”). The market for solar energy is flourishing rapidly and “solar electricity is now economically-competitive with conventional energy sources in several states, including California, Hawaii, Texas, and Minnesota.” (“Solar Energy in The United States”). 

When it comes to wind energy, the U.S. has some of the most powerful wind currents in the world due to its clear coasts along the Atlantic Ocean and vast flat terrains in its central regions. However, the adoption of this valuable energy has yet to become widespread in the U.S. Procedures such as The Wind Program by the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy are beginning to integrate wind power on “land and at sea and ensuring the stable, secure integration of this power to our nation's electrical grid” (“About the Department of Energy Program”). Greater use of wind energy for the generation of electricity will without a doubt diversify the nation’s energy supply and play a dominant role in the previously mentioned ‘global action’ needed to significantly reduce CO2 emissions. 

Since renewable energies are deemed capable of greatly reducing Co2 emissions, offer daily use and provide economic affordability, why are they not dominating a greater percentage of our energy supply? The reason is that renewable energies are faced with the major challenge of intermittency. All the electricity used throughout the world is energy that has been generated seconds before its use. In other terms, the technology needed to store the colossal amounts of energy required to power everything from a light bulb to an entire city has not yet been developed. Without the ability to store the energy produced by solar panels and wind turbines on sunny and windy days, cities depending on renewable energies would be faced with power outages during periods of overcast and days with limited airflow.  Fortunately, companies such as Tesla have started developing prototype lithium-ion batteries that have the potential of becoming the source of renewable energy storage that we need. 

Undoubtedly, global warming is an impending threat to all life on Earth. Mass extinctions of plants and animals in the past seem like terrifying tales that are most times hard to believe. However, if we continue to emit greenhouse gasses at the present rate, these tragedies of the past will certainly become our fate. Accordingly, the importance the development, innovation and proliferation of renewable energies is astronomical.
