Argumentative Essay: Global Warming
Cynthia Cutshaw
Instructor Emily Smith
English 1010-027
9 November, 2012
Global Warming: Human Activities Global warming is commonly believed as a downfall to our planet and life as many individuals know it on earth. Bill McKibben, author of “The Environmental Issue from Hell”, states, “ When global warming first emerged as a potential crisis in the late 1980’s, one academic analyst called it ‘the public problem from hell’”(Mckibben 746). However, this only seems a way to scare individuals and comply with the desires from government officials mainly in the United States but also in other countries. Global warming is the theory that the Earth is constantly heating up above normal levels due to elevated amounts of CO2 (Carbon Dioxide) in the atmosphere, which deteriorates the ozone and corrupts the greenhouse effect which maintains normal conditions of life (Courtney). Worldwide, global warming is happening, and most of the reason this is happening is because of manmade activities that cause pollution to our environment. Most often, the finger is being pointed at governments and industries, but there is sometimes where the finger needs to be pointed at the individual consumers. First, it is well known that transportation is one of the leading causes of global warming pollution. A large amount of automobiles burn some type of fossil fuel usually gasoline or diesel. Automobiles release greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane, out of the muffler. Small cars and sport utility vehicles (SUVs) supply an enormous amount of global warming pollution. SUVs are targeted more for being a major supplier of carbon dioxide. Mckibben states, “ If you switched today from the average American car to a big SUV, and drove it for just one year, the difference in carbon dioxide that you produced would be equivalent of opening your refrigerator door and the forgetting to close it for six years” (Mckibben 748). SUVs are well-known for their poor fuel efficiencies and
Instructor Emily Smith
English 1010-027
9 November, 2012
Global Warming: Human Activities Global warming is commonly believed as a downfall to our planet and life as many individuals know it on earth. Bill McKibben, author of “The Environmental Issue from Hell”, states, “ When global warming first emerged as a potential crisis in the late 1980’s, one academic analyst called it ‘the public problem from hell’”(Mckibben 746). However, this only seems a way to scare individuals and comply with the desires from government officials mainly in the United States but also in other countries. Global warming is the theory that the Earth is constantly heating up above normal levels due to elevated amounts of CO2 (Carbon Dioxide) in the atmosphere, which deteriorates the ozone and corrupts the greenhouse effect which maintains normal conditions of life (Courtney). Worldwide, global warming is happening, and most of the reason this is happening is because of manmade activities that cause pollution to our environment. Most often, the finger is being pointed at governments and industries, but there is sometimes where the finger needs to be pointed at the individual consumers. First, it is well known that transportation is one of the leading causes of global warming pollution. A large amount of automobiles burn some type of fossil fuel usually gasoline or diesel. Automobiles release greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane, out of the muffler. Small cars and sport utility vehicles (SUVs) supply an enormous amount of global warming pollution. SUVs are targeted more for being a major supplier of carbon dioxide. Mckibben states, “ If you switched today from the average American car to a big SUV, and drove it for just one year, the difference in carbon dioxide that you produced would be equivalent of opening your refrigerator door and the forgetting to close it for six years” (Mckibben 748). SUVs are well-known for their poor fuel efficiencies and
Cited: Bass, Rick. “Why I Hunt.” The McGraw Hill Reader. Issues across the Disciplines Ed, Gilbret H Miller. 11th ed. Boston: McGraw Hill, 2011. 742-745. Print. Carson, Rachel. “The Obligation to Endure.” The McGraw Hill Reader. Issues across the Disciplines Ed, Gilbret H Miller. 11th ed. Boston: McGraw Hill, 2011. 750-755. Print. Courtney, Richard. John Daly. 15 May 1999. 5 November 2012 . Web. “Global Warming: What Should We Do About It?”. Constitutional Rights Foundation. 5 November 2012. < http://www.crf-usa.org/bill-of-rights-in-action/bria-18-4-b.htm>l. Web. McKibben, Bill. “The Environmental Issue from Hell.” The McGraw Hill Reader. Issues across the Disciplines Ed, Gilbret H Miller. 11th ed. Boston: McGraw Hill, 2011. 746-749. Print. Lopez, Barry. “Children in the Woods.” The McGraw Hill Reader. Issues across the Disciplines Ed, Gilbret H Miller. 11th ed. Boston: McGraw Hill, 2011. 734-737. Print. . The Great Global Warm Up: Arguments Against Global Warming. American Policy Roundtable, n.d. Web. 8 Nov 2012. . Web.