Writers for Popular Mechanics magazine, March 1912., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Fossil fuel companies knew about climate change since the 1950s. For those of you who do not know what climate change is, Climate change is the rise of the earth’s temperature, creating large alterations in its weather patterns. This is caused by Greenhouse gas emissions which are water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, sulfur hexafluoride, and other chemicals that are released into the air. This causes The greenhouse effect, which is heat, that is trapped close to the earth’s surface by greenhouse gases which in turn causes the earth’s temperature to rise, causing extreme weather events.
Extreme weather events such as hurricanes, wildfires, glacier melting, sea water rise, and extreme heat, is affecting coastal regions, indigenous people, and the impoverish.
How are greenhouse gases formed? Great question, Greenhouse gases are formed in nature, which are fine but then humans came along and discovered oil, built machines, and started polluting the air, with carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels (oil, coal, and natural gas). This is strengthening the greenhouse effect, causing global warming. The more gases released, the warmer our planet gets.
.Since climate change has become a threat, came The Paris Agreement. On dec 12th 2015 An agreement was made between world leaders to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions which would limit global temperature increases.
Now, on to fossil fuel, Companies like Exxon, Exxon Mobile, Chevron, Apa Corporation, Cheniere Energy, Chesapeake Energy, Civitas Resources, Northern Oil, and gas, and many more in the United States among other countries, are producing fossil fuels. . The United states is the second highest country in the world with the highest amount of gas emissions.
In the article assessing Exxon mobile global warming projections by g supran, s rahmstorf, and n oreskes it says how Exxon mobile company has known about global warming since the 1950s. Ford mobile company since the 1970s and General Motor company since the late 1970s. The other fossil fuel companies since the 1980s. Furthermore, leaked Exxon documents from the 1970s show that Exxon mobile company’s scientists accurately predicted when global warming would be detectable, and how much co2 would dangerously affect the planet. Many cities and states are suing the fossil fuel companies for knowingly contributing to global warming. Also, for knowing about how the fossil fuels were harming the environment and denying the information to the public. Even President Joe Biden has promised to hold fossil fuel companies accountable.
In blame where blame is due many Americans support suing fossil fuel companies for global warming damages by Abel Gustafson, Jennifer Marlon, Matthew h Goldberg, Xinran wang, Matthew t Ballew, Seth a Rosenthal, and Anthony Leiserowitz it says, how science proves that fossil fuel is causing global warming. The damage caused by global warming is destroying community properties by extreme heat, wildfires, drought, flooding hurricanes and exedra. In the meantime, these fossil fuel companies are trying to stop or slow down any efforts to turn away from non-electric cars or engines. 57% of most Americans can agree that the fossil fuel companies are responsible to pay for the cost of damages caused by global warming to local communities.
Outer continental shelf lands act- Created on Aug. 7th 1953, says that all submerged lands from shore to three miles out is under U.S jurisdiction and the secretary of interior is responsible for granting leases to the highest paying bidder and to formulate regulation as necessary to carry out… pretty much what this says is this secretary person has the authority to sell off pieces of land that is under water to the highest paying oil and gas company.
THE ANTIQUITIES ACT- This gives the U.S President authority to create national monuments from federal lands to protect all features of that land.
PROTECTING OFFSHORE AREAS FROM OIL AND GAS LEASING: PRESIDENTIAL AUTHORITY INDER THE OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF LANDS ACT AND ANTIQUITIES ACT says that the us president has the authority to withdraw federal land to protect it from anyone or anything that can cause damage to that land.
CLIMATE CHANGE POLICIES OF US AND CHINA: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS BY AFZAL SAMRANA- This pretty much says that the U.S is letting politics and power decide the way we deal with global warming. Also, that there is over 2800 gigatons of carbon stored in fossil reserves and that much is five times the allowable limit to keep the earth from heating up 2 degrees Celsius. If the earth heats up more than that, it will be disastrous. Ice will melt, the earth will flood, we all die.
This is the summery of what you just read…
Global Warming is real, and gas and oil companies are a big factor in it. The gas and Oil companies have known about this for a long time and chose not to say anything. They are now being sued by several states and cities. The President has the authority to stop oil and gas companies from drilling on federal land. Instead, let politics and power decide on how we deal with climate change. Also, that there is over 2800 gigatons of carbon stored in fossil reserves and that much is five times the allowable limit to keep the earth from heating up 2 degrees Celsius. If the earth heats up more than that, it will be disastrous. Ice will melt, sea water will rise, and we will all die.
The Way to solve this problem has been something scientists have been trying to figure out for a while now until recently. In the article Government Low Carbon Policies optimization for Smart Transportation enterprises, it says that China is the world leading country in the world with the highest gas emissions and in 2019 it was responsible for 26.7% of it. Wow, 26% Of The Entire World. Let Me Give You A Second To Let That Sink In…. China has more than tripled their gas emissions in the year 2020. So, now they have come up with smart transportation. Using artificial intelligence. So, I believe this will work for all of us. I believe that if we turn to smart tech for transportation, it would be a big step in the right direction of limiting fossil fuel and helping climate change.
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