The U.S. and Climate Change

The United States has been criticized at the U.N. gatherings for years, in part because of its rejection of the Kyoto framework and in part because it has not adopted a comprehensive domestic program for reducing its own greenhouse gas emissions. President Obama has pledged to reduce American emissions 17 percent below 2005 levels by 2020, but his preferred approach, a nationwide cap-and-trade system for carbon pollution, was passed by the House in 2009 but died in the Senate the next year. United States emissions are down about 6 percent over the past five years, largely because of the drop in industrial and electricity production caused by the recession.

In January 2011, the Environmental Protection Agency began imposing regulations related to greenhouse gas emissions. The immediate effect on utilities, refiners and major manufacturers was minor, with the new rules applying only to those planning to build large new facilities or make major modifications to existing plants. Over the next decade, however, the agency plans to regulate virtually all sources of greenhouse gases, imposing efficiency and emissions requirements on nearly every industry and every region.

QUESTIONS:

• Who was the one who pledged to reduce American emission by 17% below?
• How Greenhouse effect differs from global warming?
• How can Americans be able to help in reducing the greenhouse effect?
• Why did Climate change occur?
• What will happen if climate change gets even worst?
• Do you believe that there is still hope for the U.S. to fight climate change?