Governing Carbon, Global Warming, Air Quality Deterioration - Essay Example

Your full June 7, Governing Carbon According to federal regulators, corrosion had troubled away nearly half of the metal wall of a pipeline (CNN). It conked out, and dropped up to 101,000 gallons of crude oil along the Santa Barbara coast last month. Rick McMichael of Plains All American Pipeline asserts that the underground oil pipeline was running 1,300 barrels an hour, below its maximum capacity of 2,000 barrels an hour (CNN). Moreover, McMichael states that line 901 were not operating at competence previous to or throughout the handout (CNN). In the intervening time the federal agency confirmed that Plains All American Pipeline is one of the worst violators listed by the U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Administration. Contempt of all facts, the cause of failure is still strange. In this incident, 87 birds and 53 marine mammals have expired. Response Officials confirmed that an extra 58 live birds and 40 marine mammals have been saved (CNN). Until now, 12,167 gallons of oily water has been reclaimed from the Pacific Ocean. Workers have taken out more than 5,000 cubic yards of petroleum-contaminated dirt, sand and vegetation (CNN). This paper argues that fossil fuels are responsible for much of the environmental damage, and that public subsidizing of fuel companies is adding to the dilemma. It is evident that global warming, air quality deterioration, oil spills and acid rain are increasing the environmental damage caused by fossil fuels. These problems exist because of our dependence on fossil fuels. Heat ensnaring gases are the most important reason of increasing temperature globally. These heat trapping gases are produced by burning of fossil fuels. Coal is the root cause of asthma and other health troubles. It ruins the atmosphere and discharges toxic mercury in an area. When fossil fuels are burned several gases are produced. Carbon dioxide is one of the most critical gases evolved. It traps more heat inside the earths atmosphere. Most of the studies have claimed that over the last 150 years, burning fossil fuels has resulted in more than a 25 percent rise in the amount of carbon dioxide in our environment. Coal-fired power plants are considered one of the largest sources of greenhouse gases. After 1800, there came a surprising and drastic change in temperature in the atmosphere. Most of the researchers have indicated that if the carbon dioxide remains increasing at this level and speed, then our planet will become warmer in the next centuries. Air pollution occurs when air in the atmosphere gets contaminated with toxic substances, chemicals and gases. The level of these toxic materials is high enough to harm human beings, animals and plants. Major air pollutants include suspended particulate matter, volatile organic compounds, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, sulphur oxides, lead, ground level ozone, and fuel wood. Air pollution does not only pollute the country in which the pollutants are given out; instead, the pollutants are transported to faraway places to destroy the ecosystems, crops, vegetation, and buildings through acid deposition. The emission of hazardous chemicals into the atmosphere results in global warming, which is the condition in which the temperature of the Earth rises due to the trapping of the sun’s light and heat by high concentration of greenhouse gases that include carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, methane and water vapors (Houghton). When these gases rise in concentration because of the industries and factories that burn fossil fuels, they start absorbing the sun’s heat, which results in a rise in temperature to an unacceptable degree. Acid rain is another hazardous effect of aviation contamination. When oil is burned in oil and gas industry, it releases various smog causing pollutants which is considered as the major cause of global warming. Oil spills, fires, and dissimilar types of pollution contaminate surface and soil water. Onshore pipelines cause severe corrosion that damages rivers. It also tributaries and terrorizes fish species. Offshore oil production also causes several risks to the surroundings. It may embrace severe turbulence to marine ecosystems, oil spills, and oil tanker accidents. Oil spill incidents kill marine organisms and birds. They also lead to coastal contamination. Public subsidizes fuel companies in a variety of ways. Security supply, social and economic benefits, enhancement of an environment, and employment can be considered as major lines for energy subsidies. Granting to the World Bank, the subsidies that are contributed to vast, profitable industries that lead the energy zone and different sectors are not admitted until today (Barnes and Halpern). There come such critical positions where one feels mandatory and realistic to enjoy the benefits of subsidies. They sound practical because they are needed to encourage the so called entrance of energy especially in developing states. Energy subsidy must support the communication towards the current energy resources. Studies have acknowledged that energy subsidies falsely subordinate the worth of energy paid by customers. Furthermore, it heaves the worthiness which is acknowledged by producers. In general, fossil fuel subsidies can be proving more important than the advantages. In a review, International Energy Agency concluded that the subsidies to renewable and low-carbon energy skills can result in the formation of enduring economic and environmental benefits. Hence, it is strongly argued that fuel companies should not be subsidized. This contention can be argued on the basis of facts. It is the duty of the Government to promote the growth of substitute fuels. Current technology has been broken enough that individual investors should be pacing in and funding these companies. It is also argued here that managing such a thing would be unfair to the private sector and taxpaying Americans. If a company desires to look into alternative fuel options, they should be able to be continued like other societies. On the other hand, this idea can be changed too. We can alter the proportion and the worth of this concept. One can also permit oil companies to take a tax subtraction. This benefit can be accessible to any producer or company in the U.S. The paper concludes that fossils fuels are contaminating the environment, and public subsidies must be regulated in order to stop or minimize this damage. Works Cited  Barnes, Douglas F., and Jonathan Halpern. "The Role of Energy Subsidies". Energy and Development Report. Washington, DC: United States of America, 2000. Print. 60-66. CNN. “Santa Barbara oil spill: Crude flowed well below capacity in ruptured pipe.” Martinez,M., Paul Vercammen and Ed Payne, 2015. Web. 22 May 2015. Houghton, John Theodore. Global Warming: The Complete Briefing. USA: Cambridge University Press, 2004. International Energy Agency. Renewable Energy Being Held Back by Fossil Fuel Subsidies. Rep. 35th ed. Vol. 13. N.p.: Energy Digital, 2011. Print.   Read More