Sometimes it’s hard to see the positive influence of your work. Especially in a field where you feel like your work needs to create an immediate response, i.e., behavior changes for sustainability-related issues like Climate Change. Sometimes this level of responsibility, plus seemingly slow or non-existent change can be overwhelming and often leaves one feeling defeated, burnt-out, and ready to give up. Of course, we folks in this field are not quitters- we’re in it to win it!
Recently, colleagues have been sharing works of literature and research that are intended to inspire and help reignite momentum, to forge on and continue this work for the greater good. This article, Reasons for Optimism on Climate Change by Michael Northrop, is certainly helpful and hopeful.
Northrop provides a thorough summary of the recent changes, both nationally and internationally, in legislation, regulation, policy, and marketplace/consumerism behavior as it relates to climate change, Co2 emissions, and renewable energy technology.
Some of the information within might shock you. Did you know our U.S. carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are down to 1996 levels right now?
Or that the “Energy Information Agency, which tracks U.S. emissions, calculates that anticipated energy use in 2030 could be 40 percent lower in the U.S. than was anticipated in 2005″? Why? Because, amazingly, the private sector is realizing it’s cheaper to do business by going green! Northrop, I have to agree when you say: It is illuminating to realize that these declines in energy use are being driven by leadership fractions of owners and developers who are out ahead of policy because of the economic benefits of moving faster.
In light of the recent poll from the Yale Project on Climate Change Communication that indicates U.S. citizens are increasingly doubting climate change, I am hopeful to read from Northrop the number of folks who believe the Obama Administration should put more emphasis on the development of renewables is on the rise. Apparently and thankfully their disbelief in climate change does not interfere with the common sense of renewable energy technologies.
It is heartening to read of the international response to climate change and renewables, too. So often we read of China’s exponentially fast growing coal energy growth and it is depressing. However, as Northrop summarized, the International Energy Agency declares that “renewable energy is the fastest growing sector of the global power market and that it will be 25 percent of all energy generation worldwide by 2018. Wind and solar are powering this jump, the IEA says, doubling between 2011 and 2018.”
I’ve only touched the tip of the hopeful iceberg (pun intended) that Northrop exposes in his article. It’s a great read, highly recommended to get you optimistic for 2014. It also helps you know what to keep an eye on as improvements continue to be made, like the currently volatile Production Tax Credit (PTC).
Here’s to living the green dream in 2014!
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Stephenie Presseller, Sustainability Manager-Center for Sustainability, Moraine Valley Community College.
So, starting the work you should define what you want to describe. As a rule, descriptive papers focus on some place, experience, person, memory, or object. Then think about the reason of writing the paper. Do you really believe that it is worth your time? For sure there is something that you would do instead of academic writing, so why don’t you give this work to us?