Environmental Pollution, Essay Example

In the contemporary world of fierce competition, people rarely think about the future. They are focused on the present moment and the pollution and contamination problems that are not visible immediately, do not bother their minds. However, such a serious hazard as global warming is not an issue of one person or even one nation. It is a time bomb that can explode any moment and affect the whole planet.  “On June 23, 1988, James Hansen, the director of the Goddard Institute at NASA, told the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources that global warming was a reality and that is was extremely dangerous” (Global Warming).

Though there is sound evidence that the greenhouse effect exists, little has been done to stop or at least lessen the harmful effects of its causes. Most of the researches and studies on the problem has been aimed at finding the causes of global warming and evaluating its damages to the environment. Using common sense and logic would lead us to a conclusion that in order to stop global warming, we should eliminate its sources. Nevertheless, this is literary impossible, as far as the main destructor of the ozone layer, which protects our planet from ultraviolet radiation, is carbon dioxide, formed by power plants, cars, and airplanes. “In 2002 about 40% of U.S. carbon dioxide emissions stem from the burning of fossil fuels for the purpose of electricity generation”, while “About 33% of U.S carbon dioxide emissions comes from the burning of gasoline in internal-combustion engines of cars and light trucks” (Causes of Global Warming). Undoubtedly, businesses together with the government is not willing to sacrifice its economical benefits for the sake of the environment, as far as the results of global warming will, supposedly, physically effect the owners of cars and plants in many years.

In my opinion, our government should cooperate with the governments all over the world to pursue long-term goals of keeping our planet safe from the dangers of the green house effect. Businesses that emit carbon dioxide should be forced to use special protective equipment. Car owners should be educated on how to equip their cars with environment-friendly engines or given a possibility to change their cars for ‘green’ ones. Everyone in the world should stop neglecting the actions, which can possibly destroy the life of the children.

Works Cited

Global Warming. 16 Sept. 1999. 14 May 2009. <http://library.thinkquest.org/26026/Environmental_Problems/global_warming_-_causes.html>

Causes of Global Warming. 14 May 2009. <http://www.ecobridge.org/content/g_cse.htm>