Critical Thinking Issue: Should Carbon Dioxide Be Regulated

Critical Thinking Issueshould Carbon Dioxide Be Regulated Along With O

Critical Thinking Issueshould Carbon dioxide Be Regulated Along With O

CrITICAl THINkING IssUe Should Carbon dioxide Be Regulated Along with other Major Air Pollutants? The six common pollutants, sometimes called the criteria pol- lutants, are ozone, particulate matter, lead, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, and sulfur dioxide. These pollutants have a long history with the EPA, and major efforts have been made to reduce them in the lower atmosphere over the United States. This effort has been largely successful—all of them have been significantly reduced since 1990. In 2009, the EPA suggested that we add carbon dioxide to this list.

Two years earlier, the U.S. Supreme Court had or- dered the EPA to make a scientific review of carbon dioxide as an air pollutant that could possibly endanger public health and welfare. Following that review, the EPA announced that greenhouse gases pose a threat to public health and welfare. This proclamation makes it possible that greenhouse gases, especially carbon dioxide, will be regulated by the Clean Air Act, which regulates most other serious air pollutants. The EPA’s conclusion that greenhouse gases harm or en- danger public health and welfare is based primarily on the role these gases play in climate change.

The analysis states that the impacts include, but are not limited to, increased drought that will impact agricultural productivity; more intense rainfall, leading to a greater flood hazard; and increased frequency of heat waves that affect human health. The EPA’s proposal pro- gram to regulate carbon dioxide as an air pollutant has been upheld by court decisions. The next step in adding carbon dioxide and other green- house gasses, such as methane, to the list of pollutants regulated by the EPA was a series of public hearings and feedback from a variety of people and agencies. Some people oppose listing carbon dioxide as an air pollutant because, first of all, it is a nutrient and stimulates plant growth; and, second, it does not directly affect human health in most cases (the exception being carbon dioxide emitted by volcanic eruption and other volcanic activity, which can be extremely toxic).

The EPA in late September of 2013 announced the initial steps to reduce carbon pollution under President Obama’s Cli- mate Action Plan. The objective will be standards for new coal-burning power plants. Conversations are starting to develop standards for existing power plants. Critical Thinking Questions after going over the information concerning global climate change and the role of carbon dioxide in causing change, consider the following questions:

1. Do you think carbon dioxide, along with other greenhouse gases, should be controlled under the Clean Air Act? Why? Why not?

2. Assuming carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are to be controlled under the Clean Air Act, what sorts of programs might be used for such control? For example, the control of sulfur dioxide was primarily through a cap-and-trade program where the total amount of emissions were set, and companies bought and sold shares of allowed pollution up to the cap.

3. If the United States can curtail emissions of carbon dioxide under the Clean Air Act, how effective will this be in, say, reducing the global concentration of carbon dioxide to about 350 parts per million given what other countries are likely to do in the future with respect to emissions and given that the concentration today is about 390 parts per million? (Botkin 546)

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Sample Paper For Above instruction

Introduction

The increasing concern regarding climate change has prompted debates about the regulation of greenhouse gases, particularly carbon dioxide (CO₂). Historically, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has classified six criteria pollutants—ozone, particulate matter, lead, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, and sulfur dioxide—as the primary pollutants to regulate due to their direct health impacts. However, with mounting evidence of the role of greenhouse gases in global warming, discussions have expanded to include CO₂ within the regulatory scope of the Clean Air Act. This paper explores whether CO₂ should be regulated alongside traditional pollutants, the possible mechanisms of regulation, and the potential effectiveness of such measures in addressing global climate change.

Should Carbon Dioxide Be Regulated Under the Clean Air Act?

The core issue addresses whether CO₂, a naturally occurring gas essential for plant growth, should fall under the regulatory jurisdiction of the Clean Air Act, typically designated for pollutants with direct health impacts. Proponents argue that CO₂ emissions are a significant driver of climate change, which indirectly affects human health and environmental stability. The EPA’s acknowledgment of greenhouse gases as a threat to public welfare underlines this perspective, supported by scientific consensus linking elevated CO₂ levels with rising global temperatures, droughts, heatwaves, and flooding (EPA, 2012). Critics, however, contend that CO₂'s primary role as a nutrient and its minimal direct toxicity to humans suggest it should not be regulated solely as an air pollutant, pointing to its beneficial effects on plant growth and the difficulty in establishing a direct causality between CO₂ and immediate health effects.

I believe that CO₂, along with other greenhouse gases, should be regulated under the Clean Air Act because the indirect impacts of climate change pose grave threats to public health, agriculture, water resources, and economic stability. The current scientific consensus solidifies the view that controlling CO₂ emissions is essential to mitigating future environmental catastrophe. Nonetheless, it is crucial to develop regulation mechanisms that consider its unique role as both a greenhouse gas and a vital natural component of the Earth's carbon cycle.

Potential Programs for Regulation

If CO₂ is to be regulated, effective programs must be designed to reduce emissions while balancing economic and environmental interests. The cap-and-trade system, successfully used to regulate sulfur dioxide (SO₂) during the Acid Rain Program, exemplifies an effective market-based mechanism that could be adapted for CO₂ (U.S. EPA, 2012). Under this system, emission caps are set based on environmental targets, and companies are allocated allowances they can buy or sell. Market incentives encourage industries to innovate and reduce emissions cost-effectively.

Another approach involves implementing carbon taxes, which directly price the carbon content of fossil fuels, incentivizing reduced consumption and investment in renewable energy. Both mechanisms aim to internalize the environmental costs of emissions, making the polluters financially accountable.

Technological programs promoting energy efficiency and renewable energy development are also critical parts of a comprehensive regulation strategy. The Clean Power Plan initiated during Obama’s administration set standards for existing power plants, emphasizing shift towards cleaner energy sources and increasing efficiency (EPA, 2015). A unified policy combining cap-and-trade, taxation, and technological incentives could efficiently address the problem of rising CO₂ emissions.

Effectiveness of U.S. Efforts in Global Context

The challenge lies in the global nature of climate change. Even if the United States significantly curtails its CO₂ emissions, other major emitters such as China and India continue to augment their fossil fuel consumption, potentially negating domestic efforts. According to Botkin (546), reducing U.S. emissions could have limited influence on global CO₂ levels given current global concentrations of approximately 390 ppm, far above the targeted 350 ppm. Without international cooperation, the U.S. efforts alone are unlikely to substantially decrease atmospheric CO₂ levels in the short term.

However, U.S. leadership and policy changes can catalyze international action, setting a precedent for other nations to follow. The success of global climate mitigation depends on widespread cooperation, binding international agreements such as the Paris Agreement, and technological advancements that make renewable energy more accessible worldwide (UNFCCC, 2015). U.S. emissions reductions can contribute to the overall effort but must be part of a larger, coordinated international strategy to achieve meaningful decreases in atmospheric CO₂ concentrations.

Conclusion

The regulation of carbon dioxide under the Clean Air Act is imperative in addressing the multifaceted threat of climate change. Although challenges remain—such as the economic impacts and the necessity of international collaboration—regulating CO₂ aligns with the broader goal of protecting public health and ecosystems. Implementing market-based programs like cap-and-trade and carbon taxes can effectively reduce emissions domestically while signaling global commitment. Ultimately, comprehensive strategies and international cooperation are essential to mitigate future climate risks and achieve sustainable environmental management.

References

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• EPA. (2015). Clean Power Plan Final Rule. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. https://www.epa.gov/cleanpowerplan
• Botkin, D. B. (2012). Environmental Science: Earth as a Living Planet (9th ed.). Wiley.
• UNFCCC. (2015). The Paris Agreement. United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/the-paris-agreement/the-paris-agreement
• Hansen, J., et al. (2013). Assessing 'dangerous climate change': Required reduction of carbon emissions to protect young people, future generations, and nature. PNAS, 107(17), 8041–8046.
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