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The problem described in the article "Scientists Say a Quest for Clean Energy Must Begin Now" by Andrew Revkin is the climate change issue. Research has been collected pointing a large portion of earth's increase in temperature to nonrenewable resource use. These nonrenewable resources include fossil fuels such as oil, coal, and natural gas. There is debate whether or not climate change is as an important issue as scientists make it out to be. The issue of government support is also brought up with the mention of policies countries have set concerning carbon emissions. The author of the article cites the research of scientists dominant in the climate field as well as those in the oil business. Revkin does not offer his own opinion on the subject and only cites what other people have said. Judging from the sources the author uses, he feels that both sides of the argument need to come together with a compromise if climate change is ever going to be tackled. Revkin supports cutting down on fossil fuel consumption whether it is through individual use or corporations.

The author correctly frames the problem by offering the side of scientists who do believe in climate change and the view of Exxon Mobil engineers. The article discusses how the United States did not sign the Kyoto Protocol back in 2002 and today, the U.S. is still not apart of it. The Kyoto Protocol is a treaty that most nations have adopted to have a positive influence over climate change. Revkin could have explained energy technologies in greater detail to give the reader an idea of how technologies, such as wind power, are developed. The author does not state his own solution directly, rather he implies both a reasonable and unreasonable one. It is reasonable because it is simple to say that the best way to solve a given problem is through compromise. It is not reasonable because the two groups of people involved, the scientists and those in the fossil fuel business, are looking for a solution that benefits them the most. These groups of people may prove to be more stubborn than expected because they are acting in the best interest of the fields they are representing.

This problem is important because both those who oppose transitioning to sustainable energy sources and those who have the research to prove it is occurring, need to come to an agreement. The article was written in 2002, and today the issue of climate change is even greater. We know more about the topic than ever before and it would be a disservice to the environment if we continued in the path of unsustainable energy use. New technologies are available that make installing solar panels in homes easier than ever. I have always believed in the importance of alternative energy sources especially solar and wind. I want to see the U.S. government supporting sustainable energy development more. Currently, there are incentives provided by the government for homeowners to install solar in their homes. This is essential if the government wants the alternate energy industry to flourish and lessen the government's dependence on fossil fuels. In the future I want to take a class on sustainable energy to learn more about it.

The focus of the Sustainable Design and Energy concentration at University is on learning about renewable sources of energy as well as environmentally conscious buildings and other structures. The concentration offers Environmental Studies skills needed to apply what is learned in class to developing more sustainable infrastructures. The concentration stresses knowledge in sustainability, alternative forms of energy, and land use. Skills necessary for this concentration include having business skills and having an innovative sense of thought. Business skills such as public speaking and strategy planning allow for the smooth running of a non-profit, for example. Since Sustainable Design and Energy is one of the controversial and growing fields of study in today's time, students need to have a creative thinking process to make these new ideas apart of our daily lives.

The concentration approaches environmental challenges by creating new models to explore the problem. A challenge that this concentration is developing plans for now is the diminishing supply of fossil fuels. Even though renewable forms of energy are supposed to rise in years to come, so will the consumption of nonrenewable fuels according to the director of the Sustainable Design and Energy concentration. The larger Environmental Studies major is represented in this concentration by teaching students to understand the relationship and impact humans have on nature. The structures that are built today have an presence on the natural world, adversely affecting ecosystems that humans share with nonhuman life. This concentration attempts to alleviate the negative impact humans have by teaching students alternate ways to design buildings and heat them.

 

 Samantha Woolhiser