Annotated Bibliography

Global Warming and Renewable Energy

By: Kassady Winfrey
Date: Updated 05/02/19

Begos, Kevin. “Solar Energy Controversies.” CQ Researcher by CQ Press, CQ Press, 29 Apr. 2016,
library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/document.php?id=cqresrre2016042900.

Begos provides a relatively current look at the position that solar energy is in. More and more people are
starting to see the benefits of renewable energy and some power companies see that interest as a threat
to their revenue. While others see the embracing of renewable energy as a way to appeal to their
customers. The main drawback of solar energy is that it is intermediate. Output is weaker on cloudy
days, and at night. The allure of renewable energy remains however, and experts in the field of
renewable energy are looking at ways to solve this problem.

Clemmitt, Marcia. “Is a Mass Die-off Underway?” Shibboleth Authentication Request, CQ Researcher, 15
Dec. 2017,
library.cqpress.com.proxy039.nclive.org/cqresearcher/document.php?id=cqresrre2017121500&typ
e=hitlist&num=12.

Clemmitt reports on the idea that a mass extinction is underway. Clemmitt informs us that in November
2017 more than 15,300 scientists from all around the globe sent out a warning stating that humans have
unleashed a mass extinction where many current species could be extinct by the end of the current
century. More specifically, since 1970 the number of vertebrates (mammals, reptiles, birds, amphibians,
fish) on the planet has been cut in half. Such a large loss in a relatively small-time signals of a mass
extinction. Scientist say that human action is the leading cause in this loss of life. Fossil fuels, over
hunting, and deforestation are a few of the particular contributors.

Cooper, Mary H. “Are Limits on Greenhouse Gas Emissions Needed?” Shibboleth Authentication
Request, CQ Researcher, 1 Nov. 1996,
library.cqpress.com.proxy039.nclive.org/cqresearcher/document.php?id=cqresrre1996110100&typ
e=hitlist&num=6.

This article written by Cooper in 1996 goes to show that global warming and climate change is not a new
issue. Cooper gives a brief overview of the Swedish Chemist, Svante Arrhenius, who originally
discovered the Greenhouse effect all the way back in 1896. Arrhenius theorized that the rapid pace of
industrialization occurring towards the end of the 19 century would cause gases to be trapped in the
atmosphere thus raising the temperature of the earth. The problem was, scientist did not have the
equipment to verify Arrhenius’s theory when it was first proposed. Cooper states that modern science has
proven that the temperature of the Earth had risen 1 degree since 1900 and is expected to rise 2-7 more in
the 21 century.
 Lyons, Christina L. “Will Deregulatory Efforts Harm the Environment?” Shibboleth Authentication
Request, CQ Researcher, 13 Oct. 2018,
library.cqpress.com.proxy039.nclive.org/cqresearcher/document.php?id=cqr_ht_climate_change_2
018&type=hitlist&num=8.

In this article Lyons covers many of the changes that we have seen occur with United States policies
concerning global warming and climate change in the last decade or so. She puts an emphasis on the changes
that have taken place since the switch between the Obama and Trump administrations. During the era of
the Obama administration climate change and global warming was seen as a threat to national security and
a contingency plan was in place under The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), but since
the Trump administration took office all mentions of climate change have been removed from the agency.
Lyons lists several ways that the current U.S administration is hard at work repelling Obama era laws that
deal in subverting and protecting against global warming. Most notably, in 2017, president Trump pulled
out of the Paris Climate Agreement which the United States joined under Obama in 2015.

Marshall, Patrick. “Is FEMA Prepared for Weather Catastrophes?” Emergency Support Function Annexes
| FEMA.gov, CQ Researcher, 12 Jan. 2018, www.fema.gov/disaster/4339/hurricane-preparedness.

Marshall gives us a relatively current look at the state that FEMA is in. 2017 was the costliest year on
record for damage caused by natural disasters with totals coming in around 306 billion. Critics of local
governments wonder at the repeated allowance given to build (and rebuild) in proven disaster areas.
While experts agree that the current position that FEMA finds itself in is not working, they disagree on a
viable solution. Some experts feel that local governments need to take more responsibility for the clean up
after natural disasters, while others argue that if FEMA was funded properly much more could be
accomplished. Supporters of FEMA argue that the program is being stymied by bureaucratic red tape and
has been since hurricane Katrina.

Mossman, Matt. “Renewable Energy Debate.” CQ Researcher by CQ Press, CQ Press, 15 Mar. 2019,
library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/document.php?id=cqresrre2019031500&type=hitlist&num=8.

Mossman gives a good overlook at both the pros and cons of renewable energy. Globally renewable
energy use is on the rise, and it is expected to reach 30% by 2023. Many experts argue say that is not a
big enough increase in that time frame though. These same experts maintain that renewables must make
up 50% of energy by 2030 and 70% by 2050 to curb the worst effects of climate change. Mossman also
contends that it is social and political issues that are preventing a real breakthrough. Also, since the Paris
Agreement was ratified, emissions have fallen 1% in Europe, while raising 2.5 % in the United States.
Swope, Christopher. “Are Cities Prepared for the Growing Threat?” Shibboleth Authentication Request,
CQ Researcher, 16 Feb. 2018,
library.cqpress.com.proxy039.nclive.org/cqresearcher/document.php?id=cqresrre2018021600&typ
e=hitlist&num=10.

In his report Swope covers some of the contributors to the global rise in sea level. One contributor,
thermal expansion, is when water literally takes up more space due to the rise in its temperature. Another
contributor being the melting of land –based polar ice sheets, which when melted adds to the pre-existing
volume of seawater. Swope informs us that the sea level has risen 7-8 inches since 1900, and this rise, if it
continues, will eventually put major coastal cities at risk. Which, is something that coastal governments
are aware of, but such governments also depend on the revenue generated by the property tax that
waterfront properties bring in.

Wanlund, William. “Will Extreme Weather Lead to More Global Conflict?” Shibboleth Authentication
Request, CQ Researcher, 22 Sept. 2017,
library.cqpress.com.proxy039.nclive.org/cqresearcher/document.php?id=cqresrre2017092200&ty
pe=hitlist&num=13.

In this article Wanlund covers a lot of information. One of the main topics of coverage is if extreme
weather contributed to the civil war in Syria. Proponents of this theory argue that rising temperatures in
Syria led to major food shortages, and then a four year drought led to mass migration which caused social
unrest. Which made Syria a perfect breeding ground for terrorists and terrorism. Another point made by
Wanlund is that the pentagon issued reports (in 2008 and 2010) alluding to the fact that climate change
would have an effect on terrorism and weapons proliferation, and that it would shape what missions were
undertaken by the United States military. Wanlund also touches on the topic of how president Trump’s
decision to pull out of the Paris Climate Agreement could possibly put the United States at risk of losing
important allies.