National Environmental Policy Act Research Paper

bailiwick Environmental Policy Act - Research Paper ExampleThe National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) was first passed in 1969, and it is one of the first laws ever written which establishes an include national framework in the protection of the environment. It basically seeks to ensure that all agencies of the government give able consideration to the environment prior to undertaking any significant federal action which may profess the environment. This paper shall identity the most significant challenges facing the United States and/or the international community in resolving, identifying and/or dealing with this form _or_ system of government or issue or both. It shall identify and explain two various perspectives that contribute our understanding of the select issues. This paper shall define this issue/policy supported by query and analyses. Discussion There are various challenges which the United States and the international community are facing in relation to environme ntal policies and issues. When the Industrial Revolution hit its stride, the Earths climate and environment started undergoing changes these changes were for the most part seen in the agricultural and industrial practices (Berkeley University, 2004). Due to the increase in population and fossil fuel employ seen through burning, toxic emissions, vehicle emissions, and deforestation, various gases hit been introduced into our air which are harmful to living things, including tender-hearted life. These gases are introduced into the atmosphere mostly as a result of human activity, activities which produce high levels of one C dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide (greenhouse gases or GHGs). These are heavy gases and do not interact well with our ozone layer. As a result, our ozone layer is being slowly depleted (Berkeley University, 2004). This is unfortunate because the ozone layer shields us from the ultraviolet rays of the sun. These greenhouse gases in addition cause the greenho use effect where these gases trap the heat in the atmosphere and cause higher reason temperature levels, otherwise known as global warming. The US environmental issues largely stem from its energy use. The US remains to be the largest energy consumer in the world and also the worlds largest emitter of carbon dioxide (Berkeley University, 2004). go vehicles are the main sources of carbon emissions in the US and in recent years, shifts of use from cars to larger vehicles have assisted in reducing carbon emissions. In 2001, the US consumed about 24% of the worlds main energy breathing in. The US released about 1,883 million metric tons of carbon in 2001, and this is ascribe for 24% of the worlds carbon-related emissions (Berkeley University, 2004). In 2003, the US Department of Energy set forth its modality Vision program which was meant to assist the President in reducing greenhouse gas intensity from 2002 to 2012. This policy included different federal agencies coordinating with industrial leaders to minimize GHG emissions during the time period set. chaparral also states that a $1.2 billion hydrogen fuel plan was aimed at establishing technologies which would produce, store and distribute hydrogen as a fuel during transport (Berkeley University, 2004). The FreedomCAR (Cooperative Automotive Research) was also launched in an attempt to establish hydrogen fuel cell technology and advanced automotive technologies, including hydrogen-powered fuel cell cars. The US energy consumption will likely increase in the coming years and as a