Americans currently consume twenty-six percent of the world's energy.
The United States imports about seventy percent of its oil, and we import about twelve million barrels each day. This costs us around $700 billion dollars per year.
More than seventy percent of the imported oil is used in transportation.
World energy consumption is expected to increase 40% to 50% by the year 2010, and the global mix of fuels--renewables (18%), nuclear (4%), and fossil (78%)--is projected to remain substantially the same as today; thus global carbon dioxide emissions would also increase 50% to 60%.
America uses about 15 times more energy per person than does the typical developing country.
On average, 16 million tons of carbon dioxide are emitted into the atmosphere every 24 hours by human use worldwide.
The United States is the world's largest single emitter of carbon dioxide, accounting for 23 percent of energy-related carbon emissions worldwide.
Fossil fuels, which are what we mainly use for power and transportation, are depleted at a rate that is 100,000 times faster than they are formed.
My Mission:
When my family began to start buying flourescent lightbulbs and driving cars that ran on biodiesel, I started to question global warming and the effect we are having on our Earth. There is scientific evidence that proves that the Earth is slowly warming, and its average temperatures are steadily on the rise.
Global warming is caused by carbon dioxide, or CO2, emissions. When fossil fuels are burned, this gas is emitted, and creates a hole in the ozone layer of the atmosphere. The ozone layer is crucial because it protects the Earth from the sun's harmful rays. However, once the hole is created, the sun can easily beam down on the planet, causing a rise in temperatures.
"Going Green" is not only about reducing our fossil fuel use, though. This popular movement encourages citizens to make healthier choices for themselves and their environment. We can easily do this by buying organic foods, which did not have to be handled in a factory, like most other foods. We can recycle, which cuts down the amount of trash in landfills and allows us to reuse our precious resources, and we can light our homes and offices by opening windows, which cuts down on coal that provides us with electricity.
Our resources are becoming more limited everyday. Eventually, the Earth will not have any fossil fuels for us to use. When this happens, we will only have the option of turning to renewable resources like alternative fuels made from vegetable oils and animal fats, and to different forms of power, like wind, hydroelectric, and solar energy. However, we should not wait until the Earth runs out of fossil fuels to make the much-needed change. Now is the time for us to begin to convert to the more reliable and energy-conscious energy sources.
Through my example of volunteerism and compassion for this cause, I want to inspire others to join my efforts to support the "Go Green" movement. My critical issue, "Green is the New Black: Protecting Our Environment" helps me reach out to citizens and inform them of the change we must make. My voice as Miss Greater Jacksonville allows me to magnify my ability to serve as an advocate for the environment in my area.
