Apr. 21, 2022
Climate change represents the largest economic danger to our country and the world. Greenhouse gas emissions contribute to rising health costs and to effects of global warming, including increased propensity and severity of natural disasters. Reliance on greenhouse gas generating energy sources also contributes to energy dependence and negatively impacts the United States' foreign image, harming our international policy goals. Greener energy production methods are also currently more cost effective and represent a major potential source of economic growth in the coming years. Given the global nature of the costs associated with greenhouse gas emissions and the major benefits generated by sustainable practices, emissions reporting should be mandated. Investors deserve the right to know the environmental impact of the corporations they invest in. Such a change would allow for greater awareness of environmental impact and would increase market pressure to invest in more sustain able practices. Such investment would increase the rate of decarbonation and would help maintain the competitiveness of American businesses compared to foreign companies investing in greener practices. For more information on the impacts of American reliance on fossil fuels and the economic, political, and environmental implications of adopting greener practices, a reference article is provided: https://protect2.fireeye.com/v1/url?k=31323334-50bba2bf-3132d782-4544474f5631-d66a61fda9308d20&q=1&e=eecc17c8-d3c0-4961-a882-4b853dbf8f84&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ballardbrief.org%2Four-briefs%2Fgreen-energy-usage-in-the-united-states.