The Earth, which is the only human habitat,is warmed by sunlight and the temperature of the earth is kept comfortable by greenhouse gases. If there are no gases, the earth’s average temperature would be negative 19 degrees Celsius, so greenhouse gases are necessary for human beings and other organisms to survive. However,Greenhouse gases have been increasing from human activity since the early twentieth century. The world’s population has been steadily growing, so carbon dioxide production and the burning of fossil fuels has grown alongside it and is extremely high. These emissions increase greenhouse gases and excessive gases raise global temperatures. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA),Texas' coal-fired power plants are one of the largest polluters in the state, even ranking ahead of oil refineries and natural gas-fired power plants. Electricity generation and transportation are the two large sources of greenhouse gas emissions in Travis County. The total amount of greenhouse gas emissions for Austin-Travis County in 2016 was 13.7 million metric tons. Electricity generation accounts for 41 percent and transportation accounts for 36 percent of the total number of greenhouse gas emissions. Compared to 2013, the greenhouse gas produced from electricity generation decreased by 5 percent and carbon dioxide from transportation decreased by just 1 percent. Furthermore,greenhouse gas that was emitted from industrial processes increased by an astounding 68 percent.
Greenhouse gases can cause global warming, which in effect, has many negative impacts on humanity, such as health issues. Rising temperatures from global warming can also negatively affect children. Higher temperatures increase death, especially among fetuses, toddlers, and young children. When temperatures increase with other conditions, such as high humidity,disease, or pollution, it can directly cause heat exhaustion and worsen other conditions, such as asthma, yellow fever,onchocerciasis, and trypanosomiasis. Unfortunately, these conditions often have long term consequences. Therefore,children must stay indoors and stay cool during the hottest time of the day or hottest season of the year (Graff and Shrader,2016).
The Texas green budget is provided by the EPA. However, the Trump Administration is going to cut 31 percent of the EPA budget by 2020. It is obvious that it will affect the Texas environment. Therefore, the Texas government ought to reconsider the state’s budget in order to protect the Texas environment and Texans.
Another reference
Zivin Joshua Graff and Shrader Jeffrey “Temperature Extremes, Health, and Human Capital.” Spring, 2016. pp. 31-50
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