Time+to+Close+the+Global+Energy+Gap

= Time to Close the Global Energy Gap = Link: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8921985.stm BBC News Accessed 9/21/2017



There exists an enormous energy gap between wealthy countries and the developing world. While people in modern industrialized countries rely on electric lights, modern stoves, and other devices that meet safe levels of energy efficiency, those in the third world still often rely on coal and even wood to heat their homes and for cooking. This has caused increased pollution and deforestation in these countries. The UN's Advisory Group on Energy and Climate Change (AGECC) has developed a plan to work with countries and business officials to reduce global energy intensity by 40% by 2030. In order for the goal of universal energy to work, however, all sides (private businesses, academia, civil society and international organizations, and NGOs) must come together in order to create a cleaner world while also providing for economic growth and development.
 * SUMMARY:**

AP Environmental Science is all about learning new innovative ways to solve the challenges of pollution and other environmental problems. So far in the class, we have learned that in order for a society to change into a sustainable one, we must consider economic and political perspectives as well as moral ones. This article discusses how both governments and businesses can get into this, and also discusses the potential for new jobs. This article also fundamentally shows evidence of the UN trying to implement an input control/pollution prevention method for dealing with air pollution. In class, we learned that pollution prevention works a lot better than pollution cleanup in most cases.
 * RELEVANCE TO COURSE:**

I thoroughly believe that this is a great initiative on the part of the UN. I think that this and other strategies like it will push us forward in the right direction. The third world is becoming increasingly overpopulated, and as that happens, it becomes less and less practical to use traditional energy sources. Plus, not only does the burning of wood and coal significantly increase pollution in these areas, it contributes to the degradation of the environment of the entire world because that pollution can spread around the world or get trapped in our atmosphere, thus producing global warming. I think that we need more programs like this one.
 * OPINION:**

The International Environmental Protection Act of 1983 relates to this issue. This act gives the President authority to help other countries to protect their environments, which is certainly applicable here. Also, this law states that the World Conservation Strategy should be used by the Agency for International Development as a guide to conserve biodiversity. The UN seems to be using the World Conservation Strategy in this initiative. I think this law makes it very easy for the United States to take part in this UN initiative.
 * LAW:**