Convince high school students to use solar power for their high school: Educate, engage, empower
Formal Essay: You will compose a 1,000-1,200 word argumentative essay that (a) educates an audience of non-engaged stakeholders about the issue or topic; (b) engages the audience by convincing them that they should care about this issue or topic; and (c) empowers the audience to take action in some way. By the conclusion of the essay, the audience should feel both engaged with the topic and empowered to act. The written part of the assignment will be evaluated using the FYC Rubric, which can be found at the FYC site. The intermediate draft for Project 3 takes the form of a draft of the written (text only) argument. This draft should be a polished essay (1,000 – 1,200 words) that (a) educates an audience of non-engaged stakeholders about the issue or topic; (b) engages the audience by convincing them that they should care about this issue or topic; and (c) empowers the audience to take action in some way. This draft should include a thesis, all major points, evidence to support these points (including in-text citations from appropriate sources), and a Works Cited page.
Title: The Imperative Role of Renewable Energy in Mitigating Climate Change
Climate change, due to the excessive emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, is one of the most significant challenges humankind faces today. As a society heavily reliant on fossil fuels, we are unwittingly pushing our planet towards an environmental catastrophe. Therefore, the transition to renewable energies, such as wind, solar, and hydropower, is incumbent upon us as a measure to mitigate the impacts of climate change.
At the moment, many people aren’t engaged in or aware of the issue’s severity because it doesn’t directly affect them in their day-to-day lives. However, the stakeholders in this issue aren’t just environmentalists or policymakers, but rather every citizen on the planet.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) asserts that human activities are the main contributor to global warming, primarily due to the burning of fossil fuels and deforestation. Consequently, increased greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere cause a rise in global temperatures, a phenomenon known as the greenhouse effect, leading to climate change impacts such as extreme weather conditions, rising sea levels, and increased disease prevalence.
Renewable energy, unlike fossil fuels, generates power from sources that are naturally replenished. It’s an eco-friendly alternative and a way out of our dependency on coal, petroleum, and gas, which have lasting harmful impacts on our environment. Renewable energy sources include wind, solar, hydro, and geothermal energy.
Embracing renewable energies can aid in significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions. According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), increasing the renewable energy share to 65% of total energy consumption by 2050 could reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 70%.
Furthermore, renewable energy technologies also bring economic benefits. The renewable energy sector generated more than 11 million jobs worldwide in 2018, according to IRENA. Hence, advocating for renewables isn’t just good for the environment; it’s also a potential economic game-changer, promoting job growth and stimulating local economies. This fact further buttresses the case for the widespread adoption of renewable energy technologies.
Now, why should you care? The short answer is: because our future depends on it. The earth’s ability to support life as we know it is diminishing, and we all have a stake in its preservation. Plus, it is our responsibility to pass on a safer and healthier planet to future generations.
Moving forward, what can we do? The first step is to become more informed about the benefits of renewable energy. The second is to make conscious decisions that encourage its widespread usage. We can install solar panels or wind turbines in our homes, support organizations that adopt green energy, and lobby our representatives for policies promoting renewable energies. The power is in our hands; every step towards green energy counts.
A commitment to renewable energy benefits us all: it helps us combat climate change, generate employment, and leads to a more sustainable future. We must push forward with the renewable energy transition, not only for ourselves but for the survival of future generations.
To conclude, climate change is an urgent crisis that requires prompt and effective measures, and harnessing renewable energy sources is a viable solution. Every stakeholder, meaning every global citizen, must get engaged. The wave of change starts with awareness and manifests in action. Our collective efforts can mitigate climate change impacts and secure a sustainable future for us and future generations.
Works Cited:
- Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. “Climate Change 2014 Synthesis Report.” IPCC, 2014.
- International Renewable Energy Agency. “Renewable Power Generation Costs in 2017.” IRENA, 2018.
- International Renewable Energy Agency. “Renewable Energy and Jobs – Annual Review.” IRENA, 2019.
