Climate change and energy use are inextricably linked because carbon dioxide is an unavoidable outcome of the combustion of fossil fuels. Legislation that regulates carbon dioxide will have large implications for energy use in the United States because we rely on fossil fuels for nearly 85 percent of our energy needs. IER has written an overview of the politics and policy of climate change.
This presentation provides scientific background and economic analysis of global warming: what is occurring, potential causes and consequences, and the economic impact of legislative actions designed to mitigate future temperature increases.
This map illustrates the potential costs, on a state-by-state basis, of pending legislation designed to cap greenhouse gas emissions.
The layer of gases surrounding the Earth is known as the atmosphere. It protects life on Earth by absorbing the sun's intense radiation and moderating our temperature, or climate.
| Gas | % of Atmosphere |
|---|---|
| - Nitrogen (N2) | 78.1% |
| - Oxygen (O2) | 20.9% |
| - Argon (Ar) | 0.9% |
|
- Trace Gases (water vapor, carbon dioxide, and other trace gases) |
.02% |
| Total | 100% |