If you are facing an essay on the economics of climate change, you need to first settle on a topic. Below are twenty great topics that you might be able to use for your writing assignment:
- The Growth of Solar Panel Installation Jobs
- Birds Change Migration Patterns and Other Animals Are Going Extinct because of Loss of Natural Habitat
- How Warmer Climates Kill Krill Shrimp and Influence Human Food Supply and Economic Costs
- How Scientists Measure Climate Change and Predict Problematic Changes in Weather
- How Melting Ice Caps Discourage the Frequency of Hurricanes but Increase Their Severity
- How Climate Change Adversely Affects Agriculture, Leading to Increased Economic Costs and Social Instability
- How Rising Sea Levels and More Severe Storms Affect Animals and Their Habitats, Leading to Issues of National Security and Food Shortages
- The History of Solar Energy and Wind Energy
- Solar Thermal Energy and the Capture of Sun with Curved Mirrors Compared to Historical Solar Energy Methods
- How Wind Energy Derives from Solar Energy by Way of the Sun’s Hot Air Rising to Meet Cooler Air
- Wind and Kinetic Energy Being Converted Into Electricity Compared to the Costs of Traditional Energy
- How Capturing Wind Energy Requires Kinetic Energy with Electric Turbines and Is Similar to Windmill Energy Collection
- How Wind Energy Fields Have Created Wind Energy Jobs
- How Economic Growth Is Affected by Climate Change
- How the Faster Onset of Droughts and Food Shortages Influences Social Stability
- How Natural Disasters Like Floods or Hurricanes Threaten National Security
- How Humanitarian Crises Following Climate Change Require Government Responses
- How Military Assistance for Climate Change Disasters Increases the Need for Advanced Planning and Environmental Re-evaluation
- How Changes in Environmental Policy for Climate Change Require Additional Time and Money from Governments
- How Military Assistance for Climate Change Disasters Increases the Need for Environmental Re-evaluation
Sample Cause-Effect Essay: How Wind Energy Fields Have Created Wind Energy Jobs
The process of capturing wind and solar energy takes kinetic energy and turns it into electrical energy, similar to how a windmill operates. To achieve this, a wind energy system consists of two types of electric turbines: vertical-axis and horizontal-axis. The system includes a tower to attract the wind, an enclosed generator, two blades for rotation, and electrical equipment. When wind and solar energy are collected and converted, they are transferred to nearby power lines. Currently, some turbines have the capacity to produce 5,000 kilowatts (kW) of energy, while the average turbine produces around 1,000 kW. A kilowatt is one thousand watts, measured as one kilowatt per hour. For reference, a 50-watt light bulb left on for twenty hours consumes one kilowatt-hour. The amount of energy produced by wind energy depends on wind speed, with an average required wind speed of nine miles per hour for optimal productivity. Typically, wind turbines operate between sixty-five and ninety percent of the time, depending on wind conditions. Wind energy is produced by turbines at wind power plants, which consist of multiple machines functioning together.
Wind energy jobs are now becoming more prominent throughout the United States as the effort to go green and protect the environment gains momentum. These jobs include manual labor positions as well as high- and low-level administrative roles. A director of grid development is a high-end position within wind energy, responsible for overseeing strategic plans for new transmission development. Responsibilities in this field include negotiating agreements with business partners, working with legal teams to draft agreements, and evaluating new opportunities for wind energy expansion. Requirements for such positions typically include a background in wind energy, experience in corporate development and finance, and a bachelor’s degree in business or engineering. Leadership experience is also preferred.
Another key position in wind energy is residential energy sales. Field sales staff identify areas needing energy efficiency improvements, assess insulation levels in residential areas, and analyze obstacles affecting energy performance. These professionals educate homeowners on the benefits of wind energy, its cost-effectiveness, and the necessary steps to transition to wind power.
Energy auditors play a crucial role in wind energy jobs by developing and managing energy audit programs, calculating monthly and annual costs for residential and commercial buildings, and staying informed about technological advancements in wind energy. Their duties include maintaining energy reduction projects, devising strategies to reduce environmental impact, and conducting energy audits. They analyze historical energy use and consumption patterns to identify areas for improvement. Additionally, they review documents, manage staff, and oversee schedules and performance.
Other wind energy job opportunities include roles such as alternative energy instructors, wind energy sales professionals, mechanical engineers, technical program managers, energy service specialists, marketing specialists, engineers, proposal coordinators, helpdesk specialists, construction managers, chief marketing officers, freelance writers, campaign specialists, and software engineers. Many of these positions require a bachelor’s degree in engineering or business, with opportunities for professional growth. Some high-level positions demand a master’s degree in a related field and industry experience.
References
- Brainard, Lael, Abigail Jones, and Nigel Purvis. Climate Change and Global Poverty. Washington, D.C.: Brookings Institution Press, 2009. Print.
- Chichilnisky, Graciela. The Economics of Climate Change. Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar, 2010. Print.
- Helm, Dieter, and Cameron Hepburn. The Economics and Politics of Climate Change. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2009. Print.
- Navarra, A., and Laurence Tubiana. Regional Assessment of Climate Change in the Mediterranean. Dordrecht: Springer, 2013. Print.
- Nordhaus, William D. Managing the Global Commons. Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press, 1994. Print.
- Owen, Anthony David, and Nick Hanley. The Economics of Climate Change. London: Routledge, 2004. Print.
- Shackleton, Robert. The Economics of Climate Change. Washington, DC: Congress of the U.S., Congressional Budget Office, 2003. Print.