A blog post highlighting our upcoming travels to Doha, Qatar is now posted on the ACS Undergradaute Blog.  Make sure to check it out!

I am now enroute to Doha.  Stay posted for more updates!

As I sit here watching the Iron Bowl (Roll Tide!), I am reminded of America’s own Industrial Revolution and the subsequent rise of the steel industry that the iron bowl is named for.  I was not around at the time, but from what I have read and seen just recently on the History Channel (The Men Who Built America), America without some of the current clean air regulations, sulfur dioxide cap and trade system, and the Environmental Protection Agency was not a very livable location.  Now, America has played a huge role in “cleaning” up its air and acting as a leader in many industrial and governmental regulations without harming the economy (the ethanol fiasco aside).

However, while we have done a good job in regulating, many other countries are now surpassing our influence and leadership in ways to decrease per capita carbon emissions.  The European Union is now seen as a much more willing to come to the table for climate negotiations than the United States.  In fact, other emerging nations are starting to make huge strides in acting (and not just talking) to help lower their climate emissions, such as China.  If China comes to the table and willing to act, will America be left behind?

America’s stance has been simple.  Have you looked at the numbers?  Well, I did and I’ll point out a few key facts.

China recently overtook America for carbon dioxide emissions annually at just over 7 billion tons of carbon dioxide (without even counting Hong Kong) while USA emissions totaled at just under 5.5 billion tons.  If you don’t believe me click here.

A more interesting aspect is that China is in the midst of its own industrial revolution.  Should they not be allowed to expand?  Is their economic growth more important than the global interest of the world?  Before we start pointing fingers, in per capita (essentially per person) carbon dioxide emissions, America is a much worse offender.

From my recent trip to China, I can say, that China could actually be considered green.  It it not fair to judge China for trying to expand when its time came.  While “sunny” days in China are mainly limited to a few special days, many factors play into the poor air quality seen in Beijing including desertification, dust storms, and of course CO2 emissions.

From my opinion, China is more aware of climate change than many here in the southern portion of the USA.  In every hotel room, there is an “electricity” card.  Once removed, the electricity to all outlets will be turned off.  I can’t even guarantee that I turn the lights off when I leave a room (I’m sorry, I know).  At the college that hosted my visit, they don’t turn on the heat until December, no matter the temperature.  Many in America warm up their car when there is a light frost in the early morning hours to prevent from being cold in their car for a few minutes. 

While this can be argued as a necessity for China instead of a choice, we all better hope China and India don’t adopt some of our bad habits or everyone will be in trouble.  However, it is hard to tell someone else to lower carbon emissions when we are not doing our own part. 


I will be leaving for Qatar in 5 days.  I will do my best to keep everyone updated with at least a blog post a day. 

    As I walked down my complex's steps, I reflected on how lucky I was to not be affected by Hurricane Sandy's menacing wrath.  In fact, of all of the bloggers here, I was perhaps the most fortunate all the way down here.  None of my family or friends were harmed either.  That isn't to say that Tuscaloosa, AL is a stranger to extreme weather.  I survived a similar experience on April 27, 2011 with the tornadoes that ravaged the Southeast. 
   Once I reached the mailbox, I was greeted with a very interesting magazine cover as seen in the top left corner.  Clearly, the cover was designed to sell magazines through shock journalism.  However, what I found the most interesting is which magazine the cover was for: Bloomberg Businessweek.  This wasn't the front cover of TIME, but I think this cover might actually be more important.  The media has long utilized short term climate variation to sell magazines either through suggesting climate change is happening or commenting on it as a hoax.  However, with the appearances of extreme weather exponentially increasing each year, is this still a short term climate variation?
    The calls for a comprehensive climate change legislation will never gain traction without the complete backing of industry.  This is why the cover of Bloomberg Businessweek is so important.  We need new entrepreneurs to develop green technologies.  Industry must embrace green manufacturing and follow new regulations.  I believe that industry is starting to turn the corner.