Two groups worked on issues to do with air quality.
Fresh Air
Our group worked on policies that focus on air quality and public health. The policies include the Clean Power Plan, the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act, and the Clean Air Act.
Rabab bu Khamsin wrote about the Clean Power Plan in US. In 2013 the EPA issued regulations in order to decrease the carbon dioxide emissions that resulted from human activity.
Aaron Daniels worked on the Mercury and Air Toxic Standards (MATS) ruling, which caused much controversy between the EPA and the fossil fuel industry. The MATS ruling limits the amount of toxins that can be emitted by coal- and oil-fired power plants.
Amelia Nill explored the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act. This act establishes a plan to reduce emissions put out by large production industries. After considering the evidence of both sides, I decided that the policy would be beneficial.
Treja Stevenson chose to work on the Clean Power Plan. Proposed in 2015 by former president Obama, the plan was intended to reduce the amount of carbon emissions in the air. After doing research, I concluded that the plan would have been effective.
Thomas Welborn wrote about the Clean Power Plan. This plan placed guidelines on how different states could choose to limit their emissions. I decided that the evidence was more in favor of the implementation of the plan.
Febreze
Our group’s focus was on air quality polices; we examined the Clean Power Plan and the Paris Climate Accord with a focus on how these policies affect air quality.
Gabriella Guadarrama explored the pros and cons of the Paris Climate Agreement, and how the Trump administration is slowly pulling the United States out of the agreement. I evaluated the initiatives of the Paris Climate Accord and the policies associated with reducing CO2 emissions. I argue that it was morally irresponsible to leave the Paris Climate Accord because it will adversely affect vulnerable populations.
Bailey Hartman examined the rhetoric and ethics behind repealing the Clean Power Plan from the Clean Air Act. Additionally, my project examines how climate change caused by carbon emissions are connected to health, environment and economical issues.
Andrew Rippy worked on the Clean Power Plan. It has received scrutiny and the current administration is doing all it can to repeal the legislation. I believe regulation on carbon emissions is essential and the Clean Power Plan outlines a great framework to achieve this despite possible short term revenue and job loss.
Austin Sykora focused on the Clean Power Plan and discussed both sides of the policy those who are in favor and those who are opposed and evaluated why each side holds the views that they do. Through my project I show what moral values are at the center of each argument and concluded that the argument in favor of the Clean Power Plan is the morally superior argument.
