Environmental Science

The Pew Center on Global Climate Change was established in 1998 as a non-profit, non-partisan and independent organization whose mission is to address global warming (Pew). Alongside the creation of the Pew Center was the Business Environmental Leadership Council (BELC). BELC was created in the belief that businesses must develop efficient and effective solutions in addressing the climate problem.

Many well known companies are part of BELC, including: Boeing, BP, GE, Hewlett-Packard Company, IBM, Intel, Lockheed Martin, Maytag, Novartis, Toyota, and many other companies with tremendous market influence (BELC). It is extremely interesting to note that the Pew Center doesn’t receive money from the companies of the BELC. Instead, it receives its money from The Pew Charitable Trusts (“Pew Charitable”). The Pew Center and BELC companies hold four core beliefs.

Global Warming is a huge problem threatening the very existence of our species on this planet. Third, it encourages the domestic and international community to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases.

The Pew Center is located in Arlington, Virginia. How can the world trust the Pew Center and BELC when the BELC companies are comprised of so many companies historically known to be huge polluters? The United States hasn’t signed the Kyoto Protocol, and the Pew Center admits “The Kyoto Protocol is the first step in the international process” (Pew). It will take 55 countries representing 55 percent of developed country emissions for the treaty to enter into force” (“Global”).

On one hand, you have developed countries reducing their emissions and finding energy alternatives. We even have the United States acknowledging the threat of global warming. However, a huge problem lies within developing countries.

The Pew Center on Global Climate Change and the BELC are engaged in a transnational controversy that extends all over the globe and includes extremely poor third world countries as well as very rich countries. They are ultimately trying to reduce and eliminate global warming. Global warming affects all nations, and all nations have contributed to the problem. How sincere are these companies in actually addressing global warming? It’s important to understand some of the IPE problems regarding global climate change before examining what the Pew Center has done about it.

A key environmental problem is in regards to growth in developing nations and there effect on environmental problems. Because the Pew Center’s goal is addressing global climate change, having all of these top companies pledging to do there part makes the Pew Center more credible and puts them at an advantage over other environmental groups because it has ties to these forty-one companies that represent over $2 trillion in market capitalization.

After extensive research, it’s fair to say there are no major critics of The Pew Center on Global Climate Change.

Addressing climate change is no simple task.

It seems that The Pew Center on Global Climate Change is a very reputable and positive organization that is using its resources to address global warming. The research has shown that different sources all agree that both global warming is a huge threat and that the Pew Center is positively addressing it. The Pew Center receives its funding from The Pew Charitable Trusts. Some companies are even exceeding Kyoto goals. Because the BELC companies openly admit that enough is known about global warming to address it, they actively participate in emission curbing activities. (“Social”). Dupont, another BELC member, has already cut its 1990 greenhouse gas emissions by 45 percent. Other BELC companies, such as Toyota and Boeing are advancing company-wide programs for reducing carbon emission. Some BELC companies are also looking for alternative energy sources. In answering cui bono, one must first realize that The Pew Center on Global Climate Change isn’t looking to make a profit; The Pew Charitable Trusts contains billions of dollars. The environment benefits.

There are many interesting things I discovered as I researched the Pew Center and BELC. The Pew Center is funded by The Pew Charitable Trusts, thus BELC companies don’t contribute at all to the Pew Center. The Pew Center and BELC have formed a mutually advantageous relationship not centered on money. My research has showed that both The Pew Center and BELC companies heavily address the climate issue.

BELC. Pew Center. Nation 8 Aug. 2005.

Center. “WAS IT GLOBAL WARMING?” “Alcan Joins [BELC] to address global climate change.”

Pew Center on Global Climate Change. Pew Center.

The Pew Charitable Trusts. Pew Center. “Global Climate Coalition Cools Down.”

The Pew Center on Global Climate Change and the Business Environmental Leadership Council

Introduced Species

Species can be introduced into habitats where they are not native accidentally or intentionally, affecting native species and damaging habitats.

Without these population-limiting factors introduced species numbers can rapidly increase. Introduced species can predate or compete with native species, or diseases can be introduced.

Predation of native species can dramatically affect their numbers; species may be introduced as a biological control for native pest species, as a resource or just accidentally released.

Deliberate Eradication of Species