Elaine Smith

Research Proposal

October 30, 2020

Why the Government Should Increase Their Role in

Climate Change Proposal
Introduction
Throughout time and history, climate change has been a pressing issue. However, now more
than ever has it climaxed to the severity where it is reaching the point of no return. Any scientist
would agree that this is an important topic that has been avoided for much too long, but how
does the government react? Our current president shows a trend of disregarding scientific
research and ignoring even the most renowned of climate specialists. Similarly, it is well known
that it is the right-wingers that deny climate change’s existence. Republicans have a long history
of silencing the voices of climate activists and restricting and repealing acts and bills which were
put in place with the purpose of combating global warming and climate change. Using research
and trends of past action taken against climate change and research on the changes itself,
there is sufficient evidence that shows that increased government intervention is the most
efficient way to combat this issue.
It is imperative that the government plays a stronger role in climate change because they have a
larger influence on the people’s opinions and actions, they enact and enforce the policies
created to combat this issue, and they have the ability to support smaller organizations whose
main focus is climate change. As time goes on, people are able to better understand the effects
climate change has on the environment and daily life.
Literature Review
Researchers are constantly finding more and more evidence to support the claim that climate
change is a dire issue, however, ​the Trump Administration has backtracked on the
advancements made before him ​(“Backsliding on Climate Change”). Instead of fighting the
issues scientists have discovered, he has done nothing but repress the advancements. ​Trump
has eased restriction on drilling oil and gas wells, signed an execute order which allowed drilling
on al federal waters, shrunk a Utah national monument whose purpose was to provide habitat
for bears, slackened regulation on methane emissions on drilling sites, lifted a ban on drilling in
the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, which was thirty five years old ​(“Backsliding on Climate
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Change”). ​The issue with this is that it is reversing actions taken against climate change. It’s
dangerous to much more than just the planet to be ignoring and receding on this issue because
it also affects everyday life. Us as humans have stocked up so much carbon emissions that it is
inconvertible​ (“Backsliding on Climate Change”). However, research shows that younger
generations are taking into consideration the effects and are more keen on finding a solution, as
seven in ten republicans aged forty-five under believe that it is human activity which is causing
climate change (Mufson). This is important and noteworthy because the more people in support
of action taken against climate change, the more likely it is to be followed through.
In fact, this support has jump-started the Growing Climate Solutions Act, which is in place to pay
farmers to capture carbon (Andersen). ​Although this is a small start to where the government
needs to be, it is pleasing to many Americans to see at least a hint of action. According to
renowned scientist Dr. Taalas, seas are rising and warming at an alarming rate, which puts
cities at risk for tidal flooding, glaciers are melting at rates that they were not expected to meet
for years, permafrost is thawing quicker than expected, meaning even more carbon dioxide
could be released into the atmosphere, as it was previously stored underground ​(Fountain).
Such agitating rates can only be combated by large scale support which can only be provided
by the government.
Research Questions
The research conducted is in place to answer the following questions:
● What are the trends of climate change?
● What are the effects and dangers of climate change?
● How can government interference help this issue?
● What are the best actions the government could take based on past trends?
Method
The research will be instituted by looking at the results and reviewing the sources used to
compile evidence in the literature review. All the databases will be thoroughly examined and
reviewed for all possible outcomes of the research. The conclusion will be categorized into the
three following sections:
● Trends of climate change
● The effects of government intervention on small scale climate change
● The effects of government intervention on large scale climate change
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Discussion
It is important to understand the dangers of climate change. Based on the ever-increasing rates,
it is imperative that the government does more to combat it. By examining the trends of climate
change, scientists will be able to pinpoint the areas where intervention is most directly needed.
Around two-thirds of Americans believe that there needs to be more action done to prevent
climate change, and almost the same amount say they can see the change it is making in their
own community. (Dennis). The government has a role in protecting its people, and by
increasing their role and responsibility to prevent climate change, they would be helping millions
of Americans.
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Works Cited

Andersen, Ericka. "Is the G.O.P. Getting Serious about Climate Change?" ​New York Times​,

2020 Aug 08. ​SIRS Issues Researcher,​

explore.proquest.com/sirsissuesresearcher/document/2437258203?accountid=3785.

"Backsliding on Climate Change..." ​Los Angeles Times,​ 2019 Dec 27. ​SIRS Issues Researcher,​

explore.proquest.com/sirsissuesresearcher/document/2353759541?accountid=3785.

Dennis, Brady. "Most Americans Want Government to Do More on Climate Change, Poll Says."

Washington Post​, 2020 Jun 26. ​SIRS Issues Researcher,​

explore.proquest.com/sirsissuesresearcher/document/2421221805?accountid=3785.

Fountain, Henry. "A World Speeding 'Dangerously Close' to a Tipping Point." ​New York Times​,

2019 Dec 05. ​SIRS Issues Researcher​,

explore.proquest.com/sirsissuesresearcher/document/2322242398?accountid=3785.

Mufson, Steven. "Some Republicans Want Party to Turn New Leaf on Climate." ​Washington

Post​, 2020 Feb 04. ​SIRS Issues Researcher​,

explore.proquest.com/sirsissuesresearcher/document/2351152366?accountid=3785.
 Smith 5

Research Proposal Rubric 

Name: Elaine Smith
Topic: Climate Change

Grade  Exceeds   Meets  Approaching  Lacking 

Components  Expectations  Expectations  Expectations 

Overview/ Paper has a The opening The intro vaguely The introduction
Introduction (10) descriptive title. introduces introduces the doesn’t really
The overview everything but topic. A title is match the topic
captures the lacks an missing or and focus of the
reader’s attention, attention-grabbing generic. rest of the paper.
indicates the opening. The title
intended is a little vague.
audience, and
provides a brief
overview of the
proposal.

Literature The literature The literature The literature The literature

Review (20) review is very review is relatively review is simplistic review covers
(Information on the comprehensive comprehensive and describes irrelevant material
topic) and describes and describes some relevant or is missing.
relevant material. most relevant material
material.

Research Specific research Research Some research No research

Questions (10) questions are questions are questions are questions are
included in the included in the included in the included in the
proposal and they proposal, and proposal, but they proposal.
are directly their connection to are unconnected
connected to the the material to the material
material reviewed reviewed in the reviewed in the
in the introduction. introduction is introduction.
good.

Methodology A methods section A methods section A methods section No methods

(10) clearly presents is present, and is present, but section is included
(procedure clearly the researcher’s only a few numerous in the proposal or
described, a plan, and the elements of the elements of the many key
comprehensive list of section is missing methods are methods are elements of the
source material none of the key absent or absent or methods are
provided, method(s) elements of the described described absent.
of analysis discussed, methods. insufficiently. insufficiently.
ethical issues
considered)

Discussion (10) A broad range of Some important Some implications No potential

implications are implications are are discussed, but implications of the
discussed that discussed, which they are not proposed study
connect directly to are connected to strongly are discussed.
the proposed the proposed connected to the
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study and why it is study. proposed study.

necessary.

Works Cited: A properly An MLA Works An MLA Works No MLA Works

(10) formatted MLA Cited is attached Cited is attached Cited is attached
(2 database Works Cited which meets all but it does not or only URL’s are
sources + 1 other which meets all requirements, but meet all source listed.
credible source) requirements is it contains 1 or 2 requirements and
attached. formatting issues. contains
formatting issues.

Quality of Proposal exhibits Proposal exhibits Proposal exhibits Proposal exhibits

Diction/Writing sophisticated adequate diction, simplistic diction inappropriate
diction, clear and is easy to with little sentence diction, sloppy
(20) concise writing understand, and variety. writing and
with effective includes some sentence structure
sentence variety. sentence variety. issues..

Grammar, Writing observes Writing generally Writing has Writing poorly

Usage, & the grammatical observes the several observes the
conventions of grammatical mechanical errors grammatical
Mechanics (10) standard written conventions of and readability conventions of
English. Paper is standard written problems. standard written
free from English. Paper English.
distracting has a few
mechanical errors distracting
(grammar, mechanical errors.
spelling, and
punct). One or two
minor typos exist
but are not overly
distracting.

Total: