Writing Explanation Part 1: Claims, Evidence and Reasoning

Claim

Passing a sweeping national climate change law would be a good start to the United States taking on a leadership role for other countries and minimizing its effects on climate change.

Evidence

• More than half of the states and more than a thousand U.S. cities have adopted a diversity of policies that could substantially reduce the release of greenhouse gas emissions. They include innovative actions on renewable fuels, such as those made from vegetables. These cities have also been promoting energy efficiency, public transportation, building efficiency and more.
• The Obama administration has invested tens of billions of dollars in cutting-edge research on new renewable energy technologies, such as wind and solar power.
• The administration also brokered historic agreements with the auto industry. Fuel economy standards are set to be raised for cars to 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025 and should translate to impressive environmental savings, as cars will burn less gas.
• Equally important, the White House and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are developing regulations for coal-fired power plants.