Iain Milnes, founder and president of Power Knot, discusses the consequences of cutting budgets for climate change research.
We need to continue to research climate change and invest in ways to combat it so that we reduce the conditions that are already changing rapidly.
San Jose, CA (PRWEB) April 25, 2017
The Trump administration recently announced the proposal of significant cuts to funding earmarked for the environment, including the budgets for climate change, pollution clean-ups, and energy efficiency programs.1 Current plans would dismantle former President Obama’s Clean Power Plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from coal burning power plants, along with defunding climate research and partnerships.1,2,3 Proposed budget reductions include a $2.6 billion cut for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2018, as well as a loss of $330 million in hazardous waste clean-up initiatives.1 Iain Milnes of Power Knot, along with other scientists, environmental advocates, and green entrepreneurs, is concerned that the proposed cuts would derail the United States’ role in addressing climate change.
Critics of the proposed budget cuts emphasize the impact climate change may have on people’s health and wellbeing.1,3 According to the World Health Organization (WHO), between 2030 and 2050, climate change will cause an estimated 250,000 deaths per year from malnutrition, infectious disease, and heat stress.4 Deadly heat waves, changes in precipitation, and natural disasters resulting from global warming will affect access to clean air, safe drinking water, nutritious food, and safety and security.5 Because outcomes may be dire, the U.S. Department of Defense has identified climate change as a potentially destabilizing force.3
“We need to continue to research climate change and invest in ways to combat it so that we reduce the conditions that are already changing rapidly,” Milnes said. “Unfortunately, the already meager investment in climate research and observation is being threatened by the current administration. If the U.S. doesn’t lead, the global effort to reduce human impact on the environment may not succeed.”
With 2016 being the hottest year on record and extreme weather patterns becoming more and more prevalent, evidence is mounting that climate change is already a major problem on a global scale.6 In the United States, half of the population now identifies as “concerned believers”—people who accept climate science and are concerned about addressing it.2
Consensus within the scientific community overwhelmingly points to human activity as the cause of climate change: 97 percent or more of actively publishing climate scientists agree that human production of greenhouse gases is the main driver behind global warming.7 Greenhouse gases produced by organic waste and the burning of fossil fuels contribute significantly to create a greenhouse effect in Earth’s atmosphere. Greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide and methane, slow the loss of heat to outer space, making the Earth progressively warmer.8 To reduce this warming effect, human production of greenhouse gas emissions must be lowered.
Methane, produced by the decomposition of food and other organic materials on landfills, dominates the composition of greenhouse emissions in waste.9 Companies large and small can reduce the amount of organic waste they send to landfills by using Power Knot’s LFC. The LFC is a biodigester that uses microorganisms to break down food without the pollution associated with the breakdown of organic material in a landfill. The LFC also significantly reduces the amount money and hydrocarbons spent to remove the waste.
As the biggest per capita producer of greenhouse gases in the world, the U.S. is in a good position to lead global efforts to curtail emissions.2 “Many in the U.S. have accepted the challenge to live in a greener way,” added Milnes. “Many organizations are supporting efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and get to zero waste. I LFC is helping organizations reduce their carbon footprint, improve their bottom line, and earn accolades in the court of public opinion.”
About Power Knot’s LFC:
Power Knot’s LFC is sold globally to organizations that need to dispose of waste food. The LFC saves organizations the cost, mess, inconvenience, and carbon footprint of sending that organic material to landfills. The LFC is available in seven sizes to suit a variety of users and usually pays for itself within 24 or fewer months. The LFC can generate goodwill with the growing number of environmentally-conscious consumers, and this clean technology will continue to help advance the global movement towards sustainability and zero waste.
About Power Knot:
Power Knot, with its headquarters in San Jose, Calif., provides innovative solutions for commercial, industrial, and military customers seeking to reduce their carbon footprint. The company is profitable, and designs, develops, and manufactures its products in Silicon Valley.
Its LFCs (Liquid Food Composters) are high-quality, technologically-advanced bio-digesters capable of rapid digestion of most organic materials. LFCs create a safe and economical resolution for customers looking to address their carbon footprint by diverting waste food from landfills and by reducing emissions related to the transportation of waste. For more information, access http://www.powerknot.com.
1. Milman, Oliver. “Trump Budget Would Gut EPA Programs Tackling Climate Change and Pollution.” The Guardian. Guardian News and Media, 16 Mar. 2017. Web. 28 Mar. 2017.
2. Bump, Philip. “What Trump’s New Climate Actions Mean: A FAQ.” The Washington Post. WP Company, 28 Mar. 2017. Web. 28 Mar. 2017.
3. Greenfieldboyce, Nell. “Trump’s Budget Slashes Climate Change Funding.” NPR. NPR, 16 Mar. 2017. Web. 28 Mar. 2017.
4. Howard, Jacqueline. “Scientists Highlight Deadly Risks of Climate Change.” CNN. Cable News Network, 16 Feb. 2017. Web. 01 Mar. 2017.
5. “Climate Change and Health.” World Health Organization. World Health Organization, n.d. Web. 01 Mar. 2017.
6. Carrington, Damian. “Climate Change Pushes World Into ‘Uncharted Territory’.” Climate Central. N.p., 26 Mar. 2017. Web. 28 Mar. 2017.
7. “Scientific Consensus: Earth’s Climate Is Warming.” NASA. NASA, 29 July 2016. Web. 28 Mar. 2017.
8. “Causes of Climate Change.” EPA. Environmental Protection Agency, 20 Mar. 2017. Web. 28 Mar. 2017.
9. Bailey, Kate. “How the Waste Industry Can Lead on Climate Change.” Waste360. N.p., 24 Feb. 2017. Web. 01 Mar. 2017.