Dear Senator Jim Inhofe,  

 
I am writing to you to inform you that global warming is a big issue. Glaciers melting, 
sea level rising, greenhouse gasses trapped more and more every day in the atmosphere, 
these things are what is in generally global warming which is measured in the long term and 
is affecting the Earth’s environment very badly. Mainly greenhouse effects are one of the 
biggest problems. “The "greenhouse effect" is the warming that happens when certain 
gases in Earth's atmosphere trap heat. These gases let in light but keep heat from escaping, 
like the glass walls of a greenhouse, hence the name.”(​National Geographic​) This raises the 
temperature of the Earth and melts down polar ice caps.  
Greenhouse gasses are carbon dioxide created by humans around the world. Carbon 
dioxide(CO2) comes from everywhere mainly vehicles, powerplants, industrial activities, etc. 
Most of this comes from burning coal. Coal is one of the fossil fuels that are currently the 
world’s supply to electricity for most parts of the world. Solar radiation reaches the Earth's 
atmosphere - some of this is reflected back into space. “The rest of the sun's energy is 
absorbed by the land and the oceans, heating the Earth. Heat radiates from Earth towards 
space. Some of this heat is trapped by greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, keeping the 
Earth warm enough to sustain life. Human activities such as burning fossil fuels, agriculture, 
and land clearing are increasing the amount of greenhouse gases released into the 
atmosphere. This is trapping extra heat, and causing the Earth's temperature to 
rise.”(​Departure of the Environment and Energy​). People are trying to help by using fewer 
fossil fuels and simple actions are like riding bicycles instead of motors for example.  
Many thought one solution to this is electric cars when few know why it is not much 
different from normal vehicles. Normal vehicles are cars, motorcycles, trucks, etc. that uses 
oil/gas as fuel by burning them and that produces carbon dioxide(CO2) which is one of the 
major cause of global warming as stated earlier. “A typical passenger vehicle emits about 
4.6 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year.”(​United States Environmental Protection Agency​). 
Electric cars are vehicles that run by electricity. There are many types of electric car 
including hybrid, part electric and part oil/gas, and vehicles that are 100% electric. Not 
strange that people would think that electric cars take a big part in reducing the production 
of carbon dioxide(CO2). In fact, electric car still runs by electricity, but where does that 
energy come from? Electricity used for charging electric cars comes from powerplants that 
burn coal which is another fossil fuel. “In 2017, a report made by IVL Swedish Environmental 
Research Institute also calculated that the CO2 emissions of lithium-ion batteries (present in 
many electric cars today) are in the order of 150–200 kilos of carbon dioxide equivalents per 
kilowatt-hour battery.”(​Wikipedia​).  
Nonetheless, electric cars are still the right track for the next way to reduce 
greenhouse emissions. Electric cars would help reduce the amount of carbon dioxide(CO2) 
created if powerplant trouble is mostly solved. As stated earlier, powerplants burning coals 
is one big problem. If most people start using solar technology as a source of electricity, 
more electric cars could be produced and will be used around the world which reduces 
greenhouse emissions. “The data shows that the United States is the world leader in terms of 
carbon emissions from electrical production, emitting 2.79 billion tons, followed by China at 
2.66 billion tons and Russia a distant third at 661 million tons.”(​Facing South​). Solar panels 
are not cheap and that is what makes it easier to continue to use fossil fuel as many do. “In 
2019, the average national solar panel cost is $2.99/watt.”(​Energysage​). Many don’t want to 
risk any of their money but I think solar panels are worth it to buy thinking of the long term. 
“Photovoltaic systems use no fuel, and modules typically last 25 to 40 years. Thus, capital 
costs make up most of the cost of solar power.”(​Wikipedia​). Solar panels would decrease the 
usage of fossil fuels and use the heat from the sun not just for the temperature but also for 
the good of humanity as a source of electricity.  
Talking about the production of carbon dioxide(CO2), what comes up to my mind 
next is the production, use, and the deposition of plastic is very negatively impacting th 
environment as much as vehicles and both by humans. “According to the EPA, 
approximately one ounce of carbon dioxide is emitted for each ounce of polyethylene (PET) 
produced. PET is the type of plastic most commonly used for beverage bottles. Other 
sources pin the production ratio of carbon emissions to plastic production closer to 
5:1.”(​Stanford Magazine​). Plastic is thrown away in public places very often and what it does 
is piles of trash smelling terrible and affecting the air in the atmosphere. Many are dropped 
into rivers, lakes, ocean which poisons and makes the water dirty. Other than that, it tricks 
the sea creatures to think that plastic is food. “It is estimated that up to 13 million metric tons 
of plastic ends up in the ocean each year—the equivalent of a rubbish or garbage truck 
load's worth every minute. Fish, seabirds, sea turtles, and marine mammals can become 
entangled in or ingest plastic debris, causing suffocation, starvation, and drowning.”(​PEW​). A 
piece of plastic could last up to 1000 years and this is why people are trying to get rid of it 
by burning plastic wastes which absolutely produces carbon dioxide(CO2).  
If people could reduce the usage of unnecessary plastic products, less plastic will be 
used and won’t be thrown away. There are many ways people can stop using plastic 
products. For example, use reusable water bottles instead of plastic bottles, reuse plastic 
bags for other purposes, use shopping bags to not take plastic bags, etc. Thinking of 
unnecessary plastic products I think of staws. It is a worldwide product that many people 
use. “it can’t be recycled. “Unfortunately, most plastic straws are too lightweight to make it 
through mechanical recycling sorters, so they end up in landfills and waterways and, 
eventually, our oceans,” explains Dune Ives, executive director of Lonely Whale. “(​National 
Geographic​). It is not necessary at all but if people would still want to use it without using 
plastic, I suggest metal straw. “In just the U.S. alone, one estimate suggests 500 million 
straws are used every single day. One study published earlier this year estimated as many 
as 8.3 billion plastic straws pollute the world's beaches. Eight million tons of plastic flow into 
the ocean every year, and straws comprise just 0.025 percent of that.”(​National 
Geographic​). Metal straws is a green technology that helps people not to use plastic straws 
but still get straws. Metal straws are reusable and are made with metal that doesn’t get rust. 
This technology is worth using because there are still places using straws and it would be a 
good start to reducing the usage of plastic products by starting with a small one, straws. 
In conclusion, global warming is a major issue humanity is facing and it has to be 
looked at in the long term because there are many conditions to consider and that the U.S. 
is one of the countries that are responsible for part of global warming and also one of the 
countries that could help out. Instead of quickly summarizing the whole global warming 
problem, please consider helping your government find more ways to use fewer fossil fuels, 
use renewable energy because I believe that you and the support from your government 
could lead all humanity to the next generation of energy, technology, and environment. 
 
Sincerely, 
 
Tawan Wachirapaet