US AND INDIA

UNIT 6 ASSIGNMENT: US

AND INDIA

JENNIFER ANN ELLIS-AELAEI

KAPLAN UNIVERSITY
SS250
NOVEMBER 1, 2015

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India has a current population of 1,301,245,020 million (Country Meters, 2015). India
currently has around 500 million residents that do not have access to electricity, they live and eat
healthier than Americans and generally arent up to date on the newest electronics. In fact many
residents dont have any at all and private transportation is almost unheard of. There are only
around 18 vehicles for every 1,000 people and the vast majority being motorcycles. Indians live
near their workplace and use public transportation as well as self motivation to get from one
place to another. The majority live in poverty and government officials, until recently, were more
concerned with building the economy and not the effects of human actions on climate change
and the planets future.
Delhi India is considered to be the most polluted capital city in Asia with particulate
matter level of 198. There are approximately 168,601 deaths each year due to outdoor air
pollution, this, accounts for 65% (World Health Organization, 2008)of all air pollution deaths in
the world. Nitrogen based fertilizers and emissions from the burning of fossil fuels, mainly oil
and coal. These being the most prominent causes for the rising nitrous oxide levels today. A
whopping 234,136 metric tons of nitrous oxide was recorded in 2010. Additionally Indias coal
consumption in is approximately 801,030 thousand short tons and oil consumption at 3,621
thousand barrels per day. Natural gas consumption is 2076 billion cubic feet per day and
renewable electricity consumption at 162 billion kilowatt hours.
The National Geographic, Globe Scan Consumer Greendex is a scientifically derived
sustainable consumption index that studies and records actual consumer behavior and material
lifestyles across 18 countries. The Greendex represents developed and developing countries and

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measures the quantitative effects of behaviors that promote green living. Such measures include;
energy use and conservation, transportation choices, food sources, the relative use of green
products versus conventional, the attitudes toward the environment, sustainability and overall
knowledge of environmental issues. Out of the 18 countries that are under review the United
States comes in last, while India ranks the World highest score. With modest increases in almost
every measured factor, at 61.4, Indias score continues to increase in housing, food and showing
the most spectacular increase, their transportation score. While disgustingly the United States is
in very last place, even showing a decrease in food, housing and transportation since 2012. The
USs only small reprieve here may be the goods score has increased slightly.
US total metric tons of greenhouse gasses includes agriculture, commercial and
residential, industrial, transportation and electricity was 6,673 in 2013, of which only 9% was
from agriculture and 27% was from transportation (EPA, 2015) Transportation ranks the US
second greatest generator of greenhouse gasses and only a miniscule 10% of the fuel used in
transportation is not petroleum based.
US oil consumption averages 82.3 million barrels per day (U.S Energy Information
Administration, 2015) and there are astonishingly about 730 vehicles for every 1,000 people
(Office of Energy & Renewable Energy, 2014) The total US population in 2015 is 321,216,397
(U.S. Census, 2015) and the Bureau of Transportation Statistics reports that as of 2013 there
were 255,876,822 total registered vehicles. In general Americans live further from their families
and jobs than other countries making daily commutes required. Because of the required daily
commute every American feels as if they should have their own transportation. The highly
underutilized and undervalued use of carpooling, public transportation, walking and bicycling by
Americans only hinders our progression to become a sustainable nation.

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Not only do Americans enjoy and much prefer having their own transportation, they also
participate in multiple pricey, amenity purchases throughout the year. Gadgets like iPods, tablets,
smartphones, rechargeable vacuum cleaners, fancy new televisions and dishwashers are all now
marked with the Energy Star logo. But what does that truly mean when the US uses annually
508.40 billion kilowatt hours of electricity (U.S Energy Information Administration, 2015) which
accounted for 31% of the national greenhouse gas emissions within one year. Americans get a
large part of our electricity from the consumption of fossil fuels, such as coal and natural gas.
This is by far the source making the largest negative impact and the most controversial headlines.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration reports US coal consumption at 53.43 million short
tons and US Natural gas consumption 64.14 billion cubic feet per day. The U.S. also consumes
Renewable electricity energy in an astonishing amount of 8 quadrillion BTU. Although the US is
only utilizing a small percentage of renewable energy sources for electric power in direct
comparison to other countries the US consumption is greater overall.
The EPA is now monitoring and requiring that certain levels of renewable fuel be added
to petroleum based fuels in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The recent mandate
Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) rules spiked the price as well as a buying event. RFS also comes
at a time when Brazil is producing a rich cane sugar ethanol, whereas the US is producing a less
desirable corn ethanol. This sugar based ethanol also qualifies for the advanced fuel credit
because of its increased reduction of greenhouse gasses that can be collected by the American
based purchasing companies. Lets face it; the real downfall of ethanol fuel is that the United
States just cannot produce enough corn ethanol to support the National need. Current US corn
ethanol is also lower in quality that some other ethanol options. But we can import ethanol, and

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importing a higher grade sugar ethanol that exceeds the current available product is exactly what
was needed for the price break promised with renewable fuel options.
There are many reasons for international trade and collaboration in terms of conservation
and preservation of Earth and many of them will work to reduce overall emissions. While the
plants grow they reduce Co2 emissions in the air, when the fuel burns it does so in a carbon
neutral manner, reduced fertilizer and pesticide use decreases pollutants and increased soil
quality. Where excess is present so is a need. Fill the need release the excess. The earth gives our
species the tools we need to survive; it is up to us to be human and work together to ensure
everyone has the tools to survive. Leading by example is the best way to encourage others to
follow a specified path for the greater good of our species.

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References
Country Meters. (2015). India Population . Retrieved from Country Meters:
http://countrymeters.info/en/India
EPA. (2015, November ). Sources of Greenhouse Gas Emissions. Retrieved from
United States Enviromental Protection Agency :
http://www3.epa.gov/climatechange/ghgemissions/sources/agriculture.html
Office of Energy & Renewable Energy. (2014, October). Fact # 841. Retrieved from
Energy.Gov: http://energy.gov/eere/vehicles/fact-841-october-6-2014-vehiclesthousand-people-us-vs-other-world-regions
U.S Energy Information Administration. (2015, November). International Energy
Statistics. Retrieved from EIA Stats & Analysis:
http://www.eia.gov/cfapps/ipdbproject/iedindex3.cfm?
tid=6&pid=29&aid=12&cid=r1,US,&syid=2008&eyid=2012&unit=BKWH
U.S. Census. (2015, November ). U.S. and World Population Clock. Retrieved from
United States Census Bureau: http://www.census.gov/popclock/
World Health Organization. (2008, July). Outdoor Air Pollution:Children's health and
the enviroment. Retrieved from WHO:
http://www.who.int/ceh/capacity/Outdoor_air_pollution.pdf

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