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Parisa Bahmanyar

UNST 125K
CAUTION: VERY HOT
Bill McKibbens Global Warmings Terrifying New Math breaks down the hard facts of
global warming. He splits the article into three sections, each outlining important numbers that
play a role in global warming and climate change. The first number was two degrees Celsius,
which is how much the increase in global temperature should be. The second number McKibben
discussed was 565 gigatons. This number indicates the amount of carbon dioxide that can go into
the atmosphere in order for the global temperature to stay below two degrees Celsius. The last
number he talked about was 2,795 gigatons, which is the amount of carbon dioxide that is
already planning on being burned into the atmosphere. This number is way beyond 565 gigatons,
which is the amount we are allowed to burn in order to not raise the global temperature more
than two degrees Celsius.
McKibben increases awareness about the consequences of our use of fossil fuels. The
numbers he shares with us are frightening because it explains how much effect we have on
global warming and how we continue to add to the problem rather than stop it. I chose the genre
of warnings because the article isnt just about his feelings and opinions, but rather facts and
data. McKibben feels as though the politicians ignore the issues of global warming because they
are working side by side with the fossil fuel companies. I chose McKibbens article because
although the facts and numbers seem frightening, I think it is important to slightly scare people
because that might be the only way to get through to people so they understand the problem at
hand.
In the first section of the article, McKibben discusses our maximum global temperature
rise that we can have. He shares that we need to stay below roughly 3.6 degrees Fahrenheit. So
far weve raise the average temperature of the planet just under 0.8 degrees Celsius, and that has

Parisa Bahmanyar
UNST 125K
caused far more damage than most scientists expected. (McKibben). By including numbers and
estimates, McKibben makes it clear how we are effecting the global temperature and our damage
to the earth. He includes the opinions of numerous scientists in his article, giving a more broad
understanding of the impact we have on the global temperature. According to McKibben, many
scientists believe that staying below two degrees Celsius is being too permissive.
In the second section of his article, McKibben describes that in order for our global
temperature rise to stay below two degrees Celsius, the amount of carbon dioxide that we can
still release into the atmosphere is 565 gigatons. He states that we could potentially go through
this amount in roughly 16 years. While reading this, it came as a shock because I will only be 38
years old. I think this article is important because it puts things into perspective for the readers,
showing them that the climate is changing right before our eyes and we are still going to be on
earth to see it happen, so we need to stop ignoring the problem. McKibben considers the carbon
dioxide that is sill currently being burned into the atmosphere in his calculations. But to grasp
the seriousness of our predicament, you just need to do a little math. (McKibben). These results
and numbers came from climate scientists. In his article, he is able to connect with his readers
because he has scientific research. There is also a connection with his readers on an emotional
level. By using numbers like these, it tends to scare us. Were in the same position weve been
in for a quarter-century: scientific warning followed by political inaction. (McKibben).
The final section of his article, McKibben talks about 2,795 gigatons, which is the
amount of carbon dioxide that is already en route to being burned into the atmosphere. He
describes this as the scariest number of all because this is way beyond the limited amount of
carbon dioxide he discussed earlier in the article. McKibben includes research done by
environmentalists about the gas and coal being burned. We have five times as much oil and coal

Parisa Bahmanyar
UNST 125K
and gas on the books as climate scientists think is safe to burn. (McKibben). I think he included
this number, and saved it for the end of his article, to shock his readers. He emphasizes that we
are planning on burning carbon dioxide way beyond the amount our planet can handle.
Bill McKibben makes it clear that in order to not go above these numbers calculated by
environmentalists and scientists, we need to work together as a whole rather than just
individually. People perceive correctly that their individual actions will not make a decisive
difference in the atmospheric concentration of CO2. (McKibben). He really caught my attention
when he compared the two degrees Celsius that our global temperature can rise with the legal
drinking limit of 0.08% blood-alcohol level. This created a clear picture for me and seemed more
shocking because the 2,795 gigatons of CO2 is way beyond the legal limit and is something we
cannot get away with. I think McKibben was using this comparison as a scare tactic.
After visiting the Nature Conservancys website, I was able to calculate my carbon
footprint compared to that of the U.S. average person and world average per person. After taking
the quiz, I found out that my greenhouse gas emissions are 15 tons of carbon dioxide per year,
which is below the U.S. average of 27 tons. My home energy was 32.8% and my recycling and
waste was at 4.7%, but what really had an impact was driving and flying at 57.4%. This didnt
come as a big shock to me because I commute to and from school each day, which is roughly 30
miles round trip. If I were to switch over to public transportation, my emissions would decrease
tremendously. The U.S. average per person is quite outstanding compared to the world average
of 5.5 tons of carbon dioxide.
Throughout the article of Global Warmings Terrifying New Math by Bill McKibben, he
outlines the three big numbers that play a role in global warming and climate change. This article
connected with other readings we have read in class related to climate change this term. It had a

Parisa Bahmanyar
UNST 125K
similar message of slow violence, which we have discussed in class. I think McKibben is trying
to inform readers that just because we cannot see climate change or see CO2 in the air, it does not
mean it isnt happening. He feels as though the politicians allow this danger to continue because
they work side by side with fossil fuel companies. In the article, McKibben wrote, The fossilfuel industry is allowed to dump its main waste, carbon dioxide, for free. (McKibben). I chose
the genre of warnings because the facts and numbers conducted by scientists and
environmentalists can reach the readers in an emotional way. Although the numbers are
frightening, it is important for people to stop hiding from this information and come to realize we
need to do something in order to make a change and see positive results.

Citations
"Free Carbon Footprint Calculator | The Nature Conservancy." Free Carbon Footprint
Calculator | The Nature Conservancy. Web. 29 Jan. 2015.
<http://www.nature.org/greenliving/carboncalculator/>.
McKibben, Bill. "Global Warmings Terrifying New Math." The Rolling Stones. 19 July 2012.
Web. 2 Feb. 2015. <http://www.rollingstones.com/politics/news/global-warmings-terrifyingnew-math-20120719#ixzz3OYDnFaGV>.

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