Resolved: The USFG should substantially increase alternative energy incentives in the US.

Generic Arguments: 1)Warming of the climate system is unequivocal, as is now evident from observations of increases in global average air and ocean temperatures, widespread melting of snow and ice, and rising global average sea level . Eleven of the last twelve years (1995-2006) rank among the twelve warmest years in the instrumental record of global surface temperature. The 100-year linear trend (1906-2005) of 0.74 [0.56 to 0.92]ï¿½C 1 is larger than the corresponding trend of 0.6 [0.4 to 0.8]◦C (1901-2000) given in the Third Assessment Report (TAR) (Figure SPM.1). The temperature increase is widespread over the globe, and is greater at higher northern latitudes. Land regions have warmed faster than the oceans (Figures SPM.2, SPM.4). {1.1, 1.2} Rising sea level is consistent with warming (Figure SPM.1). Global average sea level has risen since 1961 at an average rate of 1.8 [1.3 to 2.3]mm/yr and since 1993 at 3.1 [2.4 to 3.8]mm/yr, with contributions from thermal expansion, melting glaciers and ice caps, and the polar ice sheets. Whether the faster rate for 1993 to 2003 reflects decadal variation or an increase in the longer-term trend is unclear. {1.1} Observed decreases in snow and ice extent are also consistent with warming (Figure SPM.1). Satellite data since 1978 show that annual average Arctic sea ice extent has shrunk by 2.7 [2.1 to 3.3]% per decade, with larger decreases in summer of 7.4 [5.0 to 9.8]% per decade. Mountain glaciers and snow cover on average have declined in both hemispheres. {1.1} From 1900 to 2005, precipitation increased significantly in eastern parts of North and South America, northern Europe and northern and central Asia but declined in the Sahel, the Mediterranean, southern Africa and parts of southern Asia. There is observational evidence of an increase in intense tropical cyclone activity in the North Atlantic since about 1970, with limited evidence of increases elsewhere. There is no clear trend in the annual numbers of tropical cyclones. It is difficult to ascertain longer term trends in cyclone activity, particularly prior to 1970. Average Northern Hemisphere temperatures during the second half of the 20th century were very likely higher than during any other 50-year period in the last 500 years and likely the highest in at least the past 1300 years. {1.1 Observational evidence4 from all continents and most oceans shows that many natural systems are being affected by regional climate changes, particularly temperature increases. Changes in snow, ice and frozen ground have with high confidence increased the number and size of glacial lakes, increased ground instability in mountain and other permafrost regions, and led to changes in some Arctic and Antarctic ecosystems. There is high confidence that some hydrological systems have also been affected through increased runoff and earlier spring peak discharge in many glacier- and snow-fed rivers, and of the more than 29,000 observational data series, from 75 studies, that show significant change in many physical and biological systems, more than 89% are consistent with the direction of change expected as a response to warming . (1) You have failed to provide any evidence to my 150,000 deaths a year; so I will back it up with evidence. "Climate change already is claiming more than 150,000 lives each year, with causes ranging from heat waves to respiratory illness, WHO concluded last year." (2) 2)The problem does exist: Although local temperatures fluctuate naturally, over the past 50 years the average global temperature has increased at the fastest rate in recorded history. And experts think the trend is accelerating: the 10 hottest years on record have all occurred since 1990. Scientists say that unless we curb global warming emissions, average U.S. temperatures could be 3 to 9 degrees higher by the end of the century.(3) The problem would be solved: By 2050, biofuels -- especially cellulosic biofuels -- could reduce our greenhouse gas emissions by 1.7 billion tons per year. That's equal to more than 80 percent of current transportation-related emissions.(4) Topicalities: A.Definition of Alternative Energy: energy, as solar, wind, or nuclear energy, that can replace or supplement traditional fossil-fuel sources, as coal, oil, and natural gas. (5) This shows that although Alternative Energy can include the sources that you said, the true definition is energy that can replace traditional fossil-fuel sources. B.(Haha, one of the changes I made to my case was changing 7% to "Minimally Sufficient up to 20%) You said that I would give a tax break to farmers growing the bean, but I stated that the tax break would go to businesses switching to Jatropha bean alternative energy. Your plan standard is irrelevant to the case because it is on the basis of incentives to farmers when the true incentives go to businesses. B. Logistics: the planning, implementation, and coordination of the details of a business or other operation. (6) My logistics pertains to the way that the mandate would be planned. Funding Disadvantage: A. The Jatropha bean can be implemented with cash crops ("Normal Crops") and it will actually make the soil better increasing the output. Jatropha is seen by many to be the perfect biodiesel crop. It can be grown in very poor soils actually generating top soil as it goes, is drought and pest resilient, and it has seeds with up to 40% oil content. - Jatropha grows well on low fertility soils - Jatropha can be intercropped with many cash crops such as coffee, sugar, fruits and vegetables with the Jatropha offering both fertilizer and protection against livestock. - Jatropha can survive three years of drought by dropping its leaves. - Jatropha is excellent at preventing soil erosion, and the leaves it drops act as a wonderful soil enriching mulch. - The cost of 1000 jatropha saplings in Pakistan is around 5000PKR (equiv to around ï¿½50 or just 5p each).(7) B. The endorsement of Jatropha has tended to be a big money venture. That has not been undertaken on a larger scale. Jatropha is more of pure fuel crop, though the oil can serve certain other applications. (8) C-E: No evidence. I would also like to mention that you dropped my Oil Dependence and Peak Oil problems. You speak that there is a potential decrease in American exporting (leading to an economic decline) although this is not the case, Jatropha would increase economicic stability due to increased food output (Read through Jatropha statistics). Oil dependence shows that with our continued use of Oil we are supporting terrorist organizations in the Middle East (And those organizations have revolutionized warfare). If we continue to funnel money into terrorist organizations through Oil dependence we are destroying possibilty of stability (Military stability, Economic stability, and Political Stability). Peak oil also shows that without biodiversity we will have an economic decline with the impact of extinction. We cannot stand idly by as we leave chances of the destruction of civilization itself. In conclusion, if Aff's plan is not followed, the destruction of civilization ensues. (1) Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, November 16, 2007, http://www.ipcc.ch... (2) Washington Post; Struck Doug, writer for the Washington Post, 2006 (3) National Resources Defense Council, 07 http://www.nrdc.org..., p.1 (4) National Resources Defense Council, http://www.nrdc.org... (5) http://dictionary.reference.com... (6) http://dictionary.reference.com... (7)RUEK.com, 08 (RENEWABLE ENERGY UK) (8) WAFB 07 (Dan Sweeney, staff writer, JUICE: Alternate Fuels World, "The World Agricultural Forum's Biofuels Initiative", 04/06/2007, http://www.alternatefuelsworld.com...)