Homework #6

The policies under the Obama administration concentrates more on improving their fuel efficiencies and moving towards more sustainable energy sources. It touches more on how they are specifically reaching their goals in the public and private sector. In addition, it gives an action plan to be more prepared for natural disasters as a concequence of climate change and a brief overview at USA attempts to help other developing nations with resources and knowledge about sustainable and alternative energy sources. Some of the policies discussed affects society as new appliances and car AC's that are better for people's health, which will decrease the rate of asthma cases and other respiratory diseases. The environment is also affected by improving air quality as there will be less HFC's, methane, CO2 and other greenhouse gases emitted to the atmosphere.

During class we discussed Obama's action plan towards energy sources. We observed that the article talked a lot about how to secure domestic oil reserves. I believe that the US is concentrating too much on securing oil and coal sources instead of searching for alternative energies that will benefit Americans in the long run. 

In contrast, Brazil has suffered from economic, social and political barriers that has not allowed the country to implement more policies on renewable energies or energy efficiency. The article explains what type of policies would be more viable for the country given their current use of alternative energies and the resources they have. It gives a realistic view of what Brazil should do to improve their energy policies overall. These policies invest heavily in energy sources can affect the country socially and economically as the government is not improving society's living standards but concentrating too much on energy sources. Using more renewable energies instead of oil and natural gas would diversify energy sources, create jobs, stimulate new industries and help develop poorer areas socially and economically. 

Both approaches illustrates both countries different views on sustainability and securing energy. I believe that Brazil's views on changing to other alternatives is a better approach, since they are taking a proactive strategy in order to not only stop depending in foreign energy sources (both sustainable and non-sustainable) but also stop depending on fossil fuels overall.