3. Climate change could make cheap travel a thing of the past

Everyone is aware of the dangers of global warming, yet what is being done to prevent it? Not enough according Bobby Magill, author of this article, who listed several ways climate could affect today's methods of travelling. The emission of carbon dioxide is not only constant, it is also increasing and leaving the planet  vulnerable to high temperatures and sun kinks. The elevated markings on thermometers could have a direct impact on almost all methods of transportation used today. Asphalts would be softened and require new materials to resist heat, low-laying areas would be vulnerable to floods and require improvements on the drainage systems, and railroads would have their tracks buckled, leading to derailments. High heat means that the air over runways is less dense, making airplanes heavier during their takeoffs and reducing the aircraft's max payload which would eventually increase the price of air travel. Lastly, frequent storms would impact both planes and ships, making them take longer routes to avoid turbulence and rough waters, thus requiring more money for fuel too. These and several other problems would all arise as carbon dioxide is emitted, and ironically, the vehicles themselves are the ones affecting the rate the most. Responsible for 25% of the world's energy-related carbon emission, transportation relies on enormous amounts of oil to function, and if nothing is done, "the amount of money required to fix all the problems around the world will be astronomical."

Bobby Magill wrote this article to inform his audience what would happen if nothing is done about the increasing consumption of fossil fuels. He lists possible catastrophes that would affect the globe to make the readers concerned and try to change the situation. He also presents data from reliable sources to show how much of an impact the climatic changes will have on the people. By adding those numbers, he is able to portray how serious the situation is and manages to leave the audience somewhat worried. Magill also adds suggestions of important committees on how to decrease the production of carbon dioxide. He describes their ideas of how denser cities have a "smaller carbon footprint" and how giving up a car ride to take the train instead could be a lot more beneficial. All this may sound like everyday tips on how to decrease carbon dioxide emission, however, Magill is able to convey his message in such a way that causes anxiety in his audience and makes them, at least me, want to do something to avoid future catastrophes.

http://www.salon.com/2014/08/03/climate_change_could_make_cheap_travel_a_thing_of_the_past_partner/