The U.S. has a bleak track record when it comes to taking governmental action to reduce emissions that expedite global climate change. Yet despite lack of political and public agreement on what is causing global climate change, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is moving forward with a plan that would reduce carbon emissions by targeting U.S. power plants.

On Monday, President Obama announced the plan to cut national carbon emissions by a third over the next 16 years. However, the initial levels are based on carbon dioxide emissions measured a decade ago, which have dropped nationally by as much as 16 percent already. 

According to the White House, power plants account for 40 percent of carbon emissions. Transportation, factories and buildings largely account for the rest.

Those who oppose the new regulations argue that fining power plants for emissions may result in loss of energy sector jobs and billions of dollars in the economy, while proponents maintain that the worse the effects of climate change, the more catastrophic for the economy.

Just last week, Congress amended the National Defense Authorization bill to prevent the Pentagon from funding research on climate change and its affects on national security. The amendment's sponsor, Rep. David McKinley (R-W.Va.), argued that the Department of Defense (DOD) should not spend money to "support a political ideology," even though the DOD has cited that extreme climate changes would be "threat multipliers" to national security, creating global hunger, unrest and tension.