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Do you need to write a persuasive essay but aren’t sure what topic to focus on? Were you thrilled when your teacher said you could write about whatever you wanted but are now overwhelmed by the possibilities? We’re here to help!
Read on for a list of 113 top-notch persuasive essay topics, organized into ten categories. To help get you started, we also discuss what a persuasive essay is, how to choose a great topic, and what tips to keep in mind as you write your persuasive essay.
In a persuasive essay, you attempt to convince readers to agree with your point of view on an argument. For example, an essay analyzing changes in Italian art during the Renaissance wouldn’t be a persuasive essay, because there’s no argument, but an essay where you argue that Italian art reached its peak during the Renaissance would be a persuasive essay because you’re trying to get your audience to agree with your viewpoint.
Persuasive and argumentative essays both try to convince readers to agree with the author, but the two essay types have key differences. Argumentative essays show a more balanced view of the issue and discuss both sides. Persuasive essays focus more heavily on the side the author agrees with. They also often include more of the author’s opinion than argumentative essays, which tend to use only facts and data to support their argument.
All persuasive essays have the following:
Theoretically, you could write a persuasive essay about any subject under the sun, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you should. Certain topics are easier to write a strong persuasive essay on, and below are tips to follow when deciding what you should write about.
Obviously, it’s possible to write an essay about a topic you find completely boring. You’ve probably done it! However, if possible, it’s always better to choose a topic that you care about and are interested in. When this is the case, you’ll find doing the research more enjoyable, writing the essay easier, and your writing will likely be better because you’ll be more passionate about and informed on the topic.
Just being passionate about a subject isn’t enough to make it a good persuasive essay topic, though. You need to make sure your argument is complex enough to have at least two potential sides to root for, and you need to be able to back up your side with evidence and examples. Even though persuasive essays allow your opinion to feature more than many other essays, you still need concrete evidence to back up your claims, or you’ll end up with a weak essay.
For example, you may passionately believe that mint chocolate chip ice cream is the best ice cream flavor (I agree!), but could you really write an entire essay on this? What would be your reasons for believing mint chocolate chip is the best (besides the fact that it’s delicious)? How would you support your belief? Have enough studies been done on preferred ice cream flavors to support an entire essay? When choosing a persuasive essay idea, you want to find the right balance between something you care about (so you can write well on it) and something the rest of the world cares about (so you can reference evidence to strengthen your position).
Bigger isn’t always better, especially with essay topics. While it may seem like a great idea to choose a huge, complex topic to write about, you’ll likely struggle to sift through all the information and different sides of the issue and winnow them down to one streamlined essay. For example, choosing to write an essay about how WWII impacted American life more than WWI wouldn’t be a great idea because you’d need to analyze all the impacts of both the wars in numerous areas of American life. It’d be a huge undertaking. A better idea would be to choose one impact on American life the wars had (such as changes in female employment) and focus on that. Doing so will make researching and writing your persuasive essay much more feasible.
Below are over 100 persuasive essay ideas, organized into ten categories. When you find an idea that piques your interest, you’ll choose one side of it to argue for in your essay. For example, if you choose the topic, “should fracking be legal?” you’d decide whether you believe fracking should be legal or illegal, then you’d write an essay arguing all the reasons why your audience should agree with you.
After you’ve chosen the perfect topic for your persuasive essay, your work isn’t over. Follow the three tips below to create a top-notch essay.
Your argument will fall apart if you don’t fully understand the issue you’re discussing or you overlook an important piece of it. Readers won’t be convinced by someone who doesn’t know the subject, and you likely won’t persuade any of them to begin supporting your viewpoint. Before you begin writing a single word of your essay, research your topic thoroughly. Study different sources, learn about the different sides of the argument, ask anyone who’s an expert on the topic what their opinion is, etc. You might be tempted to start writing right away, but by doing your research, you’ll make the writing process much easier when the time comes.
Your thesis is the most important sentence in your persuasive essay. Just by reading that single sentence, your audience should know exactly what topic you’ll be discussing and where you stand on the issue. You want your thesis to be crystal clear and to accurately set up the rest of your essay. Asking classmates or your teacher to look it over before you begin writing the rest of your essay can be a big help if you’re not entirely confident in your thesis.
You’ll spend most of your essay focusing on your side of the argument since that’s what you want readers to come away believing. However, don’t think that means you can ignore other sides of the issue. In your essay, be sure to discuss the other side’s argument, as well as why you believe this view is weak or untrue. Researching all the different viewpoints and including them in your essay will increase the quality of your writing by making your essay more complete and nuanced.
Good persuasive essay topics can be difficult to come up with, but in this guide we’ve created a list of 113 excellent essay topics for you to browse. The best persuasive essay ideas will be those that you are interested in, have enough evidence to support your argument, and aren’t too complicated to be summarized in an essay.
After you’ve chosen your essay topic, keep these three tips in mind when you begin writing:
Need ideas for a research paper topic as well? Our guide to research paper topics has over 100 topics in ten categories so you can be sure to find the perfect topic for you.
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Business Essay Topics
15 min read
Published on: May 1, 2023
Last updated on: Jan 30, 2024
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Are you a student struggling to come up with a good topic for your business essay?
Choosing the right topic is crucial to the success of your essay. A well-chosen topic can make your paper stand out, while a poor choice can make it fall flat. It can be challenging to narrow down the options and find a topic that is interesting and relevant.
But worry not, we've got you covered!
In this blog, we'll provide you with a comprehensive list of business essay topics that are sure to impress your professors. We'll cover everything from business ethics to trending topics. Whether you're an undergraduate, or graduate student, we have topics that will suit your level of study.
So, if you're ready to take your business essay to the next level, let's dive in!
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If you're studying business management, you may be tasked with business essay writing. Here are some topics to help you get started:
Human resources is a critical function in any organization, responsible for managing the recruitment, training, and retention of employees. Check out the following HR essay topics for inspiration:
Organizational behavior is the study of how people interact within organizations. It covers topics such as leadership, teamwork, communication, and motivation.
Here are some topics to inspire your writing:
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Business ethics refers to the moral principles and values that guide behavior in the world of business. It covers topics such as corporate social responsibility, sustainability, and fair trade. Letâs take a look at business ethics essay topics to get you started:
The law of supply and demand is a fundamental concept in economics. It explains how the availability of goods and services and the desire for them determine prices in the market.
If you're studying economics, you may be asked to write an essay on a topic related to supply and demand.
Here are supply/demand business essay ideas to consider for your next assignment.
Business law covers the legal regulations and requirements that apply to business activities and operations. It is an important field for business students, and here are some topics for help:
Entrepreneurship is the process of starting and growing a new business venture. It requires a combination of innovation, risk-taking, and business acumen. Check out the following topics related to entrepreneurship:
International business is a complex and dynamic field that encompasses a wide range of issues related to global commerce and trade.
Letâs take a look at some potential essay topics:
Values are the guiding principles that shape our beliefs, actions, and attitudes towards life. In business, values play an essential role in defining a company's culture, ethics, and identity.
If you're looking for value essay topics, here are some ideas to inspire your research and writing:
Let's take a look at some argumentative essay topics for business students:
Here are 10 persuasive business essay topics to inspire your business essay writing:
Let's explore some extended essay topics for business students:
Here are some business essay topics for college students:
If you're a BBA student struggling to select a topic for your assignment, we have some inspiring topic ideas for you.
Here are business essay topics for IELTS:
With the business landscape constantly evolving, it's important to stay up-to-date with the latest trends. Here are some trending business essay topics to help you ace your upcoming exam.
Take a look at thelatest business assignment topics for your next asdsignment:
Follow these steps to choose an ideal topic for your business essay:
Step 1: Understand the Assignment Requirements Before selecting a topic, make sure you understand the assignment requirements. Consider the length, format, and scope of the essay to help guide your topic selection.
Step 2: Brainstorm Ideas Think about your own experiences, interests, and knowledge in the field of business. Brainstorm a list of potential topics that align with the assignment requirements.
Step 3: Research Current Business Trends Research current events, news articles, and emerging trends in the business world. Consider how these trends relate to the assignment requirements and incorporate them into your topic ideas.
Step 4: Narrow Down Your List Review your list of potential topics and identify the ones that stand out the most. Consider which topics you have the most knowledge and passion for, as well as which ones are the most unique.
Step 5: Conduct a Preliminary Search Before finalizing your topic, conduct a primary search to ensure there is enough information available to support your essay. Look for scholarly articles, books, and other sources that can help you develop your argument.
Step 6: Finalize Your Topic Based on your research and evaluation, select the topic that you are most confident and passionate about. Make sure your topic is specific, manageable, and aligns with the assignment requirements.
By following these steps, you can pick a business essay topic that showcases your knowledge and expertise in the field.
The Bottom Line!
Writing a business essay can be a tiring task, but it can also be a rewarding one. By choosing the right topic you can create an insightful essay that impresses your professor and earns you a top grade.
However, if you are short on time or need additional assistance, our Essay Writer AI is here to help!
Our essay writing service online can provide you with expert guidance and support to help you achieve academic success.
So, don't hesitate - order from our business essay writing service now and get started on your journey to becoming a successful business student!
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5 ways to find out if your idea is worth pursuing.
So you’ve got a creative idea that you think might be worth pursuing, but you’re just not sure. As with any new creative pursuit knowing whether your idea has legs can be difficult. To help you make the decision, I’m going to share with you five ways to find out if your idea is worth pursuing.
The very best way to find out if your idea is worth pursuing is to create a minimum viable product. A minimum viable product has only the most basic core features of your idea and nothing more i.e. no bells and whistles! Creating a minimum viable product allows you to get your idea out there in front of people to get valuable feedback without putting exorbitant amounts of time and money into its creation. After all, your idea may not float in which case its back to the drawing board. Virgin Airlines started with a single 747 in 1984 on one route. From this minimal service they were able to determine whether the idea was worth pursuing. Today Virgin Airlines is a booming business, but like many others they started out small.
Once you’ve got a minimum viable product out there it’s time to test it out! Get real people using it and use it yourself. Does it work? Can it be improved? How? Testing your idea and answering these big questions will help you decide if your idea is worth pursuing. Twitter started out as a small service among just a handful of friends. In these early days they were able to test the service and improve on it based on results. Today Twitter is a booming online service with millions of active users sharing daily.
Seeking feedback is not something that happens just once in a testing phase. Seeking feedback regularly while bringing your idea to life will help you find out if it’s worth pursuing every step along the way and importantly if you’re on the right track as you progress. The best feedback is from those people who most closely fit your target market i.e. the intended end users of your product or service. You can also seek initial feedback from friends and family. Although these people are potentially not in your target market they will likely have some good feedback nonetheless. Gather as much feedback as you can as often as you can to give your idea the best chance of success.
To find out if your idea is worth pursuing you’ll need to assess how passionate the response is toward your idea. Rate responses on a scale of 1-10 and keep track of the scores over time. It can be as simple as keeping score in a computer spreadsheet and regularly checking in to see how you’re tracking over time. Passion is a great predictor of success so start assessing it early on to get a good idea of whether your idea is worth pursuing and how the level of passion among users is changing over time.
You’ll never know if your idea is worth pursuing if you don’t put everything you have into it in the early stages. Don’t be shy of sharing your idea with others around you and pursuing it fully. Get out there are really put your idea out there for the world to see! Be excited and throw yourself into the process by putting your heart and soul into it and you’ll be rewarded with progress and being one step closer to having a stellar idea that others want to be part of. Being excited, passionate and committed in the early stages will give your idea the best chance of success and help you find out if it’s worth pursuing further.
You might also like: How to Consistently Come Up With Great Ideas
Featured photo credit trophygeek via Flickr CC.
Featured photo credit: trophygeek via Flickr CC via flickr.com
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by Helena Escalante | Creativity , Mindset , Tools
Estimated reading time: 2 minutes, 48 seconds.
— From A mash-up of two books: Anything You Want: 40 Lessons for a New Kind of Entrepreneur , by Derek Sivers and REWORK: Change the way you work forever by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson
“We all have that one friend who says, ‘I had the idea for eBay. If only I had acted on it I’d be a billionaire!’ That logic is pathetic and delusional,” say Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson in their book Rework . “Having the idea for eBay has nothing to do with actually creating eBay. What you do is what matters, not what you think or say or plan.”
I guess at this point I shouldn’t confess that I had the idea for Uber , but I really did. (Try to flag down a cab in New York, and you’ll see it’s not hard to have such an idea.) Needless to say, I did not act on it…
The point that Fried and Hansson are trying to make is that ideas are nothing without execution . They go on to say, “Think your idea’s that valuable? Then go try to sell it and see what you get for it. Not much is probably the answer. Until you actually start making something, your brilliant idea is just that, an idea. And everyone’s got one of those.”
“Ideas are cheap and plentiful. The original pitch idea is such a small part of a business that it’s almost negligible. The real question is how well you execute.” –Fried and Hansson
And that is the reason why Derek Sivers , entrepreneur and author of Anything You Want , says that he doesn’t want to hear people’s ideas, because he’s not interested until he sees the execution. That is why most investors won’t sign a non-disclosure agreement just to hear an idea from someone that is pitching them for money. They want to see a minimum of execution and thus, traction, before they invest their money.
Sivers created the table below to show how even the most brilliant idea is worth nothing without execution. “[Ideas] are just a multiplier,” says Sivers. “Execution is worth millions.”
AWFUL IDEA = -1 WEAK IDEA = 1 SO-SO IDEA = 5 GOOD IDEA = 10 GREAT IDEA = 15 BRILLIANT IDEA = 20
NO EXECUTION = $1 WEAK EXECUTION = $1000 SO-SO EXECUTION = $10,000 GOOD EXECUTION = $100,000 GREAT EXECUTION = $1,000,000 BRILLIANT EXECUTION = $10,000,000
And how does this work?
Sivers explains, “To make a business, you need to multiply the two components. The most brilliant idea, with no execution, is worth $20. The most brilliant idea takes [brilliant] execution to be $200,000,000.”
Had I sold my Uber idea, a very generous soul would have paid me $20, and I actually think that’s a stretch. However, the Uber team took that idea and has managed to turn it into a global brand worth billions. That’s extra-brilliant execution!
Ideas are not unique, so act on yours today!
TODAY: Have you been playing with an idea in your head that won’t leave you alone? Take some time to figure out what it would take to put it in motion. If it’s worth the try, determine to do a quick, lean test in a near future.
FUTURE: Move forward with the execution of the lean test. Here’s a great book to guide you through: Sprint: How To Solve Big Problems and Test New Ideas in Just Five Days by Jake Knapp.
Know someone who needs to start acting on his/her ideas? Please share this post! Email , Facebook or Twitter .
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Innovation is a key driver of progress and growth in any field, whether it be in science, technology, business, or the arts. As such, it is a topic that is frequently explored in essays and research papers. If you are struggling to come up with a unique and interesting topic for your innovation essay, look no further. Here are 107 innovation essay topic ideas and examples to inspire your next writing project.
The impact of artificial intelligence on innovation in the workplace
How blockchain technology is revolutionizing the financial industry
The role of innovation in addressing climate change
The future of transportation: innovations in electric vehicles
The ethical implications of gene editing technologies
How virtual reality is transforming the way we experience entertainment
The rise of telemedicine: innovations in healthcare delivery
The role of innovation in addressing food insecurity
The impact of 3D printing on manufacturing processes
How the sharing economy is driving innovation in the service industry
The potential of renewable energy technologies to revolutionize the energy sector
Innovations in cybersecurity: protecting data in the digital age
The role of innovation in creating sustainable cities
The impact of social media on innovation and creativity
How biotechnology is revolutionizing healthcare
The future of work: innovations in remote collaboration
The role of innovation in addressing global poverty
The impact of autonomous vehicles on transportation systems
Innovations in education technology: transforming the classroom experience
The ethical implications of artificial intelligence and machine learning
The role of innovation in disaster response and recovery
The impact of big data on innovation in business
Innovations in renewable energy storage
The future of space exploration: innovations in propulsion technology
The role of innovation in addressing mental health challenges
How the Internet of Things is transforming everyday life
The ethics of gene editing and designer babies
The impact of virtual reality on mental health treatment
Innovations in sustainable agriculture
The role of innovation in addressing income inequality
The potential of quantum computing to revolutionize technology
Innovations in personalized medicine
The impact of biometrics and facial recognition technology on privacy
The future of sustainable fashion: innovations in eco-friendly materials
The role of innovation in promoting social justice
How drones are revolutionizing industries from agriculture to delivery services
The ethics of autonomous weapons systems
Innovations in clean water technology
The impact of 5G technology on communication networks
The role of innovation in addressing mental health stigma
The potential of regenerative medicine to revolutionize healthcare
Innovations in prosthetics and assistive technologies
The impact of virtual reality on empathy and social change
The future of smart cities: innovations in urban planning
The role of innovation in addressing gender equality
How bioengineering is revolutionizing the production of food and consumer goods
The ethics of artificial intelligence and decision-making
Innovations in disaster-resistant infrastructure
The impact of social media on political innovation
The role of innovation in promoting diversity and inclusion in the workplace
The potential of nanotechnology to revolutionize materials science
Innovations in sustainable transportation
The impact of biotechnology on personalized nutrition
The future of wearable technology: innovations in health monitoring
The role of innovation in addressing plastic pollution
How blockchain technology is transforming supply chain management
The ethics of autonomous vehicles and driverless cars
Innovations in sustainable architecture and design
The impact of artificial intelligence on creative industries
The role of innovation in promoting mental health awareness
The potential of gene editing technologies to cure genetic diseases
Innovations in renewable energy generation
The future of smart homes: innovations in home automation
The role of innovation in promoting environmental sustainability
How bioengineering is revolutionizing the production of consumer goods
The ethics of artificial intelligence and privacy
Innovations in disaster-resistant building materials
The impact of social media on political activism
These 107 innovation essay topic ideas and examples cover a wide range of disciplines and industries, providing you with plenty of inspiration for your next writing project. Whether you are interested in exploring the ethical implications of emerging technologies, the role of innovation in addressing social challenges, or the potential of cutting-edge scientific advancements, there is sure to be a topic on this list that piques your interest. Happy writing!
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The commercial space industry has boomed in recent years, with companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin leading the pack.
Their respective founders, Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos , essentially share the same dream: to expand humanity's reach and build human settlements beyond Earth.
But they each have different ideas of how to get us there.
Musk has his sights on Mars , saying he wants to establish a permanent, self-sustaining human colony of one million people on the red planet by 2050. SpaceX is helping him toward that goal.
Meanwhile, Bezos wants to build enormous space stations that would allow a trillion humans to live throughout the solar system . Though he's said he won't see them built in his lifetime, Bezos founded Blue Origin for the purpose of making his vision come to life.
Both billionaires' aspirations come with major technical, scientific, and ethical hurdles. But according to experts in architecture, astrobiology, artificial gravity, and reproductive health, one vision is more realistic.
Establishing habitats where humans can not only live, but thrive, is the biggest challenge in both billionaires' visions.
If you ask independent architect Anthony Longman which world is more feasible to build, Bezos' space stations are the way to go in the long-run because you can make them Earth-like more easily than an entire planet.
Musk's long-term vision is to terraform Mars by giving it a thicker atmosphere with breathable oxygen and a protective magnetic field to shield from harmful space radiation, so that one day humans could live on and explore Mars's surface like on Earth.
Longman thinks transforming an entire planet is too challenging, which is why he says colonizing Mars is "not a good idea." Bezos' space stations could be built to resemble Earth more easily — no massive terraforming necessary.
The scale Bezos envisions for these space stations, however, is unlike anything ever built. They would resemble a '70s concept called O'Neill colonies — enormous cylinders measuring 20 miles long and four miles wide that could hold a million people.
Longman has his own concept for space habitats designed to house just 8,000 people. While he thinks that building a massive station like what Bezos imagines is more realistic, it's too big to be feasible near-term.
"I'm not saying they won't be built, but I think it will probably be some hundreds of years before we're able to build anything at that scale," Longman said.
With that said, Bezos is still the winner of this round.
Score: Bezos 1, Musk 0.
Aside from shelter, having enough food is crucial. But growing food off-world is challenging since crops have evolved in Earth's conditions.
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Scientists have already grown a few crops on the International Space Station , including tomatoes and lettuce. But scaling up production to feed millions requires more research, astrobiologist Rebeca Gonçalves told BI.
"We need to develop these very safe, closed-loop, self-sufficient agricultural systems," Gonçalves said. She thinks this will be easier on Mars than in space.
That's because a planet already has a surface where humans can grow food, she said. In space, you'd have to build farms from scratch, and likely need to venture out to mine water and minerals from asteroids . Mars, on the other hand, has soil and water ice on its surface.
The challenge on Mars will be developing an agricultural system that can sustain crops in Martian conditions.
Researchers have already made progress toward that goal, successfully growing food in lunar regolith, and Gonçalves is working to develop a closed-loop, self-sustaining agricultural system for Martian colonies.
"If I had to pick a billionaire's vision of the future, I would definitely go with Elon Musk's Martian colony," Gonçalves told BI.
Score: Bezos 1, Musk 1.
The human body has evolved to exist in Earth gravity and doesn't adapt too well to low or zero gravity. Researchers have found that spending weeks to months in space can lead to muscle and bone loss, vision problems, and even kidney stones.
That means a space or Mars colony would need artificial gravity to keep residents healthy. Mars has some built-in gravity already — about 38% of what we experience on Earth. But a space station would need to start from scratch.
That's why Rachael Seidler thinks Musk's Martian cities are a better bet than Bezos' space stations. Reaching Earth-like gravity on Mars might be easier since it's already over a third of the way there.
"Artificial gravity is thought to be very difficult to implement in space," Seidler, a professor of applied physiology and kinesiology at the University of Florida who studies astronauts, told BI.
Bezos' enormous 20-mile-long stations would rotate to simulate Earth's gravity. But getting that sort of goliath up and running is too far-fetched for Seidler.
Scientists are already looking into building artificial gravity on places like Mars.
So, Musk wins this round.
Score: Bezos 1, Musk 2.
If we're going to establish a longstanding colony off world, reproduction will be necessary.
A Russian experiment in 2007 showed us that giving birth and conceiving in space is at least possible after a cockroach named Hope birthed 33 baby roaches and one of those roaches later conceived during the mission.
However, cockroaches aren't humans, and a lot of questions remain around how space radiation and low gravity would affect a developing fetus since we've never sent a pregnant person to space, and likely won't for a long time given the potential risks.
Even here on Earth in fully-equipped hospitals, giving birth can be dangerous.
So, both Musk's Martian colony and Bezos' space stations would have to be equipped with healthcare systems identical to those on Earth, if not better, said Adam Watkins, a professor of reproductive biology at the University of Nottingham.
It's not clear to Watkins whether space stations or Mars cities would be a better place for giving birth — they may both come with equal risk. But Watkins thinks it's likely that Musk would achieve off-world human reproduction before Bezos since Musk is already working on establishing his space colony before the end of this century.
"I think establishment of human colonies on Mars is more likely to occur before we have significant human colonies established on large structures in space," he said later in an email to BI.
Score: Bezos 1, Musk 3.
The majority of experts BI spoke with agreed that Musk's Martian colony is more feasible than Bezos' enormous space stations.
But neither of these billionaires are anywhere close to making these dreams a reality. It will take decades — if not centuries — of innovation to build the technology that would allow humans to live safely beyond Earth.
Should we instead focus on caring for our home planet ? Is it worth the billions of dollars we'll spend to get there? Will humans really want to leave Earth? The experts BI spoke with raised all these questions and more.
But if you ask Musk and Bezos, colonizing space is humanity's destiny. Through SpaceX and Blue Origin , they're laying the groundwork for our great expansion.
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As governor of Minnesota, he has enacted policies to secure abortion protections, provide free meals for schoolchildren, allow recreational marijuana and set renewable energy goals.
By Maggie Astor
Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota, the newly announced running mate to Vice President Kamala Harris, has worked with his state’s Democratic-controlled Legislature to enact an ambitious agenda of liberal policies: free college tuition for low-income students, free meals for schoolchildren, legal recreational marijuana and protections for transgender people.
“You don’t win elections to bank political capital,” Mr. Walz wrote last year about his approach to governing. “You win elections to burn political capital and improve lives.”
Republicans have slammed these policies as big-government liberalism and accused Mr. Walz of taking a hard left turn since he represented a politically divided district in Congress years ago.
Here is an overview of where Mr. Walz stands on some key issues.
Mr. Walz signed a bill last year that guaranteed Minnesotans a “fundamental right to make autonomous decisions” about reproductive health care on issues such as abortion, contraception and fertility treatments.
Abortion was already protected by a Minnesota Supreme Court decision, but the new law guarded against a future court reversing that precedent as the U.S. Supreme Court did with Roe v. Wade, and Mr. Walz said this year that he was also open to an amendment to the state’s Constitution that would codify abortion rights.
Another bill he signed legally shields patients, and their medical providers, if they receive an abortion in Minnesota after traveling from a state where abortion is banned.
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How the energy crisis started, how global energy markets are impacting our daily life, and what governments are doing about it
Record prices, fuel shortages, rising poverty, slowing economies: the first energy crisis that's truly global.
Energy markets began to tighten in 2021 because of a variety of factors, including the extraordinarily rapid economic rebound following the pandemic. But the situation escalated dramatically into a full-blown global energy crisis following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The price of natural gas reached record highs, and as a result so did electricity in some markets. Oil prices hit their highest level since 2008.
Higher energy prices have contributed to painfully high inflation, pushed families into poverty, forced some factories to curtail output or even shut down, and slowed economic growth to the point that some countries are heading towards severe recession. Europe, whose gas supply is uniquely vulnerable because of its historic reliance on Russia, could face gas rationing this winter, while many emerging economies are seeing sharply higher energy import bills and fuel shortages. While today’s energy crisis shares some parallels with the oil shocks of the 1970s, there are important differences. Today’s crisis involves all fossil fuels, while the 1970s price shocks were largely limited to oil at a time when the global economy was much more dependent on oil, and less dependent on gas. The entire word economy is much more interlinked than it was 50 years ago, magnifying the impact. That’s why we can refer to this as the first truly global energy crisis.
Some gas-intensive manufacturing plants in Europe have curtailed output because they can’t afford to keep operating, while in China some have simply had their power supply cut. In emerging and developing economies, where the share of household budgets spent on energy and food is already large, higher energy bills have increased extreme poverty and set back progress towards achieving universal and affordable energy access. Even in advanced economies, rising prices have impacted vulnerable households and caused significant economic, social and political strains.
Climate policies have been blamed in some quarters for contributing to the recent run-up in energy prices, but there is no evidence. In fact, a greater supply of clean energy sources and technologies would have protected consumers and mitigated some of the upward pressure on fuel prices.
Evolution of key regional natural gas prices, june 2021-october 2022, what is causing it, disrupted supply chains, bad weather, low investment, and then came russia's invasion of ukraine.
Energy prices have been rising since 2021 because of the rapid economic recovery, weather conditions in various parts of the world, maintenance work that had been delayed by the pandemic, and earlier decisions by oil and gas companies and exporting countries to reduce investments. Russia began withholding gas supplies to Europe in 2021, months ahead of its invasion of Ukraine. All that led to already tight supplies. Russia’s attack on Ukraine greatly exacerbated the situation . The United States and the EU imposed a series of sanctions on Russia and many European countries declared their intention to phase out Russian gas imports completely. Meanwhile, Russia has increasingly curtailed or even turned off its export pipelines. Russia is by far the world’s largest exporter of fossil fuels, and a particularly important supplier to Europe. In 2021, a quarter of all energy consumed in the EU came from Russia. As Europe sought to replace Russian gas, it bid up prices of US, Australian and Qatari ship-borne liquefied natural gas (LNG), raising prices and diverting supply away from traditional LNG customers in Asia. Because gas frequently sets the price at which electricity is sold, power prices soared as well. Both LNG producers and importers are rushing to build new infrastructure to increase how much LNG can be traded internationally, but these costly projects take years to come online. Oil prices also initially soared as international trade routes were reconfigured after the United States, many European countries and some of their Asian allies said they would no longer buy Russian oil. Some shippers have declined to carry Russian oil because of sanctions and insurance risk. Many large oil producers were unable to boost supply to meet rising demand – even with the incentive of sky-high prices – because of a lack of investment in recent years. While prices have come down from their peaks, the outlook is uncertain with new rounds of European sanctions on Russia kicking in later this year.
Pandemic hangovers and rising interest rates limit public responses, while some countries turn to coal.
Some governments are looking to cushion the blow for customers and businesses, either through direct assistance, or by limiting prices for consumers and then paying energy providers the difference. But with inflation in many countries well above target and budget deficits already large because of emergency spending during the Covid-19 pandemic, the scope for cushioning the impact is more limited than in early 2020. Rising inflation has triggered increases in short-term interest rates in many countries, slowing down economic growth. Europeans have rushed to increase gas imports from alternative producers such as Algeria, Norway and Azerbaijan. Several countries have resumed or expanded the use of coal for power generation, and some are extending the lives of nuclear plants slated for de-commissioning. EU members have also introduced gas storage obligations, and agreed on voluntary targets to cut gas and electricity demand by 15% this winter through efficiency measures, greater use of renewables, and support for efficiency improvements. To ensure adequate oil supplies, the IEA and its members responded with the two largest ever releases of emergency oil stocks. With two decisions – on 1 March 2022 and 1 April – the IEA coordinated the release of some 182 million barrels of emergency oil from public stocks or obligated stocks held by industry. Some IEA member countries independently released additional public stocks, resulting in a total of over 240 million barrels being released between March and November 2022.
The IEA has also published action plans to cut oil use with immediate impact, as well as plans for how Europe can reduce its reliance on Russian gas and how common citizens can reduce their energy consumption . The invasion has sparked a reappraisal of energy policies and priorities, calling into question the viability of decades of infrastructure and investment decisions, and profoundly reorientating international energy trade. Gas had been expected to play a key role in many countries as a lower-emitting "bridge" between dirtier fossil fuels and renewable energies. But today’s crisis has called into question natural gas’ reliability.
The current crisis could accelerate the rollout of cleaner, sustainable renewable energy such as wind and solar, just as the 1970s oil shocks spurred major advances in energy efficiency, as well as in nuclear, solar and wind power. The crisis has also underscored the importance of investing in robust gas and power network infrastructure to better integrate regional markets. The EU’s RePowerEU, presented in May 2022 and the United States’ Inflation Reduction Act , passed in August 2022, both contain major initiatives to develop energy efficiency and promote renewable energies.
Lower your thermostat by just 1°C to save around 7% of your heating energy and cut an average bill by EUR 50-70 a year. Always set your thermostat as low as feels comfortable, and wear warm clothes indoors. Use a programmable thermostat to set the temperature to 15°C while you sleep and 10°C when the house is unoccupied. This cuts up to 10% a year off heating bills. Try to only heat the room you’re in or the rooms you use regularly.
The same idea applies in hot weather. Turn off air-conditioning when you’re out. Set the overall temperature 1 °C warmer to cut bills by up to 10%. And only cool the room you’re in.
Default boiler settings are often higher than you need. Lower the hot water temperature to save 8% of your heating energy and cut EUR 100 off an average bill. You may have to have the plumber come once if you have a complex modern combi boiler and can’t figure out the manual. Make sure you follow local recommendations or consult your boiler manual. Swap a bath for a shower to spend less energy heating water. And if you already use a shower, take a shorter one. Hot water tanks and pipes should be insulated to stop heat escaping. Clean wood- and pellet-burning heaters regularly with a wire brush to keep them working efficiently.
Close windows and doors, insulate pipes and draught-proof around windows, chimneys and other gaps to keep the warm air inside. Unless your home is very new, you will lose heat through draughty doors and windows, gaps in the floor, or up the chimney. Draught-proof these gaps with sealant or weather stripping to save up to EUR 100 a year. Install tight-fitting curtains or shades on windows to retain even more heat. Close fireplace and chimney openings (unless a fire is burning) to stop warm air escaping straight up the chimney. And if you never use your fireplace, seal the chimney to stop heat escaping.
Replace old lightbulbs with new LED ones, and only keep on the lights you need. LED bulbs are more efficient than incandescent and halogen lights, they burn out less frequently, and save around EUR 10 a year per bulb. Check the energy label when buying bulbs, and aim for A (the most efficient) rather than G (the least efficient). The simplest and easiest way to save energy is to turn lights off when you leave a room.
Walking or cycling are great alternatives to driving for short journeys, and they help save money, cut emissions and reduce congestion. If you can, leave your car at home for shorter journeys; especially if it’s a larger car. Share your ride with neighbours, friends and colleagues to save energy and money. You’ll also see big savings and health benefits if you travel by bike. Many governments also offer incentives for electric bikes.
For longer distances where walking or cycling is impractical, public transport still reduces energy use, congestion and air pollution. If you’re going on a longer trip, consider leaving your car at home and taking the train. Buy a season ticket to save money over time. Your workplace or local government might also offer incentives for travel passes. Plan your trip in advance to save on tickets and find the best route.
Optimise your driving style to reduce fuel consumption: drive smoothly and at lower speeds on motorways, close windows at high speeds and make sure your tires are properly inflated. Try to take routes that avoid heavy traffic and turn off the engine when you’re not moving. Drive 10 km/h slower on motorways to cut your fuel bill by around EUR 60 per year. Driving steadily between 50-90 km/h can also save fuel. When driving faster than 80 km/h, it’s more efficient to use A/C, rather than opening your windows. And service your engine regularly to maintain energy efficiency.
Analysis and forecast to 2026
Fuel report — December 2023
Commentary — 09 May 2023
Commentary — 23 February 2023
Commentary — 16 February 2023
Policy report — February 2023
Report — February 2023
Analysis and forecast to 2025
Fuel report — December 2022
A practical set of actions to close a potential supply-demand gap
Flagship report — December 2022
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1477 Words. 6 Pages. Open Document. My Business Idea. In my coursework I intend to start my own business. I will devise my own business plan which outlines my business proposal and the key aspects, during this I will need to seek good business advice on the necessary steps I will have to make. As I go through the coursework I will show evidence ...
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By complementing your spreadsheets and charts with a compelling story, you can paint a fuller picture of your startup's future and more effectively highlight its business opportunity. 4. Cover the Details. While it's important to set the stage, you also need to cover the specifics. In your pitch deck, concisely define your value proposition ...
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Gather as much feedback as you can as often as you can to give your idea the best chance of success. 4. Assess the Level of Passion in Responses. To find out if your idea is worth pursuing you'll need to assess how passionate the response is toward your idea. Rate responses on a scale of 1-10 and keep track of the scores over time.
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Tim Walz in his old classroom at Mankato West High School in Minnesota with his wife, Gwen Walz. Glen Stubbe/Star Tribune via AP, Pool After his work in China, Walz taught at a public high school ...
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As governor of Minnesota, he has enacted policies to secure abortion protections, provide free meals for schoolchildren, allow recreational marijuana and set renewable energy goals.
The same idea applies in hot weather. Turn off air-conditioning when you're out. Set the overall temperature 1 °C warmer to cut bills by up to 10%. And only cool the room you're in. 2. Boiler: adjust the settings. Default boiler settings are often higher than you need. Lower the hot water temperature to save 8% of your heating energy and ...