Animals and Plants

• New creatures are being discovered in the deepest parts of oceans.deep sea creature image by Yali Shi from Fotolia.com
  
  Most people have seen the infomercials and telethons in which foundations such as World Wildlife Federation publicize stories about animals in danger of extinction. Often these animals are being forced into smaller areas as their natural habitats are cleared to build subdivisions or farmland. While endangered species are a concern, others are being discovered. In 2008 scientists working on the Global Census for Marine Life discovered hundreds of new aquatic species in deep regions of oceans previously unexplored.
  
  Specific term paper topics about plants and animals include the conservation of natural habitats for pandas or other endangered species, the importance of domestic breeding programs, or the effects of underwater drilling on aquatic life.
  
  

Air and Water

• Flood prevention is an environmental concern.flood image by Gail Ranney from Fotolia.com
  
  Each summer, major cities across America, such as Los Angeles, California, give daily smog reports. These reports measure the quality of the air and often advise residents against jogging or working outdoors on smoggy days. Meanwhile, droughts and water shortages have ravaged the southern continental states, and severe flooding has hit coastal areas often in the early 2000s. Environmental term paper topics in regard to air and water include whether water is an exportable commodity, the hole in the ozone layer or the effects of the sea level rising.
  
  

Personal Efforts

• Solar panels are becoming more affordable.Solar panels on roof image by kuhar from Fotolia.com
  
  Knowledge about the environment has created a market for environmentally friendly products. From geothermal heating and solar panel technology for homes, to energy-efficient appliances and reusable shopping bags, caring for the environment has become a personal choice for Americans. This personal choice has crossed over into the food industry, with the organic farming and farmers' market communities touting themselves as environmentally conscious alternatives to fertilizers and supermarkets. Going green topics include genetic modification of foods, the lasting effects of fertilizers on soil quality or the benefits of installing home solar panels.
  
  

Industrial Efforts

• The Kyoto Protocol agreement, which came into effect in 2005, has emphasized the need for "green technologies," and the U.S. government responded by creating a carbon credit program to limit the emissions of the manufacturing, mining, logging and transportation industries. At the same time, politicians such as Al Gore began to bring industrial environmental issues to the forefront of the media. Events such as the BP oil spill in 2010 emphasized the fact that industries need to be held accountable for their environmental actions. Term paper ideas on industrial efforts include carbon credit trading, vehicle emission standards or mining regulations.
  
  

Writing the Paper

• The topic of a term paper should be one the writer cares about, regardless of whether you have background knowledge of the topic. When you choose a topic, research the topic before writing anything. Then aim to educate with your writing. Caring for the environment is foremost an issue of education: If the paper can bring understanding about the importance of the topic, you could influence others on going green.