ENVS1301 | Unit 7 | Written Assignment | Three Environmental Problems pg. 1
Three Environmental Problems
UoPeople Student (Anonymous for Peer Review)
Introduction to Environmental Sciences/1301
Kamala Dorsner (Instructor)
University of the People
August 5, 2015
ENVS1301 | Unit 7 | Written Assignment | Three Environmental Problems pg. 2
Three Environmental Problems
If I was in a position of governmental power, the top three environmental problems I would focus on would be shifting to renewable energy production to limit CO2 and other polluting emissions, reversing deforestation to create more carbon sinks to trap CO2, and creating opportunities for water conservation. These three issues are interconnected, solving one, benefits the others. This essay explores possible steps to effect positive change.
Renewable Energy
U.S. President Barack Obama beat me to the finish line regarding a renewable energy plan.
Yesterday, with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), President Obama announced the Clean
Energy Plan (CEP), which targets the year 2030 to have cut carbon dioxide emissions by thirty-two percent from 2005 levels. The CEP is the first set of national standards covering one-thousand fossil fuel fired power plants, which contribute about thirty-one percent of the U.S. greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. It is interesting to point out that since 2005, CO2 emissions from power plants have already decreased by fifteen percent, about half-way to the 2030 target. This reduction is
Industries and Electrical generation are estimated to produce “a little over 50%” of greenhouse emissions, making it the biggest problem (Petterson
1. Explain how the environment is prepared, maintained and cleaned to ensure it is ready for the healthcare activity
The change I’d like to see is that big corporate companies, like Essar Algoma and U.S steel pay carbon taxes. Having to pay money for every ton of pollutants released, will give companies the incentive to reduce their
In 2013, the Obama Administration issued the Climate Action Plan to focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 17 % reduction below 2005 levels by 2020. This plan’s three objectives were carbon reduction, strengthening capacity for climate change response, and leading international cooperation for climate change crisis (White House, 2013). To reduce the
Next, if we build a clean energy economy, investing in more industries that help to be efficient for example: solar panels, the use of less paper, more electric trains. Solar panels, are a great source of power, if you install one small panel
Forests play a critical role in mitigating climate change because they act as a carbon sink soaking up carbon dioxide that would otherwise be free in the atmosphere and contribute to ongoing changes in climate patterns. Deforestation undermines this important carbon sink function. It is estimated that 15% of all greenhouse gas emissions are the
Carbon emissions are changing the planet for the worse. Energy production (mostly coal) is producing a one third of the US 's global warming emissions. Renewable sources produce little to zero percent. The balance of coal and renewable energy in the U.S. needs to be evened out with renewable techniques. Statistics from the Union of Concerned Scientist’s “Benefits of Renewable Energy Use” show that most renewable resources emit less than one pound of CO2E/kWh. These have significantly less of a carbon footprint than coal, which emits 1.4 to 3.6 lbs. CO2E/kWh or natural gas, which emits .6 to 2 lbs. CO2E/kWh. This impressive difference of carbon emissions between renewable and fossil fuel is the key to caring for our environment. A 2009 USC study found that if 25 percent of the US 's
- Will reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050, based on emission levels from 1990
1) using renewable energy. 2) Reducing reliance on pollution products like cars. 3) charging Industries that produce high levels of pollution.
On the same note, the energy revolution spoken of above brings forth another advance in the ongoing global climate situation. The nature of the Kyoto Protocol calls for nations to increase research and eventually semi-convert their energy usage to accommodate for cleaner energy. Products such as solar power, wind power, biomass, geothermal power, and hydropower are now widely being studying to create processes that use less coal, oil, and natural gas in production. Altogether the results have
Ecology is the tool used to better understand the causes, effects, and potential mitigation of environmental problems.
Coal and natural gas are the United States’ main fossil fuels used as energy sources. These fossil fuels both contain mixtures of hydrocarbons, which is a chemical compound of carbon and hydrogen (Olah, 2005). Currently, fossil fuels provide eighty-five percent of commercial energy, such as businesses, worldwide and this eighty-five percent does not even account for residential use. Imagine if the residential energy use was accounted for in that eighty-five percent (Davison, 2007). According to Goodell (2006), “Between 1950 and 2000, the world population increased by 140 percent and fossil fuel consumption increased by 400 percent. By 2030, the world’s demand for energy is expected to more than double,” with most of the electricity
The U.S. should replace fossil fuel with renewable energy. There are many reasons that the U.S. can use renewable energy to improve the economy. First of all, renewable energy can have a more stable price. Unlike fossil fuel, renewable energy is a continual source of energy that will not be as demanded, and will not cause inflation. Next, using renewable energy is a key to having a clean and green environment. It will not cause pollution to the environment and will keep cities clean. Finally, the United States can provide more efficient jobs for unemployed workers. People will have more opportunities for jobs like installing or building any source of renewable energy. Replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy can be more efficient because it will have a stable expense, it is a clean way to help the environment, and it can provide several jobs.
What has changed in the last few hundred years is the additional release of carbon dioxide by human activities. Fossil fuels burned to run cars and trucks, heat homes and businesses, and power factories are responsible for about 98% of U.S. carbon dioxide emissions, 24% of methane emissions, and 18% of nitrous oxide emissions. Increased agriculture, deforestation, landfills, industrial production, and mining also contribute a significant share of emissions. In 1997, the United States emitted about one-fifth of total global greenhouse gases.
Environmental problems are something which belongs to nature or known as “Mother Earth” [13]. Nature was created to help people survive from gathering foods until build a house. This phenomenon happens continuously without thinking how much damage that nature has because human’s fault. Nature gradually becomes worse and animal’s life in danger. People who are aware of the importance of nature react. Those people do several ways to save the environment. Although these efforts can return back the environment, these efforts only can be hold temporarily. This problem happens because those people who are aware of the environment only slightly; for remaining, there are people either do not know or do not care about the nature. People’s efforts