Chapter 7

The Environment
 Global Environmental Issues- Air
Pollution

 Typically arises from 3 different sources:

stationary sources such as factories and power
plants; mobile sources such as cars, trucks,
planes and trains; and natural sources such as
windblown dust and volcanic eruptions.
 Air Pollution

 Air pollution can caused markedly shorter life

spans, along with chronic respiratory problems
(asthma, allergies) in humans and animals.

 Some of the toxic chemicals associated with air

pollution contribute to birth defects, cancer, and
brain, nerve and respiratory system damage.
 Air Pollution

 Air pollutions harms plants, animals, and bodies

of water.

 Ozone creates a haze that reduces visibility and

interferes with travelling.
 Acid Rain

 When nitrous oxides and sulfur dioxides are

emitted from manufacturing facilities, the
compounds are exposed to air and rain and form
new compounds, resulting in what is commonly
called acid rain.

 This phenomenon contributes to the deaths of

many valuable forests and lakes.
 Acid Rain

 Acid rain corrodes paint and deteriorates stone,

leaving automobiles, buildings, and cultural
resources such as architecture and outside art
vulnerable.

 Cleaning up emissions from factories and cars is

one way to reduce acid rain.
 Global Warming

 The burning of fossil fuels- gasoline, natural gas, oil

and coal increase the concentration of “greenhouse”
gases (carbon dioxide, methane, nitrogen oxides,
and fluorinated gases) in Earth’s atmosphere.

 At the same time, chlorofluorocarbons- from

refrigerants, coolants and aerosol cans- are
believed to be the cause of giant hole in the Earth’s
atmospheric ozone layer.

 The ozone layer filters out the sun’s harmful

ultraviolet light.
 Global Warming

 The concentration of greenhouse gases in the

atmosphere accelerate global warming.

 It will then increase the rate of polar ice sheet

melting.

 As the polar icecaps melts, scientists fear rising

sea levels will flood many coastal areas and
submerge low-lying island nations.
 Global Warming

 The Arctic is warming twice as fast as the rest of

the planet, resulting in increased melting and
habitat loss for Arctic animals such as the polar
bear.

 However, the melting Arctic also provides the

ability for ships once blocked by ice to travel more
efficiently.
 Global Warming

 Attempt was made to develop a universal, legally

binding international agreement to cut
greenhouse emissions.

 Called the Doha Gateway Agreement, it is an

amendment to the Kyoto Protocol.

 The agreement calls for both developed and

developing countries to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions.
 Water Pollution

 One of the biggest contributors to illnesses in developing

countries.

 Chemical found in commonly used fertilizers and

pesticides can drain into water supplies with each rainfall.

 Mercury, a common chemical found in batteries and

some household products, is another concern as it
contaminates oceans and therefore human food
supplies.
 Land Pollution

 Results from the dumping of residential and

industrial wastes, strip mining, and poor forest
conservation.

 Such pollution causes health problems in

humans, jeopardizes wildlife habitats, causes
erosion, alters watercourses (leading to flooding),
and can eventually poison groundwater supplies.

 In order to reduce pollution around the planet, all

businesses must become aware of and accept
responsibility for the problem of pollution.
 Waste Management

 One of the biggest factors in land pollution is the

dumping of waste into landfills.

 A lot of countries have abandoned landfills that

are often left untreated and are filled with
plastics and other materials that can take 1,000
years to degrade.

 The United Arab Emirates and Bangladesh have

all banned plastic grocery bags, and Ireland and
Washington D.C. charge grocery-goers for
plastic bags.
 Waste Management

 Some stores banned plastic bags voluntarily,

and other companies offer incentives for
consumers to use more recyclable materials
such as canvas grocery bags.

 Electronic waste is becoming a big problem

since it can release harmful toxins into the air
and water.

 Many stakeholders believe companies that

produce the goods should be responsible for
their proper disposal and recycling.
 Waste Management

 Companies, on the other hand, argue this

practice would be too expensive and argue for
greater responsibility on the part of individuals.

 A more suitable solution would be to balance

environmental responsibility between companies,
governments and individuals.
 Waste Management

 Computers and cell phones are destined to end

up in landfills.

 They contain toxic substances such as lead,

mercury and polyvinyl chloride, which leach
into the soil and contaminate groundwater
when disposed of improperly.
 Deforestation

 The reasons for wide-scale destruction of forests

are varied.

 Because of the boom in biofuels, Southeast Asia

and the Pacific regions cut down trees to make
room for palm oil plantations.

 Brazil cut down the Amazon rain forests for

farming or raising sugarcane.
 Deforestation

 A competitive global economy drives the need for

money in economically challenged tropical
countries.

 In the short term, logging and converting

forestlands to other uses seems the profitable
thing to do.
 Genetically Modified Organisms

 Depending on whom you ask, genetically modified

foods are going to save impoverished areas from
starvation and revolutionize agriculture, or destroy
biodiversity and make us all sick.

 Genetically modified (GM) organisms are created

through manipulating plant and animal DNA to
produce a desired effect like resistance to pests
and viruses, drought resistance, or high crop yield.
 Genetically Modified Organisms

 This process generally involves transferring genes

from one organism to another in a way that would
never occur naturally, in order to create a new life
form with unique traits.

 People are worried that GM food will have negative

effects on humans and environment.

 Despite the controversy, interest in GM products

remains high.
 Genetically Modified Organisms

 In countries where malnutrition is a problem, the

idea of higher yields is appealing.

 It can also make food last longer.

 However, the problem with the genetic

engineering of animals or animal products is that
the long-run effects are unknown.
Alternative Energy Sources- Wind Power

 1/5 of Denmark’s electricity needs are supplied by

wind farms.

 Restructuring the nation’s power grids to

efficiently transmit wind-generated power will take
huge investments.

 Widespread adoption of wind power is slowed by

the high cost of the turbines as well as limitations
on the outdated national power grid.
 Geothermal Power

 Provides constant source of heat.

 A more dependable energy source than some

other forms of alternative energy.

 Also emit fewer carbon emissions than coal

powered plants.

 However, geothermal energy is expensive.

 Geothermal Power

 Geothermal drilling sites are not readily available

everywhere.

 In spite of its initial costs, it will be a savings in

overall energy costs.

 Good substitute for natural gas in powering

buildings and homes.
 Solar Power

 100% renewable energy that can be converted

into electricity through the use of either solar cells
on homes and other structures or solar power
plants.

 Major disadvantages are the technology remains

expensive and inefficient compared to traditional
fossil fuel generated energy, and the
infrastructure for mass production of solar panels
is not in place in many locations.
 Nuclear Power

 Countries throughout Europe managed to greatly

reduced their emissions through the
implementation of nuclear power plants, yet this
form of power remains controversial.

 Because of the danger associated with nuclear

meltdowns and radioactive waste disposal,
nuclear power earned a bad reputation.

 It is pollution free and cost-competitive.

 Nuclear Power

 Uranium is abundant enough that generating

even 60 times more energy than what is
produced today would not be a problem.

 With careful oversight, nuclear energy could

change the world’s dependence on oil.
 Nuclear Power

 Critics are concerned with the safety of nuclear

power plants and the disposal of waste.

 Since production of nuclear power gives off

radiation, the safety of workers and the transport
of nuclear waste is a prime concern.
 Hydropower

 From the water-powered mills of centuries past to

modern hydroelectric dams, water is a powerful
renewable energy source.

 One of the major downsides is the destruction of

wildlife and human habitats when valleys are
flooded using dams.

 Hydroelectricity also disrupts the lifecycles of

aquatic life.
 Hydropower

 However, hydroelectric power decreases

greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution.

 To be a suitable and sustainable alternative to

fossil fuels, hydroelectric facilities should be built
to minimize negative environmental impacts.