The Effect of the Growth of the Industry on the Environment

The environment is something we must protect as we all rely on the earth as our home. However, the environment is not always beneficial financially. Right now, we are going through a transition of power here in the United States that could result in many environmental issues being ignored for the benefit of corporations. They want the cheapest and most efficient fuel to power these rising industries, which is currently fossil fuels. In America, we have plenty of crude oil, specifically 35.2 billion barrels, lowering the prices to burn these fuels. This seems like a simple decision to some people because economically nothing can beat fossil fuels; however, there is a dark cloud looming in the future.

Global warming is something everyone is heard about once or twice; however, the severity of the issue and what it could lead to is not really talked about much. The first thing everyone can probably noticed is how the past few years have become remarkably hotter than years past. It is estimated to have gotten 1.2-1.4⁰F warmer in their past century. Even more specific, ten out of the last thirteen years have been the warmest on record. This has been caused by human activities, specifically greenhouse gases. These are gases that are produced by fossil fuels and other sources such as carbon dioxide. These gases absorb solar radiation, trapping more heat in our atmosphere rather than reflecting it. This is having many different effects around the world.

First, it effects the ocean, which produces 50% of the earth’s oxygen. One of the oceans major purposes is that it cools the earth by reflecting heat back into the atmosphere, but there is too much radiation now to reflect. As a result, this is increasing the acidity of the ocean, which leads to the risk of extinction of calcifying species such as clams, oysters, and corals. This will hurt the food chain in the ocean, including the people who rely on fish as their main source of protein and income in fishing towns. Sea levels have also begun to rise 6.7 inches in the past decade due to glaciers and icebergs melting. This is also hurting the environment of Antarctic species as their environment is slowly getting smaller. However, this also affects humans as the sea levels rise, shorelines will go inwards, resulting in coastal regions to flood. Some may believe that this will only be a small amount of people who would have to relocate, but it is estimate that around 150 million “climate refugees” will have to find new homes in the year 2050. Finally, extreme weather events such as tornados, hurricanes, and droughts will occur more frequently as the temperature of the earth increases. The politicians do not recognize these issues though.

The current issue is that the new administration of the United States does not recognize this as an issue. However, if we do not work to reduce the effects of global warming, they will only get worse than they already have. In order to truly make a difference, one needs to understand the other side of the argument. One example is the Keystone and Dakota pipeline that President Trump recently signed. Putting the ethical issues aside with the Standing Rock Sioux, this would be a $3.8-billion-dollar pipeline that would create many jobs and be very beneficial for the companies. The environmental problem with this is that it would taint the water in the area, increase the amount of fossil fuel that would be burned, and ruin the quality of the soil. It would be beneficial for the companies, but it would destroy the region. Alternative sources of power need to be found to preserve our environments which would hurt the industries income temporarily but save the place we live. However, no one knows a perfect solution to the problem. My request is to put this issue in your mind and look for a potential solution that will benefit everyone in the end. This is our home and we all have to look out to protect it.

One of the few areas destroyed by the Dakota Pipeline

Works Cited

Brodwin, Erin. “Protesters Say a Leak in the Dakota Access Pipeline, Which Trump Just Advanced, Could Be a ‘death Sentence’.” Yahoo! News. Yahoo!, 25 Jan. 2017. Web. 26 Jan. 2017.

Climate Change 101. Dir. Bill Nye. Perf. Bill Nye. Youtube. National Geographic Society, 2 Dec. 2015. Web. 26 Jan. 2017.

Edelman, Adam. “Trump Signs off on Dakota Access Pipeline Construction.” NY Daily News. Daily News, 24 Jan. 2017. Web. 26 Jan. 2017.

Emerling, Christopher A. “What Can We Learn about Our Limbs from the Limbless?” What Can We Learn about Our Limbs from the Limbless? Berkeley University, Nov. 2015. Web. 20 Jan. 2017.

Han, Xinwei. “RNA: An Expanding View of Function and Evolution.” Libertas Academia, 19 Jan. 2016. Web. 20 Jan. 2016.

“U.S. Energy Information Administration – EIA – Independent Statistics and Analysis.” U.S. Crude Oil, Natural Gas, and Natural Gas Proved Reserves, Year-end 2015. U.S. Energy Information Administration, 14 Dec. 2016. Web. 26 Jan. 2017.

Vidal, John. “Global Warming Could Create 150 Million ‘climate Refugees’ by 2050.” The Guardian. Guardian News and Media, 02 Nov. 2009. Web. 26 Jan. 2017.

Yoon, Carol Kaesuk. “From a Few Genes, Life’s Myriad Shapes.” The New York Times. The New York Times, 25 June 2007. Web. 20 Jan. 2017.

 

Civic Issues Ideas

Ever since I have gotten to college, the issues of the world have become a lot more prevalent to me. As a result, there are many ideas I would like to pursue in this blog. The first idea would be politics particularly towards Trump especially since he has made some questionable decisions already and staying active and educating people about politics is my small way of making that positive change happens. The other idea I have is to deal with ecological issues as the world is being harmed more every day and people have to be aware so that we do not damage our world any more than we already are. I am a person who spends a lot of time in nature so this is a personal issue for me.