the environment global energy and environmental problems
TRANSCRIPT
The Environment
Global energy and environmental problems
Environmental Issues
• harmful aspects of human activity on the biophysical environment
• Such as:– Pollution – air and water– Climate change– Environmental degradation– Environmental depletion– Greenhouse gases
Kyoto Protocol• According to the the UN:• The Kyoto Protocol = an international agreement on
Climate Change, which commits its Parties by setting internationally binding emission reduction targets.
• developed countries are responsible for the high levels of GreenHouseGas emissions in the atmosphere
Greenhouse gases emissions
• Natural = movement of carbon dioxide between the atmosphere and Earth's land and oceans – photosynthesis
• an estimated 4.1 billion metric tons are added to the atmosphere each year.
• Results = increase of imbalance greenhouse gases.– warm the planet
• Rising temperatures may produce changes in – precipitation patterns – storm severity– "climate change."
Polar vortex
• circulation of strong, upper-level winds that normally surround the northern pole in a counterclockwise direction– cold air locked in the Arctic – not a single storm
• Sometimes it becomes distorted and dip much farther south than you would normally find it
Energy
• What is energy?– Heat (thermal)– Light (radiant) – Electrical – Chemical – Nuclear energy
• nonrenewable– electricity in our home
• coal, nuclear, hydroelectric plant
– fill up a gas tank• petroleum or ethanol
• Renewable– Solar energy from the sun– Wind– Geothermal energy from heat inside the Earth– Biomass from plants (wood, ethanol, biodiesel) – Hydropower from hydro turbines at a dam
Energy in the United States
• Second largest consumer• Not participants in Kyoto Protocol• According to the Energy Information
Administration:– The United States produced about 17% of the world's
total energy-in 2011– 86% of greenhouse gases emitted were energy
related – 92% of those energy-related gases were carbon
dioxide from the combustion of fossil fuels.
Air pollution
• Air pollutants is caused by industrialization (industry and cars)
• Air pollution = air contains gases, dust, fumes or odor in harmful amounts. – carbon monoxide from car exhausts – sulfur dioxide from the combustion of coal.– Smog
• Larger the city = more pollution
Waste
Waste in the United States
• trash (municipal solid waste)– packaging, food waste, grass clippings, sofas,
computers, tires, and refrigerators. • Solid waste – 4.40 pounds per person per day
• The recycling rate – 34 percent
• Disposal of waste to landfills– decreased to 54 percent