Mountain Living Near the Last Glaciers
Posted on March 25, 2010
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Mountain Living Near the Last Glaciers
As people living in alpine areas throughout the world have noticed, the glaciers are melting. They have, in fact, been melting at a much slower rate for many centuries. It was not, however, until the industrial revolution that the pace of melting began to increase. From glaciers with a long recorded history, a record of melting traces the beginnings of increased melting to about 1750 when the first industrial coal-driven applications were being devised half a world away.
The entire ecosystem near these formerly glaciated areas has changed. Areas at the top of the world were also the first to feel the effects of a damaged ozone layer. This led to increases in rates of skin cancers among mountain people world wide, but especially those near the poles. They are also the first places on earth that noticed something odd about honeybee behavior, as it was first reported in the mid 1990s – long before colony collapse disorder in North America.
The Disproportionate Burden the Poor Bear for the Carbon Emissions of the Wealthiest
Posted on February 23, 2010
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The Disproportionate Burden the Poor Bear for the Carbon Emissions of the Wealthiest
It is though that the nations of Micronesia emit about 0.6% of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. By way of contrast, they will almost certainly be among the first ecological refugees who are fleeing the dire consequences of climate change. If this doesn’t seem very fair to you, many who live in low consumption countries that are disproportionately affected by climate change feel the same way. The potential for conflict is clear and is a danger that threatens human life as well as any wildlife or habitat that gets in the way of warring parties.
For this reason, the rule of international law has already come into play many times over when dealing with migration issues and aid assistance. Sustainable development hopes to take precautionary steps so fewer people are displaced by unusual weather events and rising seas. It also seeks to develop global energy usage patterns that ween humans from burning fossil fuels for energy as quickly as possible.
Sustainable Tourism is Lightening the Load on Tourist Areas
Posted on February 17, 2010
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Sustainable Tourism is Lightening the Load on Tourist Areas
One of the largest growth sectors in the hotel and tourism business are sustainable accommodations that lessen the carbon load and the guilt of dedicated travelers. Among hoteliers, a marked increase in customer demand for sustainable accommodations appeared in the ‘aughts. After doing some studies to make sure, it was found that In the case of the hotel business, this can actually save time, labor, money and supplies. But sustainable tourism is about more than just waiting to wash the towels.
Sustainable tourism also opens up areas to tourism that can benefit from the added incentive to preserving wildlife. This has been especially useful in areas of Africa that were losing what little remaining wildlife in the area to habitat encroachment and poaching. With the money and concern that is brought in from more developed countries, the people who are actually on the ground have a chance to change the minds of people who might have a better chance of helping preserve the local environment.
Can Fusion Power Save Earth from Ourselves?
Posted on January 23, 2010
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Can Fusion Power Save Earth from Ourselves?
Since the beginning of the “atomic era” in the late 1940s, everyone has known about the massive potential power of fission reactions. This is what happens when an unstable element, such as radioactive or “heavy” uranium, is brought to critical mass and begins to exhibit a chain reaction. This nuclear energy can then be used to create steam and run turbines, among other things. Unfortunately the remaining waste product is plenty radioactive for thousands of years and must be disposed of at great bother and expense.
Another option is the one we are familiar with every day as the solar furnace. Light and heat from the sun is the result of a massive fusion reaction that crams hydrogen together until it forms helium, releasing massive amounts of energy in the process. While it has been a dream for many years to utilize this far more powerful force of physics to generate plenty of power and a waste product that is useful with party balloons and lighter than air craft.
How Climate Change Increases the Risk of Toxic Contamination
Posted on January 11, 2010
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How Climate Change Increases the Risk of Toxic Contamination
In areas that have already suffered rampant deforestation and hurricane damage, such as the island nation of Haiti, it is apparent why one shouldn’t assume that things once buried will stay that way. In that nation, the amount of erosion has caused major loss of life and property. And this is even with the relatively small tropical storms that were already common. The island has also already seen a sharp rise in the number and intensity of named storms over the 150 years or so that records have been kept.
Here, erosion has caused items that were once thought buried for good, such as decades old trash, to reappear on the surface and cause major pollution concerns. Of even more concern are the toxins, thought safe in a by-gone era are now escaping into the tropical environment. By way of comparison, neighboring Dominican Republic has far fewer trees standing and has a much easier time weathering storms. Part of sustainable development to protect areas from toxic releases is the planting and tending of trees to protect against future disasters.
The Future of Carbon-free International Trade
Posted on November 20, 2009
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The Future of Carbon-free International Trade
If carbon dioxide emissions are going to be capped at levels that will do some good and prevent further climate calamity, it will put a real cramp in the style of international trade. This noble pursuit has been part of human cultures since there was more than one. However, it’s in the last two centuries that international trade has made good use of cheap transport to connect the world in commerce.
Without the use of petroleum fuel these industries will have to change dramatically if they are to take advantage of the next trade opportunity. It is likely, for instance, that fuel costs will mean that the majority of items transported will be smaller and lighter than was a concern for much of the last century. Merchants who find ways to use renewable resources in their operations will find their costs increasing slower than those of the competition and they’ll be able to deliver what should be highly coveted heavy goods from overseas. Air travel to transport produce may, however, be a casualty of the 21st century.
Older Ways In Doing Things That May Become New Again
Posted on November 12, 2009
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A Comeback for the Horse? Unique Ways to Cope With Climate Changes
Adaptability is one of the most important words for the 21st century. When presented with problems that have been hereto unknown to most living people, history might provide some clues as to how to deal with some of the unexpected consequences of climate change. For instance, let’s say your town is covered in two feet of water and you have to evacuate. Assuming you don’t have a boat, the family horse could be a valuable second option. Horses were seen delivering refugees through the contaminated flood waters of New Orleans after hurricane Katrina.
Other old ways may also become new again. Travel by ship, for instance, could become the next popular way to honeymoon among the elite, just as it was at the turn of the 20th century. Anything that can be used as it was a century ago has a good chance of being powered by renewable resources, such as animals or complicated looking hand powered tools.
Observations of a Warming Earth are Older Than You Might Think
Posted on November 9, 2009
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Observations of a Warming Earth are Older Than You Might Think
For many, the idea of climate change was an intellectual curiosity and yet another worrisome warning from people you wouldn’t invite to parties. However, in the span of just a few years, there has been a dramatic shift in how people perceive climate change in North America. It may be disappearing polar bears or killer bees, but the wacky weather that is now apparent to so many has been on the mind of climate researchers for over a century.
While searching for the cause of ice ages, it was discovered that the climate seemed to warm whenever carbon dioxide levels reached a critical point. Therefore, it was reasoned, the burning of coal could one day cause the atmosphere to heat up too much. When this was first proposed in the late 17th century, it was thought it could take 500 years or more for such levels to be reached. Had the consumption of petroleum not become so widespread, that might have been true, but in less than half that time, the Earth as far exceeded the carbon dioxide concentrations that it were theorized would case the opposite of an ice age to occur.
Major Players in Sustainable Development
Posted on July 6, 2009
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Major Players in Sustainable Development
Sustainable development requires the input of all the major stakeholders in the climate change solution phase. That means that governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and other concerned parties cannot set about on a sustainable course of action until some sort of agreement is reached with any party that might raise an objection that could put the project in danger.
Sometimes public input on policy changes can keep the bill that is politically expedient from becoming a law that appeases everyone and fixes nothing. Major stakeholders in the climate debate include just about everyone, but some special groups that have been very active include native and indigenous peoples, residents of island nations, commerce and business groups, environmental activists and human rights campaigners, to name just a few. It is very important that these groups have a chance to sit down on a regular business and state their concerns (or compliments) about how climate change mitigation is being handled.
Climate Change And Drought
Posted on April 20, 2009
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Fighting Back Through Drought Years
In some places climate change has taken the form of lost summers, floods and hurricanes. In other places, the rain has been very stubborn about falling at all. This is especially worrisome in areas that have never needed summer irrigation before. Retrofitting an entire company with the irrigation equipment previously reserved for very high value crops is not an option given current and likely future commodity crop prices. When growing maize for a gas tank, for instance, it doesn’t make sense to waste valuable water and resources when crop insurance allows you to simply till it under and wait until next year.
However, irrigation in one form or another might become a practical necessity in the Mid-west, just as it has been for a very long time in the arid West. Homeowners and farmers alike need to compete for water during drought years. As has been evidenced by conditions during the 100-year drought that has continued for several years in Australia, extreme droughts can bring on some very unusual behaviors in the local wildlife as well as the populace.
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