...Natural Resources and Energy Paper A forest is a natural resource needed by the earth, humans, and species. There are three types of forests. The three types include “tropical, temperate, boreal forests” (The forest biome p. 1, 2006). Recently forests occupy about “one-third of Earth’s land area, and account for over two-thirds of the leaf area of land plants, and contain about 70% of carbon present in living things” (The forest biome p. 1, 2006). Forests produce vital oxygen and provide homes for people and wildlife. Forests play a critical role in mitigating climate change. A forest have several management practices for sustainability and conservation. There are several risks and benefits of extracting and using one type of nonrenewable and one type of renewable energy. The growth of human population has affected forest resources in several ways. The affected forests have caused harm to the population of wild species and have majorly impacted agriculture. Impacts associated with agriculture Between 2000 and 2010 about 13 million hectares of forests were lost per year to agriculture and other uses (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 2013). Agroecosystems are very different from the ecosystems seen in nature. Unlike natural ecosystems, agroecosystems are large areas that have been planted with a single species or single strain or subspecies. This often makes them more susceptible to disease. Also, the agroecosystems are often planted in simple geometric...
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...depleting the world’s natural resources, which is disastrous for humans and nature. Who wins in the war between man and nature? The answer is no one. However, man cannot survive without using natural resources; therefore, co-existence with nature requires balance. It is man’s primary responsibility to utilize natural resources safely and efficiently. Renewable natural resources such as trees, water, sun and wind ought to be the primary sources of energy. Secondary sources of energy should be non-renewable resources such as oil and natural gas. The government should be required to make use of renewable resources, implement conservation plans and minimize the environmental impact that results from extracting, processing and using natural resources. The first step in co-existing with nature is making use of renewable resources. The federal government should require the state to implement strategies to use renewable energy such as, wind power. Wind power has been used for centuries through the use of windmills, which can pump water, ground grain, and provide electricity for home-use, etc. As stated on Energy.gov, “…small wind electric systems are one of the most cost-effective home-based renewable energy systems – with zero emissions and pollution” (“Small Wind Electric Systems”). Today, wind turbines are used to capture wind, convert it into energy, and then create electricity. Wind energy, is a clean energy source that uses no water (another natural resource), and has the potential...
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...Strategies and Solutions: Conserving Energy and Human Population Mitigation Strategies and Solutions: Conserving Energy and Human Population Developing countries with rapid population growth face the urgent need to improve their living standards without destroying the environment. Natural resources are facing a coupling of increased pressure, threatening the health of the public and our development. The global challenge begins with the water shortages, loss of forests, and air and water pollution. Are we blindly destroying our natural resources needed for our future, as we humans exploit nature to meet our present needs? The world’s current supply of energy is provided by natural resources. Natural resources are defined as various nonrenewable and renewable energy sources. A renewable resource consists of naturally occurring resources in nature, like wind (windpower), water (hydropower), or sun (solar). Renewable energy is safer for the environment when compared to nonrenewable resources. Only about 9 percent of electricity in the U.S. is generated from these renewable sources (EPA, 1997). Renewable resources are replaced in nature as they are used, which makes this type of energy highly desirable. Nonrenewable resources are found in fixed amounts, these are natural resources that cannot be replaced. Although nonrenewable resources are also found in nature, they are...
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...Inquiry | Resources | How can sustainable living reduce our carbon footprint? | Secondary SourceInternetWebsite:http://homeguides.sfgate.com/using-sustainable-resources-reduce-carbon-footprint-78811.html | Why is sustainable living very important to adapt at this period of time? | Secondary SourceInternetWebsite:<http://www.unfpa.org/6billion/populationissues/generation.htm> | Is recycling important? Why? | Secondary SourceInternetWebsite:http://www.benefits-of-recycling.com/whyisrecyclingimportant/ | How can we conserve our non-renewable resources? | Secondary SourceInternetWebsite:http://www.preservearticles.com/201012251666/conservation-of-non-renewable-resources.html | What are earth resources? | Secondary SourceInternetWebsite:http://www.ecofriendlykids.co.uk/naturalresourcesearth.html | How can sustainable resources aesthetically pleasing? | Secondary SourceInternetWebsite:http://www.steelconstruction.info/Sustainable_steel_bridges | First of all carbon footprint is a measurement of the amount of greenhouse gases produced by the activities in your daily life. One main source of greenhouse gas is burning fossil fuels. That includes the gas in your car and the coal burned at your power plant. Scientists have concluded that humans are producing more greenhouse gases than ever before. These gases trap heat in our atmosphere, causing our planet to warm up and changing our climate. (See References 1) Your carbon footprint, therefore, measures the amount of...
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...All across the world are thousands of places that have been, and continue to be, polluted by toxic waste, radioactive waste and just plain garbage. It is imperative that we are aware of all the things that we can do to help our environment by diminishing the amount of trash and garbage that we produce each year. One easy way of doing that is by a method called recycling. Many might not know the importance of recycling and what it can do to our environment. While recycling has become part of the daily routine for many people, the full importance of recycling is not always understood. In general, people do understand that recycling helps to minimize the drain on the limited resources of our planet. However, there are several other factors that make recycling important which will be discussed in this paper. Although recycling may seem like a modern concept introduced with the environmental movement of the 1970s, it's actually been around for thousands of years. Prior to the industrial age, you couldn't make goods quickly and cheaply, so virtually everyone practiced recycling in some form. However, large-scale recycling programs were very rare -- households predominantly practiced recycling. The mass production of the industrial age is, in many ways, the very reason we need to worry about large-scale recycling. When products can be produced (and purchased) very cheaply, it often makes more economic sense to simply throw away old items and purchase brand new ones. However, this...
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...POSITION PAPER: COMMERCIAL NUCLEAR POWER Authors Thomas B. Cochran Christopher E. Paine Geoffrey Fettus Robert S. Norris Matthew G. McKinzie Natural Resources Defense Council issue paper: october 2005 Natural Resources Defense Council issue paper Commercial Nuclear Power ABOUT NRDC NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) is a national, nonprofit organization of scientists, lawyers and environmental specialists dedicated to protecting public health and the environment. Founded in 1970, NRDC has more than 1 million members and e-activists nationwide, served from offices in New York, Washington, Los Angeles and San Francisco. For more information, visit www.nrdc.org. Copyright 2005 by the Natural Resources Defense Council. Natural Resources Defense Council issue paper Commercial Nuclear Power EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Because of the sheer magnitude and urgency of the global climate challenge, the United States must consider all forms of energy—as long as they do not otherwise undermine international and environmental security. Unfortunately, the nuclear power industry in its present state suffers from too many security, safety, and environmental exposure problems and excessive costs to qualify as a leading means to combat global warming pollution. Large-scale nuclear plants remain uneconomic to build. And while the nuclear fuel cycle emits little global warming pollution, nuclear power still poses globally significant risks that need to be further reduced, including:...
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...population the needs for the people also increases. But the point of concern is that are there enough natural resources to service all your needs. What if these resources finish, this is one thing we need to ponder upon. We need to start recycling waste to converse our natural resources. Recycling is simply the process of reusing the items from which utility can still be derived. It is important to recycle waste so that you can at least converse some of our natural resources for our generations to come.Recycling is a rewarding experience and it can really show you just how much you can save. Waste can be reduced by about 80% for the average household or business if effective recycling efforts are in place. Body A. Recycling protects the environment Recycling is important for the simple reason that it helps eliminate waste which is having a negative effect on our natural environment.This is where recycling process comes in. This sounds relatively simple but can contribute enormously to preserving the environment for the future and for our future generations. One being that less of our rubbish ends up in landfills and littered around the streets which ultimately ends up in the ocean. This prevents animals from eating and getting caught in the rubbish. It also means less land needs to be cleared to make way for garbage dumps. Recycling helps to conserve energy, so less greenhouse gases are emitted. It also reduces our dependence on landfill. With less materials...
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...Europe’s energy security: challenges and opportunities GAWDAT BAHGAT Several geopolitical and economic developments in the first decade of the twentyfirst century have heightened Europe’s sense of vulnerability in respect of its energy supplies. On the supply side of the energy equation, the continuous fighting and rising ethnic and sectarian tension in Iraq, and the diplomatic confrontation over Iran’s nuclear programme, have intensified concern over the stability of supplies from the Persian Gulf. On the demand side, China’s and India’s skyrocketing energy consumption and their efforts to secure supplies have intensified global competition over scarce hydrocarbon resources. These changes in the landscape of the global energy market, in conjunction with diminishing refinery capacity, shrinking spare capacity and a low level of investment, have driven oil and natural gas prices higher. Currently, the European Union’s oil bill (for imported and domestically produced oil) stands at around €250 billion a year, or roughly 2.3 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP).1 These soaring prices have exerted tremendous pressure on European economies and underscored the need for a common European energy policy. The dispute between Russia and Ukraine over natural gas prices in January 2006 further highlighted the risks of dependence on a few energy suppliers. In early 2005 the Russian state monopoly, Gazprom, announced plans to start applying ‘market rules’ in its gas dealings with former Soviet...
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... 1. Define and provide an example for the following types of resources: Nonrenewable- A nonrenewable resource is a resource of economic value that cannot be readily replaced by natural means on a level equal to its consumption. For example, most fossil fuels, such as oil, natural gas and coal are considered nonrenewable resources in that their use is not sustainable because their formation takes billions of years. Renewable- A renewable resource is a resource which is replaced naturally and can be used again. Examples are as follow: oxygen, fresh water, solar energy, timber, and biomass. Renewable resources may also include goods commodities such as wood, paper and leather. Inexhaustible- These are natural resources which cannot be replenished, re-grown or regenerated. Once used up, they are gone forever. Examples are: coal, natural gas, petroleum. 2. Energy resources other than non-renewable energy sources are generally referred to as alternate energy sources. Why is it important to develop alternate energy sources? Energy that is not popularly used and is usually environmentally sound, such as solar or wind energy as opposed to fossil fuels. Fuel sources that are other than those derived from fossil fuels. Typically used interchangeably for renewable energy. Examples include: wind, solar, biomass, wave and tidal energy. Therefore, it is very important to develop an alternative energy sources. 3. Based on the results of the experiment, identify...
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...Natural vs. Traditional Energy Jasmine Upshaw HUM/114 April 8, 2014 AJ Merrill Natural vs. Traditional Energy When one thinks of the United States, they wonder how people are able to protect it and save money to prolong the finances of its citizens. One of the ways both of these goals can be accomplished is to practice using natural power as a major resource. Using traditional energy is hurting the environment, as well as costing manufacturers more money to produce the needed energy to function on a day-to-day basis (Just Energy, 2013). When traditional energy is produced, the use of carbon dioxide increases the warmth of the planet which increases the chances of abnormal and harmful conditions. In the past couple of years, there has been an extreme change in weather patterns. This caused noticeable effects such as an increase of droughts, wildfires, hurricanes, and intense rainstorms (Natural Resource Defense Council, 2013). The only way to change these conditions is to practice using natural energy and limit the use of carbon dioxide. Natural energy consists of energy being produced by solar, wind, and other renewable sources. There are no resources being used that hurt the ozone layer. These ways generate energy that does not harm the environment. Production is also cost efficient, which is beneficial to keeping everything running. Some habits that hinder my thinking may be my lack of compassion for the view of the opposing side. I also have a habit of only seeing...
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...10B The Problem of Resource Depletion: Causes and Solutions People and other living beings depend on natural resources for food, shelter, and protection, as well as for generating energy and all the products we manufacture. With current consumption patterns, people are using these resources at an unsustainable rate. Many resources are at risk of becoming depleted, which can be understood in a term of resource depletion. ‘Therefore, resource depletion refers to the condition when all natural resources such as fossil fuels, groundwater, forests, minerals, cropland soils, marine fisheries, and other natural resources available, have been exhausted within a region.’(Magdoff, 2013) The issue is followed up by the problems of imbalance in nature, shortage of materials, struggle for existence, and slackening of economic growth as well. So, resource depletion can severely damage ecosystems, the environment, the atmosphere, and many other important aspects of the Earth. As said in ‘2011 United Nations Environment Programme Report, humanity will demand 140 billion tons of minerals, ores, fossil fuels and biomass every year by 2050, which is far beyond what the Earth can supply’(Theworldcounts.com, n.d.). Therefore, there is a high risk that after years from now, humanity will not be able to find the resources needed for its existence, if the following problem will not be solved right now. The main causes of resource depletion include unequal distribution of resources, technological and...
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...Mandatory recycling can produce many different benefits, such as improving the economic development of the United States, saving the American family valued dollars, saving our natural resources, and sustaining the environment for future generations. By converting waste into valuable products, recycling creates jobs and adds significant value to the U.S. economy. Recycling is a big industry, and in 2000 it employed over 1.1 million people and provided an annual payroll of $37 billion. This was a great help to our country’s job creation and economic development. Statistics from the National Recycling Coalition show that incinerating 10,000 tons of waste creates one job and land filling 10,000 tons of waste creates six jobs, but the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) shows that recycling 10,000 tons of waste creates 36 jobs (City of Fort Collins, 2008). More job openings would increase the productivity of our economy because people would be making money to put back into it. Another great advantage of recycling is it can save money for your family. Some environmental groups argue that recycling will cost more money than to just dispose of garbage like we have been, but The Natural Resources Defense Council and Environmental Defense reported the benefits of recycling, showing not only that it saves energy and conserves...
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...A ROAD MAP FOR NATURAL CAPITALISM Business strategies built around the radically more productive use of natural resources can solve many environmental problems at a profit. BY AMORY B. LOVINS. L, HUNTER LOVINS. AND PAUL HAWKEN O ARTWORK BY CRAIG FRAZIER N SEPTEMBER i6, 1 9 9 1 , 3. Small gTOUp of s c i c n t i s t s w a s Isealed inside Biosphere II, a glittering 3.2-acre glass and metal dome in Oracle, Arizona. Two years later, when the radical attempt to replicate the earth's main ecosystems in miniature ended, the engineered environment was dying. The gaunt researchers had survived only because fresh air had been pumped in. Despite $200 million worth of elaborate equipment. Biosphere II had failed to generate breathable air, drinkable water, and adequate food for just eight people. Yet Biosphere I, the planet we all 145 A ROAD MAP FOR NATURAL CAPITALISM of those services doesn't appear on the business balance sheet. But that's a staggering omission. The economy, after all, is emhedded in the environment. Recent calculations published in the journal Nature conservatively estimate the value of all the earth's ecosystem services to be at least $33 trillion a year. That's close to the gross world product, and it implies a capitalized book value on the order of half a quadrillion dollars. What's more, for most of these services, there is no known substitute at any price, and we can't live without them. Some very simple changes to the way we run our This...
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...Technologies for Alternative Energy Climate Change Working Paper No. 7 Ainsley Jolley Climate Change Project Working Paper Series March 2006 Centre for Strategic Economic Studies Victoria University PO Box 14428 Melbourne VIC 8001 AUSTRALIA Telephone +613 9919 1340 Fax +613 9919 1350 Email: csesinfo@vu.edu.au Website: http://www.cfses.com Technologies for Alternative Energy 1. Introduction In Papers 5 and 6 technologies for the main sources of energy consumption were discussed. In Papers 7 and 8 the attention is focussed on technologies that impact on emissions from energy production. Table 1 provides data on the main sources of GHG emissions in the advanced economies for the year 2000. Table 1. Sources of GHG Emissions in the Advanced Economies, 2000 Source of emissions Electricity and heat production Petroleum refining Other energy production (coal and gas transformation) Fugitive emissions (coal, oil and gas) Total energy production All sources of emissions Note: (a) energy production as % of all sources of emissions. Source: CSES (2004). Tg CO2 -e 3831.2 420.7 324.6 441.5 5018.1 13175.3 % of total 76.3 8.4 6.5 8.8 38.1 (a) Papers 7 and 8 focus on emissions from the production of electricity and heat, which represent 76.3% of all emissions related to energy production. The other sources of emissions are not discussed in detail in this report. Coverage of the issues relating to these sources of emissions is given in CSES (2004). Incremental technological...
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... reduce usage of energy, and reduces mainly land pollution and water pollution by reducing the need for "conventional" waste disposal. Recycling is a key component of reducing modern waste and is the third component of the 3R concepts that are "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle “A. The recycling symbol is recognized symbol used to designate recyclable materials internationally. It is composed of three chasing arrows that form an unending loop. Importance of recycling Recycling is essential to both to human beings and its surrounding environment. Some facts about how rubbish that we produce is constantly increasing: I. Population is being increased and that means there are more people to create waste. ii. The wealth is being increased and that means people are buying more and more products and creating more waste ultimately. iii. Lifestyle is being changed, such as consuming more fast food nowadays, and that means we create additional waste that is non-biodegradable. Iv. Developing of new technological products and new packaging are being created, most of the materials in these products that are non-biodegradable. Importance to people Around the world, recycling is important to cities and to the people living here and there in these cities. i. Generally preserving natural resources is essential for the future generations. The need for more raw materials is reduced by recycling; it also minimizes the use of energy, hence its better preserving natural resources for the future. ii...
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