...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...
Words: 2240 - Pages: 9
...Five Historical Events Influenced by the Depletion of Resources SCI/245 Axia College University of Phoenix June 28, 2012 Will Romine Associate Program Material Resource Worksheet Use the following table to identify five historical events influenced by the depletion of natural resources. Explain each event in at least 150 words. Event | What Happened? | Cubagua’s Pearl-Oyster Beds: TheFirst Depletion of a NaturalResource Caused by Europeans inthe American Continent | Archeological evidence suggests that the first humans never settled permanentlyin Cubagua, but only visited the islands with the purpose to exploit the rich oyster bedsboth for food as well as pearls for ornamentation. The lack of fresh water and significantvegetation made permanent settlement difficult. To this day, only a few fishers temporarily settle on the island.Dating back to 1498 the area of Cubagua has been heavily used for the rich oyster beds due to Spain wanting more and more riches.The richest areas were east to Cubagua and Coche, east and southeast of Margarita, and northwest of the Araya peninsula. This section of the coastline was soon to become known as the Pearls’ Coast (“Costa de las Perlas”).By 1531 the depletion was becoming more evident; Spain began to limit the number of boats and divers as well as the number of hours to only four per day. They also restricted the depth to which they could dive. These quotas were not of much help as the rules only applied to certain oyster...
Words: 3726 - Pages: 15
...Gaylord Nelson, the Former Governor of Wisconsin, who is also the Co-Founder of Earth Day. The positive and two negative effects of globalization on environment are cleaner factories, the scarcity of natural resources and pollution, respectively. One of the negative effects of globalization on environment is scarcity of natural resources. Resources such as lumber trees, aurum (gold) and petroleum are depleting and sadly they take millennia to replenish. The demand for these resources however does not pause to sustain the natural resources supply due to globalization. In fact, there is a greater encouragement to extract these resources more frequently and in large quantity as they are easily traded to other parts of the world. Globalization also leads to environmental pollution. According to Trapp, “pollution is the forerunner of perdition.” Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) produced by industrial factories that have increased in number were found to be the main factor for the depletion of ozone layer. In a 2001 report, NASA found the ozone hole over Antarctica had remained the same size for the previous three years; however in 2003 the ozone hole grew to its second largest size. Hence, environmental pollution by globalization leads to another negative effect such as the depletion of ozone layer. Nevertheless, globalization helps the countries to achieve better environment. As the countries are advancing, they will learn to have better environment. Gahr (2011)...
Words: 368 - Pages: 2
...science in moving us towards a more sustainable future. This will be done with the aid of selected global environmental treaties. In order to achieve this aim, the paper is going to begin with an introduction which is going to define key concepts identified. The main body will embark on the discussion at hand. The main body will begin by outlining the role of the law generally and will move on to look at the role of science generally. Thereon selected global treaties will be discussed in relation to their respective roles both at law and science. Lastly but not the least an elaborate conclusion will be given. Definition of Key Terms Environment: Environment refers to the totality of the surroundings within which humans live and exploit resources for their welfare and development. Main Body In order to effectively challenge problems that pose a threat to the earth, there is need for an effective approach which is backed by robust scientific evidence. This would ultimately usher into place a new and more powerful environmental law. In order to appreciate the relationship between the law and science, there is need for understanding of their respective roles towards the achievement of a more sustainable future. The Role of the Law The law has a fundamental role to play in the movement of protecting the environment towards a more sustainable future. In most jurisdictions in the absence of constitutional provisions and legislative enactments to promote the concept of sustainable...
Words: 3209 - Pages: 13
...Unit: Reaction Rates This Unit Activity will help you meet these educational goals: • Science Inquiry—You will explore the ozone layer by doing online research and collecting information. You will then communicate your results in written form. • STEM—You will use your knowledge of kinetics to analyze scientific investigations. • 21st Century Skills—You will employ online tools for research and analysis. Introduction You have probably heard about the ozone layer and/or the hole in the ozone layer. Ozone is an allotrope of oxygen (O3) which is a very important part of our lives. In this activity, you will learn more about ozone and how it is formed. You will also investigate what causes the ozone layer to be depleted over time in the upper atmosphere. ________________________________________________________________________________ Directions and Analysis Task 1: The Ozone Layer Read about the ozone layer and answer the following questions. You can use the key word “ozone” or “ozone layer” in a search engine to learn more about it. Key search terms: ozone, ozone layer, benefits of ozone 1. Describe a few of the properties of ozone and compare these to the properties of diatomic oxygen. Type your response here: 2. Describe the process by which ozone can be formed in large cities. Type your response here: 3. Even though ozone may be dangerous to our health here on Earth, how can it be beneficial in the upper atmosphere...
Words: 1422 - Pages: 6
...Ozone Layer Depletion: Effects and Causes of Ozone Depletion Ozone is a colorless gas found in the upper atmosphere of the Earth and formed by the action of ultraviolet radiation on oxygen. Ozone forms a layer in the stratosphere, which protects life on Earth from the harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation. Ads by Google Olay Total Effects 1 Bottle Fights 7 Signs of Ageing, Try Olay Total Effects Today! www.olay.in Today, one of the most discussed and serious environmental issues is the ozone layer depletion, the layer of gas that forms a protective covering in the Earth's upper atmosphere. Ozone is formed when oxygen molecules absorb ultraviolet photons and undergo a chemical reaction known as photo dissociation or photolysis, where a single molecule of oxygen breaks down to two oxygen atoms. The free oxygen atom (O), then combines with an oxygen molecule (O2) and forms a molecule of ozone (O3). The ozone molecules, in turn absorb ultraviolet rays between 310 to 200 nm wavelength and thereby prevent these harmful radiations from entering the Earth's atmosphere. In the process, ozone molecules split up into a molecule of oxygen and an oxygen atom. The oxygen atom (O) again combines with the oxygen molecule (O2) to regenerate an ozone (O3) molecule. Thus, the total amount of ozone is maintained by this continuous process of destruction and regeneration. Ozone layer depletion first captured the attention of the whole world in the later half of 1970 and since then, many discussions...
Words: 3235 - Pages: 13
...Understanding the Impacts of the EU Framework Program of Research and Technological Development On the basis of Stratospheric Ozone Research "1 1) Evaluation of Framework Program Amsterdam Treaty obligated EU to implement some European research program and policies in order to not fall beyond the world’ powerful countries such as United States or Japan. Because of this obligation also involved a chapter on research and technological development, Framework Program of Research and Technological Development was established at early 80s. The main reasons of Framework Program focus on carrying European Union to the world standards in the basis of research and development and make EU to be able to compete with other countries on R&D areas, notably in energy and Information Technology. Even so Framework Program had been started as one of the supportive program of R&D, day by day it has become to be one of the most powerful and important component of EU policy. In connection with EU’s desire on becoming as one body, EU had to develop a way to be better at research and development areas than nation states. Nation states were already making investment on R&D therefore there was no need to depend on EU and this point of view was conflicting with EU’s. Therefore to avoid and block the diversification between member states and EU, EU has started to invest on Framework Program more and more by the time of progress and this made Framework Program sustainable and successful...
Words: 1705 - Pages: 7
...agricultural and fishing nation of generally low income people (Bangladesh.) Thus they consume basically what they can grow and catch. With low income they have little import and export and do not affect the world ecological system as much as nations who have large import and export, such as the United States. The United States on the other hand has a large footprint because it is an industrial country with a high level of income, with the higher level of income there is a much greater demand for goods from other countries. The U.S. is the world’s largest importer and the third largest exporter (World’s 10) having a tremendous impact just in those factors alone. Importing goods means we are affecting other parts of the world by consuming the resources of that particular area. Also, since we are consuming more goods, we also affect the pollution of not only the originating areas but our own, we generate more waste and this waste affects our soil and air. Since we are a country of wealth and power we need to use it to help save our planet for ourselves and future generations, by setting and implementing standards in sustainability. Based on the data in the table, average per capita income does affect ecological footprints but the major factor according to Global Footprint Network, is the nation’s consumption based on adding or subtracting imports and exports to its national production, having a direct impact on the nation’s footprint. The more they bring in or export the more they...
Words: 1127 - Pages: 5
...Environmental Pollution Environmental pollution is one of the biggest problems the world faces today. It is an issue that troubles us economically, physically and everyday of our lives. The contamination of the environment is also being linked to some of the diseases that are around currently. Yet, most people do not know about this problem. This shows that environmental pollution is becoming an increasingly worse problem that needs to be taken care of as soon as possible, not only for the good of the environment but also for the people that live in it. Many factors are present for why environmental pollution has become such a large issue in the world. However, if the people of the world were to address the issue it would definitely help both the environment and it’s people. There are many activities that can be done by both the common citizen to the governments of the world, which could severally improve the world’s environmental problem. On the other hand, if the current way the world’s environmental problem is being handled continues, catastrophic consequences can follow for the future population. http://www.exampleessays.com/viewpaper/12389.html Nowadays environmental problems are too big to be managed by individual persons or individual countries. In other words, it is an international problem. To what extent do you agree or disagree? An essential problem of the 21st century is world pollution. Currently the environment is so much contaminated that urgent measures...
Words: 3474 - Pages: 14
... INTRODUCTION Environmental Laws are the standards that governments establish to manage natural resources and environmental quality. The broad categories of ‘natural resources” and “environment quality” include such areas as air and water pollution, forest and wildlife, hazardous waste, agricultural practices, wetlands, and land use planning. The promulgation of the Kenya Constitution, 2010 marked an important chapter in Kenya environmental policy development. Hailed as a green Constitution, it embodies elaborate provisions with considerable implications for sustainable development. These range from environmental principles and implications of multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) to the right to clean and healthy environment enshrined in the Bill of Rights. This paper will highlight on the Water Act, Land Act, Forest Act and International Convention of environment (Mohammed,2012). LAND ACT Land resources are finite, fragile and non-renewable. Land is considered a capital and asset that provides the essential services for development and human well being. Consequently, the demand and pressure on land is ever increasing. The main driving force leading to pressure on land resources is the increasing rate of population growth; hence demand for more food and shelter(Mohammed,2012).. Policy Statements according to (Mohammed, 2012) The Government will: • Ensure...
Words: 1632 - Pages: 7
...Global warming is the rise in the average temperature of Earth's atmosphere and oceans since the late 19th century and its projected continuation. Since the early 20th century, Earth's mean surface temperature has increased by about 0.8 °C (1.4 °F), with about two-thirds of the increase occurring since 1980. scientists are more than 90% certain that it is primarily caused by increasing concentrations of greenhouse gasses produced by human activities. A greenhouse gas (sometimes abbreviated GHG) is a gas in an atmosphere that absorbs and emits radiation within the thermal infrared range. This process is the fundamental cause of the greenhouse effect.The primary greenhouse gases in the Earth's atmosphere are water vapour, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone. The causes of increasing greenhouse gases are: Burning fossil fuels, thus releasing into the atmosphere carbon that has been safely stored for millions of years by burning coal, oil and natural gas for transport and electricity. An enormous demand for electricity. The growing population of the earth all want cars, refrigerators, air-conditioning and a double garage. Most electricity is generated by burning coal. A constant and growing demand for red meat. Cattle belch out methane, a toxic greenhouse gas, much more dangerous than carbon dioxide. More and more forests and bushland, which absorb carbon dioxide from the air, are being cut down so more cattle can graze. A reduction in the planet's ability to remove...
Words: 4029 - Pages: 17
...ultimately has a detrimental effect on the environment and therefrom on living organisms and mankind. Examples are- lead, mercury, sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide, etc. Contaminant: A material which does not occur in nature, but is introduced by human activity into the environment, affecting its composition. A contaminant is classified as a pollutant when it exerts a detrimental effect. Example- chlorine gas Types of Pollution Air Causes of air pollution: * motor vehicle exhaust * power stations * car manufacturing * fertilizer factories * demolishing buildings * solvent evaporation * volcanic eruption * building roads * forest fires Effect of air pollution: Global warming, acid rain, smog, ozone depletion are some effects of air pollution Water Causes of water pollution: * man-made chemicals used in farming * heavy metals * waste from factories * sediment from the river bed * air pollution * thermal (heat) pollution * soil pollution from rubbish dumps Effects of water pollution: The water in the earth’s biosphere is used and reused again and again by all living things Soil Causes of soil pollution: * farming * mining and quarrying * household waste * demolition and putting up buildings * factory waste Effects of soil pollution: Experts say that lots of land each year becomes unusable for humans or...
Words: 1107 - Pages: 5
...thinning or depleting. This depletion is speculated by scientific experts to have negative effects to human beings and most importantly to the environment. Studies have been done regarding the possible negative effects of the depletion of the ozone layer. First, it was said that a small 5% decrease in the ozone would probably produce thousands of new cases of skin cancer every year. Second, solar radiation can damage the planktons in the oceans which provide the world its oxygen supply. Apart from that, the existence of certain plant and animal species will be jeopardized. Lastly and probably the most alarming of all, the solar radiation can and will lead to climatic changes such as the melting of the polar ice caps which will then lead to a gradual rise of the sea levels and will eventually flood coastal areas around the world. A major cause of the depletion of the ozone layer are from the chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) gases that are released from aerosol spray cans which rises up to the stratosphere. A major player in this problem is the Dupont Company from the United States which is said to be the largest producer of the gases that harm the stratosphere. Aside from producing one billion pounds of fluorocarbons, the company is constructing a new chlorofluorocarbon plant which will be the largest in the world. Despite countless scientific experiments and researches regarding the ozone layer, a lot of people are still skeptical about the depletion and its effects. Most would...
Words: 1693 - Pages: 7
...A model of development, sometimes called the “Washington Consensus,” is on that is based upon pre-modern norms. The massive expansion of population and industrial centers has rendered these assumptions obsolete. With ever increasing consumption of precious natural resources, especially fossil fuels, new factors have come into play that are largely ignored or set aside. Robert Costanza notes that economies today are bound more by limits of natural resource availability than the limits of capital infrastructure. The byproducts of this increased consumption and resulting environmental pollution are rendering what is ostensibly progress and development as something much less so. Negative externalities may even be making “progress” harmful. The issue, however, is that although many acknowledge the need for a new model of global development, efforts are hampered by those parties whose interests are hurt by proposed changes in worldviews. Allan E. Goodman of Georgetown University recounts the history of how the international efforts to ban the use of chlorofluorocarbons — known globally as CFCs — came about, with the resultant effort culminating with the 1987 Ozone Protocol. Evidence had long suggested that the depletions of the ozone layer some ten kilometers wide in the Earth’s atmosphere had massive implications for human health. Shocking rises in the reported cases of skin cancer correlated this thought, which was confirmed by a number of scientists who found that CFCs were a crucial...
Words: 1141 - Pages: 5
...10/23/2012 The Green Movement There have been many movements in time but the green movement is the most important movement in time. The green movement is to educate people how to live a life more dependent on natural resources and to seek energy from cleaner sources other then harmful energy choices. There are many long-term effects of going green. For example, improved health, cleaner water, climate change, economic benefits (Duggan 1). There are also negative long-term effects of not going green. For example, natural resources become depleted at an extraordinary rate. If people don’t adopt this movement there might not be any natural resources for the next generation. One of the biggest downfalls of going green is mostly directed towards individuals, businesses and their wallets. Green supplies are generally greater in cost then the traditionally used supplies(Roberts 1). The cost to convert a 2,500 square foot house with green options are energy audit 0-$500 with a one or less year payback, Duct Sealing $1,350 with a 5 to 4 year payback, insulation $2,000-$5,000 with a 5.7 to 14 year payback, Storm Windows $2,500-$4,750 4 to 7 year payback, Tankless Water Heater $1,489 with a 8.5 year payback (1). Even the smallest supplies have a higher cost: Compact Fluorescent light bulbs cost $136 (1) vs. the traditional $40.00 ones. The flip side is that the traditional light does not have a cost payback. One the other hand, there are benefits to the economy. The green movement...
Words: 797 - Pages: 4
