problems of climate change
...list Group considers climate change to be one of the major conservation challenges for polar bear population, and maybe be the number one threat. The combined effects of climate change are expected to negatively impact polar bear’s reproduction resulting in a declination in population. These effects must also be seen in the context of other pressures facing this species, including weak hunting practiced and contamination by persistent organic pollutants (www.panda.org/climate). 2.(a) The movie trailer for The Day After Tomorrow shows abrupt climate change occurring during one storm. A series of different effects come to pass resulting in catastrophe, the first sign of this massive storm is excessive amounts of rain, and disruptive vigorous winds. This was then followed naturally by flooding and destruction of cities and landmarks. When the news thought that it couldn’t get worse, and tornado hit and immense winds were also present. Assuming with the climate change the glaciers melted and extreme amounts of water were developed, resulting in a monstrous wall of water, flooding large parts of the land. Subsequently a sudden drop in temperature and everything froze and turned into snow. Leaving minimal life forms alive. 2.(b) Abrupt climate change is thought to occur because of the buildup of industrial greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere and a gradual increase in global temperatures But recent evidence shows that Earth’s climate had repeatedly shifted and in time spans as short as a decade (http://whoi.edu/home/about/whatsnew.html), and therefore demonstrates that it is likely to occur again in the future. Suggested data states that about 11,500 yeas ago, global temperatures fell up to 16 degrees within a decade and rainfall halved, and things stayed that way for more than 1,000 years (Abrupt Climate Change: Inevitable changes. National Academy Press, Washington DC 2002, from the website: www.nature.com). Researchers do not know enough about such events to properly make predictions, and “realization has been growing over the past decade that climate change is not always gradual” says Richard Alley of Pennsylvania State University (Abrupt Climate Change: Inevitable changes. National Academy Press, Washington DC 2002, from the website: www.nature.com). Researchers are aware of the consequences of climate change and have strong ideas on the effects according to past occurrences, and the most evident display of abrupt climate change today affecting precipitation, hurricanes, and El Nino events that occasionally disrupt temperatures in the tropical Pacific (www.4.nas.edu/news.nsf/). Some steps that deserve careful scrutiny include reducing emissions to slow global warming, improving climate forecasting, slowly biodiversity loss, and improving water, land and air quality (www.4.nas.edu/news.nsf/). 2.(c) Scientists are investigating whether changes in the ocean circulation may have played a role in causing or amplifying the “Little Ice Age” between 1300 and 1850 (http://whoi.edu/home/about/whatsnew.html). This period of abruptly shifting climate changes and more severe winters had profound agricultural, economic, and political impacts in Europe and North America and changed the course of history (http://whoi.edu/home/about/whatsnew.html). Abrupt climate change has been well recognized lately by research of ocean, earth and atmosphere by scientists all over the world. The concept still remains unknown and underappreciated in the wider community of scientists, economist, policy makers, and world political and business leaders (http://whoi.edu/home/about/whatsnew.html). A 2002 report by the US National Academy of Sciences (NAS) said, “available evidence suggests that abrupt climate changes are not only possible but likely in the future, potentially with large impacts on ecosystems and societies” (http://whoi.edu/home/about/whatsnew.html). Climate shifts may not always have universal and global effects, but they can generate a scenario demonstrating that even as the earth as a whole continues to warm gradually, large regions may experience a precious and disruptive shift into colder climates. Current speculations about future climate and its impact have focused on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which has forecast gradual global warming of 1.4ºC to 5.8ºC over the next century. (http://whoi.edu/home/about/whatsnew.html) It is thought and believed by many that the likelihood of abrupt climate change can and will take place in the near future. Questions Part B – Ontario’s Electricity Generation 3. The pollution of carbon dioxide from the process of generating electricity is responsible to the climate change that is occurring in our world, and effecting humans in all ecosystems. Currently there are many new developing sources of electricity and the prices tend to peak fairly high. Also the examinations of changes on the electrical sector are being evaluated, along with how effects on air quality can be important to global ecosystems and environments. There are two major changes that are occurring in Ontario’s electrical sector that are being examined because of health concerns. One change, is the shut-down of Ontario Hydro’s nuclear division, because of the affect on air quality today, and will continue in the future. (www.city.toronto.on.ca). The other change, is the introduction of competition to the electrical market, which could have a great impact on air quality for years to come. (www.city.toronto.on.ca). This competition could increase the use of coal-fire for the production of electricity, which are the main sources of the pollutants that make up smog, acid rain, greenhouse gases and other toxins. The reduction of these pollutants will help to decrease the level of health problems such as premature deaths and cardiac and respiratory trouble that is caused yearly. When coal-fire is used to produce electricity, many pollutants are released into the air, and decrease air quality, these consist of sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, carbon dioxide, and other toxins. These air pollutants are important contributors to smog, acid rain, global climate change, which result in disruptions in nature and animals. These pollutants have serious impacts in the earth and living things such as sulphur dioxide is a contributor to smog and acid rain, and increases rates of hospitalization and death from respiratory conditions and cardiovascular disease (www.city.toronto.on.ca). Nitrogen oxides also are connected to smog and acid rain, but also are associated with increased rates of hospitalization for asthma, chronic lung disease and respiratory infections (www.city.toronto.on.ca). Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gad which contributes to global climate change that affect global temperatures, weather patterns, water levels, food supplies and patterns of disease around the world (www.city.toronto.on.ca). Mercury is a toxin that accumulates in the food chain, and affects the intellect and behaviour of children exposed prenatally (www.city.toronto.on.ca). If the economy could shift from the usage of coal towards the generating of natural gas, wind, and solar electricity because they are a cleaner source, they do not emit as much, if any, quantities of carbon dioxide and other toxins, and when electricity is produced with renewable energies, emissions are eliminated entirely. It is important to make sure that reliance in coal generating systems and the degradation of air quality, human health and the environment in Ontario does not persist any farther. Also we must establish annual air caps for the entire electrical sector to limit the volume of air pollutants released each year (www.city.toronto.on.ca). To make these changes we must pay specific attention to companies supplying electricity in Ontario, as well as in Ontario. Also encourage shifts towards natural gas and renewable energies, instead of carbon dioxide, and other toxins for the production of electricity. Another idea for helping the future air quality would be to establish a public benefit fund to support the promotion of energy conservation and the development of renewable energies. 4. The question behind the meaning of energy security and if it can be maintained, changes as governments change their economic, energy and environmental polices. For Canada, with large energy resources, a feeling of uncertainty and insecurity may come from the imbalances in resources, domestic production and consumption volumes (www.unpan1.un.org/). The present share of nuclear energy power generation is unlikely to grow because of safety concerns and public resistance. The main source of energy is coal as a consequence emissions will remain a challenge well into the 21st century. High levels of coal consumption are also connected with other problems, such as global warming with regional and environmental pressures. Attention has turned to the potential of natural gas-based power generation in response to diversify energy sources and to integrate environmental concerns into energy policies (www.unpan1.un.org/). One policy that should be recommended to become official is one concerning clean air, to improve public health and reduce illness caused from it, such as from lung disease. First priority should be to energy conservation and efficiency and load management programs. The amount of damage a building or area does to the environment with the amount of pollutants they put into the air should be brought to their attention. Second priority should go to the development of clean renewable sources of energy including wind, geothermal, and solar energy. The government should make it mandatory for manufactures to only create and distribute the cleanest possible conventional power sources, such as natural gas. The government should state the reduction of pollution emissions from existing power generation units through replacing or refueling existing electrical generation with cleaner, more efficient power units. Also they should require that electrical generation units must install state of the art pollution control equipment, to ensure maximum reliance. All large organizations should have to support the development of new power generating facilities, to set the example for all other individual consumers. The air pollution problem from power plants has worsened by the lack of updated controls and modernization in the industry. This is a big problem, a policy should be made to state that all power plants should updated their equipment every thirty years or as soon as possible, in order to keep up with the increasing changes and discoveries made, to reserve the planet. State of the art pollution controls the emissions and can substantially reduce facility emissions. It should be a high priority on ensuring that existing power generation units are updated as soon as possible by using state of the art pollution control technologies, or replacing the units with cleaner, more efficient units to achieve the lowest emission leve...