Environmental issues Research Study

Environmental issues
Environmental issues

Want help to write your Essay or Assignments? Click here

Environmental issues

How does the plummeting of oil prices affect the climate?

The recent fall in oil price from about USD 115 to 50 per barrel in mid-2014 and August 2015 respectively has contributed to diverse views regarding the adverse effects on the environment. These environmental issues views may be divided into three groups;

a) Plummeting oil price is regarded to exert downward strain on gas oil cost as well as the price of natural gas. This is likely to divert significant ventures from environmentally sustainable energy methods to gas-driven electric plants. The required change of the globe’s energy technologies from fossil fuels to low-carbon techniques may be significantly stopped (Kurtz, 2004).

b) Falling oil prices and the low cost of petroleum by-products including gasoline, may exert increased demand on internal combustion engine (ICE) driven vehicles. This may hinder not only development but also diffusion of ecologically friendly options, like electric vehicles (EVs) that do not emit CO2 emissions. Also, advanced vehicle travel may, in turn, lead to further emissions.

c) In the context of low oil price, global attempts to attain the relevant diplomatic agreements on the conservation of the planet, like the UN Sustainable Development Summit, could be hindered by the remarkable opportunity costs countries will experience in dissociating from fossil fuels.

Environmental issues

Want help to write your Essay or Assignments? Click here

Electric Vehicles

Plummeting oil prices are regularly seen as contribute to reduced pump price of gasoline and diesel. Something, some people believe that can adversely affect a nascent sector of Zero-emission automobiles like EVs, which use fuel-cell technologies or even lithium-ion battery, which some see as a challenge when it comes to competing with incumbent ICE. In reality, reduced oil cost per barrel does not imply low pump prices.

Less than a half of the retail cost of diesel and gasoline in the United States is based on the cost of crude oil. The remaining is going to refinery, distribution, marketing and taxes. As as matter of fact, much as the price of crude oil has declined to approximately 57% since 2014, gasoline has reduced by about 36% (U.S. Department of Energy 2016).

With the considerable reduction of oil prices, it is not certain the degree of EV producers will be affected. For instance, the main players, in battery-driven EVs, Telsa and target premium Model S cars and compete with other premium car producers.In this case, the client base is less concerned with opportunity costs of using electricity as a result of the price of oil. Instead, they are mainly interested in environmental benefits as well as reputation associated with having a Telsa.

Nevertheless, the price of gasoline has little impact on the general demand of vehicle travel; this means that vehicle travel is, in fact, inelastic. This may illustrate by the ill-timed reality of the present day transport structure is significantly reliant on oil. Individuals want to move around, go their workplaces, take children to school and buy goods. Particularly, in the United States individual motorized mobility, ICE is the most suitable alternative for personal transport. They prefer to purchase and use gas despite its costs since it’s a necessity.

Environmental issues

Want help to write your Essay or Assignments? Click here

Thus plummeting price of fuel may be expected to have little impact on the CO2 emission in the environment. Regardless of the falling oil price, renewable energy is primarily cost-competitive with fossil fuel in different areas. For certain applications including off-grid, they are without a doubt superior. Moreover, solar PV cells are cost-competitive at utility-level. These is likely to develop further while the falling costs of battery technologies can, together with widespread use of smart grid applications, result in an absolute change in terms of how energy is produced and used (COSNRC, 2003).

More so, the plummeting oil price poses a low-carbon transmission cannot be overlooked, since full influence on deployment and investment in renewable energy is not evident yet. Again, it is challenging to establish the appropriate counterfactual of how to be invested in renewable energy with the recent oil price reductions and therefore to recognize the degree of harm on climate. 

Nonetheless, it is proposed that the latest plummeting oil price has hindered the installation of new investments as well as shale exploration, as the majority are not viable based on the current costs. This demonstrates that falling oil price can materialize like a two-fold sword. On one hand, possible increasing demand for oil while diluting economic incentives for changing to low-carbon options, which can prevent supply by ensuring that new investments are economically not viable on the other.

Perhaps the question one would ask is whether or not the current oil price nosedive has an effect on the environment. For too long environmental activists have been concerned with carbon taxes to inflame oil costs and pave the way for clean-energy innovations. However, the recent price crash has been upheld as good for the environment, since it could gravely weaken big oil and its grip on the world’s energy business (Kurtz, 2004).

Environmental issues

Want help to write your Essay or Assignments? Click here

Oil prices are now less than 50% of what it used to cost in less than one year ago. Logically, this may escalate the volume of oil burned regarding energy, largely because people are somewhat less cautious with cheap stuff, and because plummeting fuel costs will spur economic activities. Low fuel cost will equally deject outlay in alternative sources of energy like renewables. However, the oil greed demonstrates no signs of easing, as some of the leading oil producing nations under the OPEC umbrella are not ready to pump more oil to the market.

The high cost of oil reduces petroleum demand an aspect that makes petroleum options more viable, while plummeting oil costs re-energize the demand for the product, culminating in massive production due to demand.  When oil prices go up, people tend to drive less, but with low oil prices, people prefer fuel-guzzlers because of the purchasing power. Nonetheless, there is an argument that price decline could enhance green gains. That is mainly because low oil costs may spell doom for big oil and the necessity to look for alternative sources of black coal.

Precisely, declining oil costs make a huge investment in new oil reserves appear like bad deals because of the high costs associated with drilling new sites, whether it deep off-shore drilling or Arctic (U.S. Department of Energy 2016). Analysts suggest that unrelenting oil costs could weaken investment by entities involved in oil probe and production. Again, dropping oil prices will slow the need for developing alternative sources of clean energy. This will help conserve the environment by making the coal and oil deposits unburnable hence curtailing global temperature rise to two degrees Centigrade.

Environmental issues

Want help to write your Essay or Assignments? Click here

The reality about oil companies is to make a profit.  So, falling oil prices will mean less exploration, an issue that will help conserve the environment because some of the most ecologically hurting oil exploration transpire in the expensive regions. The underlying economics with cheap oil is increased consumption. Commuters are more likely to avoid cycling during winter.

The demand for petroleum is widely unbendable, in simple words; people may hardly change with a change in pricing (Kurtz, 2004). While crude oil is employed to make petroleum items used to fuel airplanes, vehicles; warm homes and produce pharmaceutical products, less activity owing to dropping oil prices will reverse the adverse effects that the glut for the exploration has had on the environment.                                           

Exploration and oil drilling distracts land and maritime environments. These activities may hamper fish and marine life. While modern technology can enhance the proficiency of exploration and drilling operations, dropping, oil prices will lessen these activities. Hydraulic fracturing is a method employed to produce oil not only from shale but also from tight rock formations. This approach has enabled the US to enhance its domestic fuel production while minimizing the amount of fuel imported.        

    Environmental issues

Want help to write your Essay or Assignments? Click here                                                                 

These are ecological issues related to this technique. Fracturing rocks involve large quantities of water and utilize high levels of hazardous chemicals to produce fuel from rocks. In particular regions, the use considerable amount of water to produce fuel can remarkably impact the availability of water as well as aquatic life. Faulty wells or poor handling may lead to spills and leaks. With less activity when it comes to exploration, the marine life would be saved from such disasters. Furthermore, hydraulic fracturing generates significant amounts of waste water, which contains chemicals and other hazardous compounds that require treatment before recycle or disposal.

Since the quantity of water utilized and intricacy of treating particular waste water, treatment and disposal are crucial and challenging. In most cases, disposal of sewage entails injecting it into deep wells, which can contribute to earthquakes, in turn, lead to adverse effects on the environment. However, the perpetual oil price drop will mean less activity in this sector hence less hazardous substance will be generated.

Environmental issues

References

Committee on Oil in the Sea, National Research Council. (COSNRC) (2003). Oil in the Sea III: Inputs, Fates, and Effects. Washington, D.C.: The National Academies Press. Available from http://www.nap.edu/catalog/10388.html.

Kurtz, Rick S. (2004). Coastal oil pollution: Spills, crisis, and policy change. Review of Policy Research 21, no. 2: 201-19.

U.S. Department of Energy (2016). “Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.” Available from              http://www.eere.energy.gov.

Environmental issues

Want help to write your Essay or Assignments? Click here

Plummeting Oil Prices effect on the Climate

Plummeting Oil Prices
Plummeting Oil Prices

Want help to write your Essay or Assignments? Click here

Plummeting Oil Prices

How does the plummeting oil prices affect the climate?

The recent fall in oil price from about USD 115 to 50 per barrel in mid-2014 and August 2015 respectively has contributed to diverse views regarding the adverse effects on the environment. These views may be divided into three groups;

a) Plummeting oil prices is regarded to exert downward strain on gas oil cost as well as the price of natural gas. This is likely to divert significant ventures from environmentally sustainable energy methods to gas-driven electric plants. The required change of the globe’s energy technologies from fossil fuels to low-carbon techniques may be significantly stopped (Kurtz, 2004).

b) Falling oil prices and the low cost of petroleum by-products including gasoline, may exert increased demand on internal combustion engine (ICE) driven vehicles. This may hinder not only development but also diffusion of ecologically friendly options, like electric vehicles (EVs) that do not emit CO2 emissions. Also, advanced vehicle travel may, in turn, lead to further emissions.

c) In the context of low oil price, global attempts to attain the relevant diplomatic agreements on the conservation of the planet, like the UN Sustainable Development Summit, could be hindered by the remarkable opportunity costs countries will experience in dissociating from fossil fuels.

Plummeting Oil Prices

Want help to write your Essay or Assignments? Click here

Electric Vehicles

Plummeting oil prices are regularly seen as contribute to reduced pump price of gasoline and diesel. Something, some people believe that can adversely affect a nascent sector of Zero-emission automobiles like EVs, which use fuel-cell technologies or even lithium-ion battery, which some see as a challenge when it comes to competing with incumbent ICE. In reality, reduced oil cost per barrel does not imply low pump prices.

Less than a half of the retail cost of diesel and gasoline in the United States is based on the cost of crude oil. The remaining is going to refinery, distribution, marketing and taxes. As as matter of fact, much as the price of crude oil has declined to approximately 57% since 2014, gasoline has reduced by about 36% (U.S. Department of Energy 2016).

With the considerable reduction of oil prices, it is not certain the degree of EV producers will be affected. For instance, the main players, in battery-driven EVs, Telsa and target premium Model S cars and compete with other premium car producers.In this case, the client base is less concerned with opportunity costs of using electricity as a result of the price of oil. Instead, they are mainly interested in environmental benefits as well as reputation associated with having a Telsa.

Nevertheless, the price of gasoline has little impact on the general demand of vehicle travel; this means that vehicle travel is, in fact, inelastic. This may illustrate by the ill-timed reality of the present day transport structure is significantly reliant on oil. Individuals want to move around, go their workplaces, take children to school and buy goods. Particularly, in the United States individual motorized mobility, ICE is the most suitable alternative for personal transport. They prefer to purchase and use gas despite its costs since it’s a necessity.

Plummeting Oil Prices

Want help to write your Essay or Assignments? Click here

Thus plummeting price of fuel may be expected to have little impact on the CO2 emission in the environment. Regardless of the falling oil price, renewable energy is primarily cost-competitive with fossil fuel in different areas. For certain applications including off-grid, they are without a doubt superior. Moreover, solar PV cells are cost-competitive at utility-level. These is likely to develop further while the falling costs of battery technologies can, together with widespread use of smart grid applications, result in an absolute change in terms of how energy is produced and used (COSNRC, 2003).

More so, the plummeting oil price poses a low-carbon transmission cannot be overlooked, since full influence on deployment and investment in renewable energy is not evident yet. Again, it is challenging to establish the appropriate counterfactual of how to be invested in renewable energy with the recent oil price reductions and therefore to recognize the degree of harm on climate.

Nonetheless, it is proposed that the latest plummeting oil price has hindered the installation of new investments as well as shale exploration, as the majority are not viable based on the current costs. This demonstrates that falling oil price can materialize like a two-fold sword. On one hand, possible increasing demand for oil while diluting economic incentives for changing to low-carbon options, which can prevent supply by ensuring that new investments are economically not viable on the other.

Perhaps the question one would ask is whether or not the current oil price nosedive has an effect on the environment. For too long environmental activists have been concerned with carbon taxes to inflame oil costs and pave the way for clean-energy innovations. However, the recent price crash has been upheld as good for the environment, since it could gravely weaken big oil and its grip on the world’s energy business (Kurtz, 2004).

Plummeting Oil Prices

Want help to write your Essay or Assignments? Click here

Oil prices are now less than 50% of what it used to cost in less than one year ago. Logically, this may escalate the volume of oil burned regarding energy, largely because people are somewhat less cautious with cheap stuff, and because plummeting fuel costs will spur economic activities. Low fuel cost will equally deject outlay in alternative sources of energy like renewables. However, the oil greed demonstrates no signs of easing, as some of the leading oil producing nations under the OPEC umbrella are not ready to pump more oil to the market.

The high cost of oil reduces petroleum demand an aspect that makes petroleum options more viable, while plummeting oil costs re-energize the demand for the product, culminating in massive production due to demand.  When oil prices go up, people tend to drive less, but with low oil prices, people prefer fuel-guzzlers because of the purchasing power. Nonetheless, there is an argument that price decline could enhance green gains. That is mainly because low oil costs may spell doom for big oil and the necessity to look for alternative sources of black coal.

Precisely, declining oil costs make a huge investment in new oil reserves appear like bad deals because of the high costs associated with drilling new sites, whether it deep off-shore drilling or Arctic (U.S. Department of Energy 2016). Analysts suggest that unrelenting oil costs could weaken investment by entities involved in oil probe and production. Again, dropping oil prices will slow the need for developing alternative sources of clean energy. This will help conserve the environment by making the coal and oil deposits unburnable hence curtailing global temperature rise to two degrees Centigrade.

Plummeting Oil Prices

Want help to write your Essay or Assignments? Click here

The reality about oil companies is to make a profit. So, falling oil prices will mean less exploration, an issue that will help conserve the environment because some of the most ecologically hurting oil exploration transpire in the expensive regions. The underlying economics with cheap oil is increased consumption. Commuters are more likely to avoid cycling during winter.

The demand for petroleum is widely unbendable, in simple words; people may hardly change with a change in pricing (Kurtz, 2004). While crude oil is employed to make petroleum items used to fuel airplanes, vehicles; warm homes and produce pharmaceutical products, less activity owing to dropping oil prices will reverse the adverse effects that the glut for the exploration has had on the environment.

Exploration and oil drilling distracts land and maritime environments. These activities may hamper fish and marine life. While modern technology can enhance the proficiency of exploration and drilling operations, dropping, oil prices will lessen these activities. Hydraulic fracturing is a method employed to produce oil not only from shale but also from tight rock formations. This approach has enabled the US to enhance its domestic fuel production while minimizing the amount of fuel imported.

Plummeting Oil Prices

Want help to write your Essay or Assignments? Click here

These are ecological issues related to this technique. Fracturing rocks involve large quantities of water and utilize high levels of hazardous chemicals to produce fuel from rocks. In particular regions, the use considerable amount of water to produce fuel can remarkably impact the availability of water as well as aquatic life. Faulty wells or poor handling may lead to spills and leaks. With less activity when it comes to exploration, the marine life would be saved from such disasters. Furthermore, hydraulic fracturing generates significant amounts of waste water, which contains chemicals and other hazardous compounds that require treatment before recycle or disposal.

Since the quantity of water utilized and intricacy of treating particular waste water, treatment and disposal are crucial and challenging. In most cases, disposal of sewage entails injecting it into deep wells, which can contribute to earthquakes, in turn, lead to adverse effects on the environment. However, the perpetual oil price drop will mean less activity in this sector hence less hazardous substance will be generated.

References

Committee on Oil in the Sea, National Research Council. (COSNRC) (2003). Oil in the Sea III: Inputs, Fates, and Effects. Washington, D.C.: The National Academies Press. Available from http://www.nap.edu/catalog/10388.html.

Kurtz, Rick S. (2004). Coastal oil pollution: Spills, crisis, and policy change. Review of Policy Research 21, no. 2: 201-19.

U.S. Department of Energy (2016). “Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.” Available from http://www.eere.energy.gov.

Plummeting Oil Prices

Want help to write your Essay or Assignments? Click here

Ecology World Crisis Essay Paper

Ecology World Crisis
Ecology World Crisis

Want help to write your Essay or Assignments? Click here

Ecology World Crisis

Introduction

Ecologists agree to the fact that ecology world crisis that is facing the world today is attributed to the element of capitalism with the only real solution to this found in socialism. It is essential to note that many people have given explanations about the world with no formidable solutions and tasks in changing the factors that affect it (Boehlert, Strzepek, Chapra, Fant, Gebretsadik, Lickley, &. Martinich, 2015).

The environmental issues that exist in the imperialists states can be mitigated in the event that sufficient resources specifically time, labor and energy are directed towards these actions. This would therefore require some change in the manner in which consumption patterns are made. This paper consequently seeks to conduct a study on the ecological issues that the world is facing that include environmental problems such as greenhouse effect that is done through the emission of gasses over the expanse and that originate from the fossil fuels.

Ecological Crisis

Ecological crisis is one of the factors that have turned out to be of interest in this current dispensation. According to Negi, & Maikhuri (2013), ecological crisis can be termed as the occurrence of problematic changes within the physical, biological, chemical and environmental composition of the earth’s ecosystems as a result of human made and natural reasons (pp.452).

Through the development of human capacity, the environment has been viewed as changing, a factor that has seen the ecological balance loose its originality, with this damaging the ecosystems within the local and global level. It is for this reason vital to note that there is a need of establishing an ecological balance in this world which remains the final goal of this focus.

Ecology World Crisis

Want help to write your Essay or Assignments? Click here

The cause of the greenhouse effect is attributed to the rise of activities that have taken a central role win a capitalist economy which as seen the inclusion of fossils as an approach of generating energy for use in transport(Tauringana, & Chithambo, 2015). These are thus determined as the main sources of greenhouse gas emissions since every tone of fossil fuel that is burned produces close to 3.7 tons of carbon dioxide. This gas is considered as chemically unreactive and may not be gotten rid of easily since it is emitted from the exhausts.

The greenhouse effect has then been established as a serious problem since the earth warms is warmed by the atmosphere which acts like a protective layer since without this, the temperatures within the earth’s surface would escalate to -18 degrees centigrade(Tauringana, & Chithambo, 2015).

Heat from the sun is consequently known to pass through an atmosphere, an element that warms it up as this emits heat in the form of infra-red radiations. Some of this heat is trapped on the atmosphere with the rest escaping into the earth’s space. The greenhouse gases aid the atmosphere in trapping more radiations, with this gradually warming more than expected.

Ecology World Crisis

Want help to write your Essay or Assignments? Click here

Problems of the Greenhouse Effect

The greenhouse effect is responsible in the raising of temperatures of the planet, a factor that affects the earth’s ecosystems since they remain fragile and serious heat changes may affect the systems. According to a panel on the changes in climate, it has been predicted that the rise of the degrees in temperature will be experienced by the year 2025, with this having the capacity to cripple the Corn Belts in North America which centrally provides the worlds grains.

According to Harris (2012), these effects will definitely see the rise in food prices and the limitation of food to the Third World nations (pp.572). This means that some nations which lie further north would be in a position to grow crops that they have in the past growth.

On the other hand, the rising sea levels have also been an area that is threatening many ecologists. This event is known to result from the melting of the polar ice caps that leads to severe flooding in many regions(Harris, 2012). Most of the nations that are likely to suffer from this issue are considered to be the states that are considered as poor especially the Southern Pacific, the Islands of Caribbean, Indian Ocean and Mediterranean that are formulated as an alliance of other small states.

Want help to write your Essay or Assignments? Click here

Solution of this Ecological Crisis

It is easier enough for individuals to mention some of the elements that are required to rectify these situations than in engaging in the act. The reduction of energy conservation approaches and including alternative sources of energy such as the nuclear power is one of the fundamental ways of managing this crisis (Alberti, Primavera, Vecchio, Lepreti, & Carbone, 2015). 

Additionally, the inclusion of free public transport within different nations would be another aspect in managing thins crisis since cars would be turned for recreational purposes. There is also a need to ensure that the destruction of forests is stopped and to incorporate reforestation programs in nations.

The reduction in the use of fossil fuels is another factor that would considerably reduce the levels of carbon dioxide that is produced which will in turn see the reduction of the pollutants that result in acidic rain. This may only be achieved through the use of less energy systems or through the incorporation of alternative sources of energy (Remais, Hess, Ebi, Markandya, Balbus, Wilkinson, & .Chalabi, 2014).

Household on this note also need to consider that there is essence in reducing their consumer behaviors. In this case, there is a need to educate households on the value of turning off their lights when not in use, and avoiding the usage of cars for short distances. Households also need to make use of different inventions that make use of less energy.

Ecology World Crisis

Want help to write your Essay or Assignments? Click here

Conclusion

Ecological crisis that are currently facing the world today are attributed to the element of capitalism with the only real solution to this found in socialism. It is essential to note that many people have given explanations about the world with no formidable solutions and tasks in changing the factors that affect it.

An ecological crisis can be termed as the occurrence of problematic changes within the physical, biological, chemical and environmental composition of the earth’s ecosystems as a result of human made and natural reasons (Remais, et.al.2014).

As determined in this study, cause of the greenhouse effect is attributed to the rise of activities that have taken a central role win a capitalist economy which as seen the inclusion of fossils as an approach of generating energy for use in transport.

In solving this ecological crisis, it is essential to ensure that appropriate approaches are directed towards the reduction of energy conservation approaches including alternative sources of energy such as the nuclear power is one of the fundamental ways of managing this crisis. Additionally, the inclusion of free public transport within different nations would be another aspect in managing thins crisis since cars would be turned for recreational purposes.

References

Alberti, T., Primavera, L., Vecchio, A., Lepreti, F., & Carbone, V. (2015). Spatial interactions in a modified Daisy world model: Heat diffusivity and greenhouse effects. Physical Review E: Statistical, Nonlinear & Soft Matter Physics, 92(5-B), 052717-1-052717-11. doi:10.1103/PhysRevE.92.052717

Boehlert, B., Strzepek, K. M., Chapra, S. C., Fant, C., Gebretsadik, Y., Lickley, M., & … Martinich, J. (2015). Climate change impacts and greenhouse gas mitigation effects on U.S. water quality. Journal Of Advances In Modeling Earth Systems, 7(3), 1326-1338. doi: 10.1002/2014MS000400

Harris, G. P. (2012). Introduction to the special issue: ‘Achieving ecological outcomes’. Why is translational ecology so difficult?. Freshwater Biology, 571-6. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2427.2012.02773.x

Negi, V., & Maikhuri, R. (2013). Socio-Ecological and Religious Perspective of Agrobiodiversity Conservation: Issues, Concern and Priority for Sustainable Agriculture, Central Himalaya. Journal of Agricultural & Environmental Ethics, 26(2), 491-512. doi: 10.1007/s10806-012-9386-y

Remais, J. V., Hess, J. J., Ebi, K. L., Markandya, A., Balbus, J. M., Wilkinson, P., & … Chalabi, Z. (2014). Estimating the Health Effects of Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Strategies: Addressing Parametric, Model, and Valuation Challenges. Environmental Health Perspectives, 122(5), 447-455. doi:10.1289/ehp.1306744

Tauringana, V., & Chithambo, L. (2015). The effect of DEFRA guidance on greenhouse gas disclosure. British Accounting Review, 47(4), 425-444. doi:10.1016/j.bar.2014.07.002

Want help to write your Essay or Assignments? Click here

Water Conservation and Prevention of Pollution

Water Conservation and Prevention of Pollution
Water Conservation and Prevention of Pollution

Want help to write your Essay or Assignments? Click here

Water Conservation and Prevention of Pollution

Water is a very essential commodity in life. It supports the life of human beings, plants and animals. Additionally, water is used in various processes in the world. All production processes are supported by water. As a result of the great importance of water in life, it is important to ensure water conservation all the time. It is important to conserve water to ensure that it is always available and in a safe state.

For water conservation, everybody should play a part through planting of trees. According to Ehlers, and Krafft (2011), planting as many trees as possible plays a major role in water conservation. This is through preventing direct heat from the sun. Plantations are known to prevent water sources from being interfered with. Additionally, trees are known to play a major role in the formation of rain. Additionally, everybody should be able to try as much as possible to create water reservoirs within their environment.

Want help to write your Essay or Assignments? Click here

Prevention of water pollution should be made the responsibility of every individual in the world (Unesco, 2006). So that water may be kept free from pollution, there are actions that should be taken by all means. Ensuring that sewerage systems are well managed is one of the things that are likely to avoid water pollution. With proper sewerage systems, all waste will be driven to the desired disposal areas and not the water points.

Secondly, proper garbage disposal is also necessary in the prevention of water pollution. Additionally, everyone should ensure that chemical substances are not poured or drained into water points. Chemical substances should be disposed off as per the requirements of the control boards. This will ensure that no water is polluted by anyone using chemicals in one way or another. Furthermore, everyone should try as much as possible to come up with proper sanitation systems. This is a good way of ensuring that all refuse is managed properly thus avoiding water pollution.

References

Ehlers, E. &Krafft, T. (2011), Intergrated Management of Water Resources, Springer

Unesco (2006), water: a shared responsibility, Berghahn Books.

Want help to write your Essay or Assignments? Click here

Environmental Pollution: Case Study of Lagos Nigeria

Participatory Approach to Monitoring Air Quality

Environmental Pollution: Case Study of Lagos Nigeria

As it is evident today, the increased exposure to harmful environmental pollution resulted from irresponsible human activity. Environmental pollution can be categorized into diverse forms. This includes water, air and soil pollution. Other forms of industrial pollution encompass heavy metal and chemical pollution as well as occupational pollutants. There is no doubt that air pollution is the primary accelerating factor behind global climate change in both developed and developing nations.

The air pollution menace is apparently emerging as a complex phenomenon driven by persistent failure of the global environmental management initiatives that have been created to stem the runaway trend currently witnesses in major cities worldwide. The Lagos state metropolis is currently facing myriad air pollution related problems most notably due to rapid urbanization and road traffic emission.

The devastating effects of this observable fact are more prominent in the metropolitan cities of the developing than developed nations. Lagos, a rapidly growing megacity in Nigeria hasn’t been spared the brunt of air pollution. As an emerging metropolis, and its phenomenal rise as an epitome of industrialization and commercialization on the African continent, many predictions indicate a looming danger due to the adverse effects of climate change that is emanating from persistent industrialization related pollution.

Although significant effort has been directed towards stemming the runway global pollution levels, challenges have continued to constraint this effort largely due to insufficient program funding. Subsequently, there is sufficient evidence that warrants a thorough review of the literature on the adverse environmental impactsof air pollution, its principle role as an agent of climate change and its adverse effects on the health and wellbeing of the crowded inhabitants of Lagos.

 This research will specifically focus on air pollution. Current literature suggeststhat pollution is the world’s largest environmental cause of poor health responsible for an estimated 9 million premature deaths in 2015-2016 and large burden of non-communicable disease, including respiratory, cardiovascular and neurological impairment. Air pollution, combining both ambient and household air pollution (HAP) is responsible for 6.5 million deaths per year with another 7 million from tobacco smoke and this number will increase is urgent measures are not taken.

Monitoring and management of air pollution remains ineffective and poorly enforced due to a number of factors.Monitoring equipment can be expensive and requires regular checking and maintenance, while enforcement in a growing megacity of 16 million people and unknown numbers of businesses is a major challenge. An alternative approach to the ‘top down’ processes of monitoring and enforcement would be to encourage a more community-led approach and local action.

However, there are many questions as to how such a ‘grassroots’ approach would work in practice, and there are many knowledge gaps as to their applicability for measuring air pollution in the megacities of the developing world. The research seeks to address some of these gaps in knowledge by first exploring how local communities can assess the level of air pollution and its environmental impacts. Subsequently, there is need to identify indicators of air quality that are used by communities, even if they may tend to be more qualitative than quantitative.

An example could be the frequency at which clothes and indeed furniture, windows etc., in household buildings become dirty. Indicators of the effects could be related to health and may include breathlessness. Communities will be asked to identify indicators of relevance to them, and these will be ranked. It is possible that the choice and ranking of these indicators will be influenced by social factors such as gender and age. Currently, the exposure to harmful environmental pollution is created through human activities. Mobile Air measurement System: This advanced equipment employs geospatial technology thus it is referred to as Geospatial Measurement of Air and Pollution (GMAP).

Air pollution is one of the major environmental challenges that Nigeria faces today. This phenomenon is threatening the socio-economic development gains that have been made since independence. The number of power plants has grown to unprecedented levels whereas mortality rates resulting from low quality air have continued to rise. Reports indicate that environmental pollution can be linked to the recent upsurge in cardiovascular diseases as well as other respiratory complications.

Nevertheless, the primary causes of environmental pollution are activities linked to industrialization such as extraction, transportation and the export of oil at the Gulf of Guinea. Similarly, traffic, rapid industrialization and gas flaring are the most common causes of air pollution in Nigeria. Thus pollution is adversely affecting different sectors such as health and environment, and has been linked to the destruction of ecosystems and climate change among other socio-economic ills.

Want help to write your Essay or Assignments? Click here.