Final Project Sci/275 Mitigation And Pollution Strategies

Final Project:
Mitigation and Solution Strategies

By: Edward Kowalski

Sci/275: Environmental Science

David W. Jones

April 29, 2012 My chosen topic is Energy Conservation. The problem with energy conservation is that our entire technology-driven society is built on the use of fossil fuels. Fossil Fuels are considered non-renewable resources. It took millions of years or the Earth to form the coal, oil, and natural gas supplies that we’ve been using for about the last 160 years. At the rate we’re going, we’re going to run out of energy sources, in another few hundred years. We’ll have burned through millions of years, worth of resources in about a thousand years, even with careful conservation.

All this
The soot particles combine with water vapor in the air, to form smog, which makes breathing difficult and increases the risk of lung diseases and infections. Historically, we’ve seen several instances that clearly indicate the severe health risks associated with this type of pollution. Have a look for yourselves: Historic
Air Pollution Disasters. There have been several episodes in history which illustrate the harmful effects of acute short-term exposure to air pollution. Among those include: [Belgium 's Meuse Valley. During a five-day fog in December 1930,
63 people died, most of the deaths occurring on the fourth and fifth days. Older persons with previously known diseases of the heart or lungs accounted for the majority of fatalities. The signs and symptoms were primarily those caused by a respiratory irritant. They include chest pain, cough, shortness of breath and irritation of the eyes. Sulfur dioxide gas is suspected as the cause of the disaster.
Donora, Pennsylvania: Twenty people died and approximately 7,000 or 50% of the population, experienced acute illness during the week of Oct. 25, 1948,
Oil was the most popular energy fuel. Oil and coal combined represented over 60% of the world energy supply (IEA website, from report published 2011). Now, imagine taking ¾ of that fossil fuel use, and converting it to cleaner, renewable energy sources.

The primary challenges are going to be the financial costs, getting the international support, and possible environmental ramifications of building the high speed rail lines. I believe that allowing all nations to work together, with each one making its own contribution will help bring the countries together on this plan. Spreading out the costs will allow every nation to contribute, with less resentment that “only a few are providing the bulk of everything”. That’s why countries that have fewer financial resources, can donate natural resources, in the form of materials. Relaxing some of the existing environmental restrictions that may hamper the building will also help lessen the cost to the more developed nations (who generally have higher environmental standards). As for