Environmental Policies And Climate Change

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Reflect back on the lessons from this session. In Unit 1, you looked at ecosystems and considered what would happen if even one key component were impacted by a disturbance. In Unit 2, you compared living conditions, the spread of disease, and the availability of food in developing and developed countries. In Unit 3, you looked at the contribution of burning fossil fuels to greenhouse gas levels in the atmosphere. Then in Unit 4, you considered the issues surrounding air pollution, among others. All of these topics relate to the disturbances and predicted impacts of global climate change.

For this discussion, you will consider the effect of a changing climate on one of the topics listed below. Use this article as your starting point: Effects of Global Warming.

Recommended: Click on the following links to review materials to enhance your knowledge of ecosystems, disturbance, and recovery:

Choose ONE aspect of the environment that is impacted by climate change (from the 3 listed below: A, B, or C), and answer the 2 questions associated with the topic you chose:

  • Species extinction and habitat loss
    1. Explain how climate change impacts vulnerable species or results in the spread of invasive species.
    2. Explain how these changes will affect food webs.
  • Human health, agriculture, and infrastructure
    1. Explain how changing weather patterns affect food production, the spread of disease or damage to homes, transportation, or the electric grid.
    2. Discuss increases in pollution as a result of global warming.
  • Water, melting ice caps, and rising sea levels
    1. Explain how global warming is affecting ice caps and the impact to further warming.
    2. Discuss the rise of sea level and saltwater intrusion and how eroding coastlines affect human activities and ecosystems.

Case Study: Application of Environmental Management Concepts:

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By this time in the course, you would have seen an overview of global ENMT issues, and examined integrative and international perspectives to environmental management. You would have also read about specific cases that demonstrate the need for an integrative approach to ENMT. As part of your authentic assessments, you will choose a case study on which to reflect and apply your knowledge of environmental management, integrating ENMT concepts, strategies, and perspectives, especially those covered in this course.

You may choose one of the following:

  • – Events that led to the Cuyahoga River fires in 1969 up to the present
  • – Mono Lake, from the 1940’s to the present
  • – Donora, Pennsylvania, from the 1940’s to the present

Your case study should provide the following:

Component

Brief summary of the major events that led to the crisis

Possible points: 10

Brief summary of the scientific data pointing to the source of the problem

Possible points: 10

Social and legislative barriers to resolving the problem

Possible points: 10

Actions taken to resolve the problem, with a brief summary of the key players taking the actions

Possible points: 10

Ramifications of the case

Possible points: 10

Your recommendations on the environmental management systems and practices you think would be best to avoid such cases in the future and/or manage the case going forward.  Please make sure to provide a clear argument for how your suggestions would either:

(A)          Resolve the problem more effectively given the present state of the case (what has been implemented and can be further implemented)

OR

(B)          Avoid future cases like the one you investigated

whichever one is the most applicable case to demonstrate your management knowledge.

Make sure to think clearly about each particular situation given time, culture, and resources in the context of your case.

Possible points: 40

References and citations from reliable sources in the American Psychological Association (APA) format

Possible points: 10

Total points possible = 100 points

Please note that you should be demonstrating application of what you have learned from class readings and discussions into each assignment.

In Your Own Words

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The eruption of Mount Pelee in 1902 was one of the deadliest eruptions recorded in history. Standing at 4,583 feet, Mount Pelee is located on the coast of the French island of Martinique and neighbors the town of St. Pierre. The mountain was known as a “gentle giant” and hadn’t had so much as a grumble since 1851. The first recordings of the mountain’s reawakening were in late April of 1902 when light tremors shook St. Pierre and sent fumes down the coast.

The real trouble began the night of May 2, 1902 with a small eruption. The article from Earth Magazine stated, “Witnesses said Pelee’s summit seemed to catch fire, spewing glowing rocks and rendering the midnight sky incandescent.” A few days later on May 5, a large crater wall broke causing a mudslide to come rushing down the mountain at speeds of 60 miles per hour. The mudslide cleared out a sugar processing plant killing almost two dozen people during the process. The combination of debris, mudslide, and hot water created a 9 foot tall tsunami that pushed onto the coast of St. Pierre, also known as the “Paris of the Caribbean.” As if the tremors, fumes, mudslide, and tsunami weren’t enough, insects and snakes rushed down the mountain into the streets of the city to escape the fumes from Mount Pelee.

On May 6, Mount Pelee was showing no signs of cooling or slowing down and blue flames began to develop at the top of the crater from magma. May 7 brought about the eruption of Soufriere on the neighboring town of St. Vincent killing 1,500 people. Authorities insisted that St. Pierre was safe and urged everyone to remain calm. However, May 8 brought about Ascension Day and in a matter of minutes a blast from Mount Pelee completely obliterated the entire town of St. Pierre and nearly all of its 30,000. Most of the deaths were a result of breathing in the toxic fumes and gas that reached temperatures of 660-750 degrees Fahrenheit. Mount Pelee’s last eruption was recorded in 1932 but was not nearly as devastating as the eruption of 1902. It seems that the gentle giant is back to resting but there are a lot of eyes and ears monitoring her to ensure that a catastrophic event like the eruption of 1902 doesn’t happen again. ss

2.The Mount Vesuvius eruption of August 24th, 79 CE in Italy is one of the most famous volcanic eruptions in all of human history. Responsible for the loss of upwards of 16,000 lives in Pompeii and Herculaneum, it is one of the deadliest volcanic eruptions ever recorded. The destruction of the area surrounding Mount Vesuvius was absolute, completely wiping out all life in Pompeii and leaving only a single witness of its eruption: Pliny the Younger. Pliny’s account of Mount Vesuvius’ eruption is one of the first written records of a volcanic eruption. Additionally, volcanoes are named after the Roman god of fire: Vulcan. Mount Vesuvius was formed by the African plate converging and subducting underneath the Eurasian plate and is the singular active volcano in continental Europe.ac

Environmental Justice Conflict

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The purpose of this final paper is to synthesize, present, and demonstrate the knowledge gained in each of the competency areas during this class.

Instructions:

Students will complete a research paper on one environmental justice conflict (with approval) discussed in the context of environmental justice. Please use the Environmental Justice Atlas to select your paper topic.

Use the class resources (textbooks, films, other resources presented by the instructor or by classmates), journal articles and other appropriate references to support your discussion and analysis.

Evaluation Criteria:

This paper will be assessed for both content and form according to the evaluation checklist below.

Deliverables:

1500 word paper

APA referencing style

Presentation to class (6-8 PPP slides) for instructor and peer feedback

Evaluation Criteria: Total Mark 30%

Communication

Are the objectives of the paper clearly stated?

Are the citations and bibliographic references accurate?

Is the paper presented in a clear and logical format?

Is the paper free from spelling and grammatical errors?

Critical Thinking

Does the paper demonstrate critical reflection (by addressing both sides of the conflict, issue or cause)?

Global Perspectives and Citizenship

The paper demonstrates an appreciation of the link between unjust social structures and environmental degradation

The paper shows an analysis of the impacts of global economic, socio-political and cultural issues on local and regional societies

The paper discusses and suggests examples of call to action that promote local and global human well-being

Working with Others

Does the paper reflect an appreciation of the benefits of good relationships and collective action

Does the paper demonstrate sensitivity to culture, gender, disability, sexuality, class, language, etc.

original  website:

https://ejatlas.org/conflict/antipollution-protests-against-zhejiang-jinkosolar-company-haining-zhejiang-china