Natural Disasters and Sustainability

Recently, it seems as if horrific natural disasters are affecting the earth at quantities unseen before. Although we think of natural disasters like hurricanes as forces that are unpreventable and inevitable, some are starting to question whether these storms are actually the effect of the action humans. We know about climate change and the destruction of the ozone layer, but many do not associate sustainability with the prevention of natural disasters. The New York Magazine article “The Specter of Climate Change Hangs Over Hurricane Harvey” states that “…global warming has meant more moisture in the air, which intensifies rainfall and flooding, and significant sea-level rise, which leads to bigger and more invasive storm surges.” It is very scary to think that these record-breaking storms are at the scale that they are due to human actions. The earth is clearly sending us the message that our current actions are dangerous and unsustainable.

Being that we won’t be leaving the Earth anytime soon, finding ways to keep our planet in an ideal state is essential. The increase in fossil fuels and toxic pollution is causing the Earth to create disasters that are worse than ever. As humans, we most find resources that give us energy that will allow the Earth to remain healthy for future generations. Hurricanes like Harvey and Maria are causing devastation that will take years to fix. If we want to lessen the impacts of storms like these in the future, the switch to sustainable actions must begin now.

NYC is Looking Toward a Sustainable Future

Thanks to recent efforts by Mayor Bill de Blasio, New York City is steadily progressing down the path of sustainability. His recent mandate calls for a drastic reduction in carbon emissions from existing buildings within the five boroughs. Building off of the city’s current sustainability plan (One City Built to Last), the mandate is intended to maximize energy efficiency by upgrading or retrofitting buildings with solar panels and improved heaters, boilers, and windows. The plan has the capacity to cut 7% of the city’s carbon emissions by 2035, and it is precisely this cultivation of urban technology that will help curb climate change in the long run.

Although de Blasio has generated support from a variety of environmentalist groups, he has his share of critics – primarily advocates of the lower-income population. As beneficial as his proposal may prove to be, it fails to guarantee protection for rent regulated tenants against possible rent increases; the Major Capital Investment rule would allow landlords to jack up their rents due to the high initial costs of retrofitting. De Blasio’s mandate just may be the next step toward a sustainable future for the city and the world as a whole, but its shortcomings must be addressed in order to effectively and justly bring about change.

Advancement in Sustainability

 

A newly developed system of solar powered electrolysis cells that can convert carbon dioxide into hydrocarbon and oxygenate products has been created. This newly created system is said to mimic photosynthesis at a more efficient rate than plants. In more recent years we have seen a deterioration Earth’s climate. This has been apparent with a rise in temperature levels, global warming and the thinning O-Zone layer. A system like this is pivotal.

This system could become one of the lead methods of alternative energy. Politicians often make excuses for not investing in methods of sustainability, but this method is powered by the sun- a free factor that will never be in deficit. Not only is this method efficient it is also incredibly cheap. At the rate that we are using harmful energy sources we are going to continue to face serious consequences . Therefore, this plan gives us a solution to continue to live our indulgent lives while being conscience of our effects on the environment. This method is a step forward in science and living a more sustainable life.

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/09/170918151713.htm

Montreal Protocol 30th Anniversary

The Montreal Protocol brought along a very important turning point in world history. It’s signing meant CFCs and other harmful chemicals that build up in the atmosphere would no longer be used, allowing the hole in the ozone that had appeared to be closed. The ozone layer is so important to everyone’s health. Without the ozone layer protecting us from the sun’s rays, skin cancer would sky rocket.

The depletion of the ozone shows how consumption processes can negatively impact our inclusive well being if we are not aware of the environmental impact they may have in the future. In order to live sustainably, we must figure out ways to live our comfortable lifestyles with refrigerators and air conditioners without sending out harmful chemicals into the atmosphere.

Laws and Sustainability

Living a sustainable lifestyle is becoming increasingly important. Global warming seems to be an insurmountable problem – with politicians that refuse to pass legislation to promote sustainability or refuse to fund programs that combat global warming. Which is why de Blasio’s recent actions concerning sustainable living are so important – as a politician and a citizen. In the article “De Blasio’s gap on climate policy? It’s under his front door,” William Neuman notes the incongruencies between the way De Blasio talks about sustainable living and

his actions. “Mayor Bill de Blasio wants to be seen as a leader in fighting global warming, and he says that everyone needs to do their part,” however,  de Blasio’s two manhattan homes have appliances (natural gas-fueled boiler and hot water heater) that do not meet the Energy Star standards.In fact, basic measures that make homes more

 energy efficient have not been taken – “the windows on his former residence appeared old and not well sealed. Some window air-conditioning units on both buildings were enclosed by plastic accordion panels that easily let in heat and cold. There was a half-inch gap under the front door of the two-story rental building, with nothing in place to prevent drafts.”  There is no excuse for the lack of these basic steps that promote sustainability. As the mayor of New York City, de Blasio is expected to be a model citizen for sustainable living – not just pass regulation, if he desires to be a spokesperson against global warming. 

NYC Composts

In 2015, the New York City Department of Sanitation announced their goal to have zero landfill waste by 2030.  By limiting our landfill waste, the City of New York is able to cut down on waste transportation, processing , and storage costs.  Shipping NYC’s trash alone costs $400 million a year. This also reduces emissions and energy usage in addition to making New York City a better and cleaner place to live.  This mission encompasses the tripartite scope of sustainability: social, economic, and environmental.  Although, it may be a lofty goal to completely end landfill waste in 15 years, it is most definitely a step in the right direction towards a more sustainable New York.

Part of this 0x30 Campaign is to introduce composting as part of the garbage regime of New Yorkers.  Right now, most people recycle hard plastics, metals, and paper and then just throw out the rest.  However, much of what goes into landfill trash can actually be composted.  17% of all of NYC trash is food scraps that can be composted. Large composting buckets are being handed out by request to various apartment buildings and houses. However, the Department of Sanitation does not currently pick up compost everywhere.  For places not served by the DoS, people can drop their compost off at 60 locations throughout the five boroughs setup by GrowNYC.

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In addition to composting, food scraps are beginning to be used to generate energy for the city.  Anaerobic digesters use bacteria and other microorganisms that eat New Yorkers food scraps and, in turn, produce methane, which can be used as an energy source.  The Newtown Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant is one of the locations that have been multi-purposed to dual as an anaerobic digester.  Although its use is fairly minimal right now, as infrastructure is developed for it, anaerobic digestion will likely be used as a source of energy for New York City.

Sustainability Courses Now Offered

With our class discussion on sustainability, I found myself wondering if there was a school of study that concerned itself solely with improving sustainability in our society. After some research, I happened upon this article which states that there are indeed schools that are training people to bring sustainability to their local communities.

I found the first paragraph of this article harkening, for it confirmed a suspicion I had in class. In the article, Andrew Pattison, a conservation biologist in upstate New York states, “I found that quote-unquote important people who were decision makers would read the reports I filed and then not follow them.” In class we discussed the “power” scientist may or may not have to illicit change. However, through our discussions, I found myself more and more convinced that policy makers were actually ignoring the information given to them by scientists, such as Andrew Pattison, in cases where the information is… inconvenient.

However, even though the article does start off bleak, the rest is quite hopeful. The author reminds us that though the problems we face are global, we have the power to effect change through what we do in the local. The author describes the growing number of schools, as of 2009, that offer courses and degrees in sustainability. The participants of these programs come from very different backgrounds and then take what they have learned and apply it to their trade in their communities. This gives me hope that, with a growing number of sustainability programs available, there will continue to be change on the local level that may translate into improvement on a global scale.

Hurricane’s Effect on Florida Drinking Water

With several hurricanes making the news, lately, and our class’s focus on water, I became interested in how these storms were effecting the drinking water supply of the various places they made landfall. This article describes the measures certain populations in Florida must now take to self-decontaminate their drinking water, due to some burst pips, for the time being. The article goes on to say that it is believed that these city’s drinking water may be contaminated by sewage and/or bacteria. People in these areas are instructed to boil their water or even add bleach in order to make it less harmful to ingest.

This article was destressing to me. not only did it make me appreciate my own fresh water, something that I have come to take for granted, but it also made me truly think of the blight that some of my fellow Americans are going through. I can’t even imagine having to out BLEACH in way watr in order to make it safer to drink – safer, not safe.

A Sustainable Future Powered By Sea

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/09/170922094047.htm

Sustainability is all about conserving and maintaining, right? Well, what better way to promote sustainability than a turbine that will not only generate energy but protect the coasts? Professor Tsumoru Shintake at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology Graduate University proposed a turbine. This turbine is an ocean energy source that is both affordable and easy to maintain. Thirty percent of the seashore in mainland Japan is covered with tetrapods. A tetrapod is a concrete structure that is placed along the coastline to weaken the force of any incoming waves in order to protect the shore from erosion. This turbines would replace the tetrapods and wave breakers by being attached or placed near them, helping to protect the coast.  Professor Shintake states, “”Using just 1% of the seashore of mainland Japan can [generate] about 10 gigawats [of energy], which is equivalent to 10 nuclear power plants.” This project is a great example of sustainability as it is cheaper and more affordable as well as easier to maintain. It also protects the coast from erosion which helps the environment and all living creatures in it.

Water Post Hurricane Harvey

We’ve learnt that water is so important- it carries nutrients for plants so they can survive and grow. Water travels downhill and carries salt and nutrients to the ocean. Therefore, most plants that live in the ocean live near the coastline where they can get to the nutrients that come from the land (which is carried by the water). However, as seen by this NY Times article, water’s ability to carry isn’t always a good thing. After Hurricane Harvey hit Texas, much of the water has carried and deposited toxic chemicals and dangerous bacteria. Likewise seen at Flint ,Michigan, much of the water after hurricane harvey in Texas was contaminated with dangerous chemicals and materials.

Tests that have been conducted on the sewage resulted positive for lead, arsenic, and chromium, which are dangerous chemicals. Not only did the water carry dangerous chemicals, but it carried large things like mattresses, refrigerators, and rugs.

Many of us underestimate the power of water. Water is very strong and powerful. Not only does it carry nutrients, but it also sometimes carries harmful chemicals, and therefore it must be examined properly.