Category: Conservation

Conservation biology is nothing but management of species, their habitat, how to protect the species. Human-species interaction, etc. Yes, it is true that the future of conservation is not more national parks. Basically, this deals with the matters of land sharing and land sparing.

Land sparing is setting aside of land for the purpose of conservation (national parks) from agricultural land (high intensity production and high yielding variety). While land sharing is food production combined with biodiversity conservation (low intensity production and low yielding variety). In the agricultural land for land sparing the farmers use pesticides and insecticides, due to which the invertebrate animals die because of the chemical components in it, this method is not sustainable. Whereas in land sharing farmers usually do not use any pesticides or insecticides in order to kill the pests. They depend on the invertebrates and bees for pollination and pest control services, this method is more sustainable. Land sharing and land sparing are two opposite ends of a pole, both of them have their own pros and cons, but the pros of land sharing over weighs its own cons better than land sparing. Being a conservationist, this pulls me more towards land sharing.

Considering the example of Kakadu National Park in northern territory of Australia, small mammals present in abundance reduced by 75% from 1995 to 2008. The park being a world heritage status it received an amount of $18 million in 2008-09, but majority of it went towards inrush of tourists which led to less availability of funds towards actual protection or conservation aspect of the national park (Flannery, 2012). Also, the introduction of water buffalos in 19h century led to the destruction of aquatic ecosystem within the park which in turn led to the culling of this animal which also had its adverse effects like the dry grass being unattended within the park leading to wildfires and demolition of the huge Allosyncarpia tree. This indicates that the animals or plant species present in the national park are not always safe and protected as the work done is not inevitably for the main objective but for the secondary purposes of the park.

According to Pressey & Ritchie (2014), the most areas covered by national parks or sanctuaries are either dying or dead. It means that the nutrients or the natural resources present in the land are very scarce or are extinct also the areas may be present in cold, arid climates and the morphological features not suitable for conservation. Even then the presence of these lands makes a little difference with regard to the result we intend and practically need to conserve species successfully. The measures taken to prevent the losses of the protected areas work negatively as the actual rate of losses is not known and is much higher. Hypothetically 100,000 acres of land of which 70% is covered by forests and wildlife. Now, human efforts lead to an annual increase of the forest area by 30%; on the other side the rate of deforestation is greater than 50% which actually makes the human efforts worthless.

In my native village of Dabil, in the state of Maharashtra, India my family owns around 100 acres of land which is primarily used for agriculture. Crops like rice, wheat, groundnuts, etc. are yielded and commercial tree plantations of cashew nuts, mangoes, jackfruit and different fruits are also part of this agricultural land.

Despite having so many varieties of crops and plants only about 50% of this land is used while the rest of it is naturally forested area which is an example of natural land sharing. Animals like wild Indian bison, wild pigs, rabbits, different bird species, snakes, elephants, porcupine, chameleon and also suspected tigers. The agricultural area is protected with the help of fences from the wildlife present in the forested area. Locals do not interfere with the wildlife and vice versa but on some occasion illegal hunting leads animals out the forest into the farms or human inhabited areas. A healthy rainfall, good amount vegetation and limited human interaction with this wildlife since a long time in history of this land proves that it is a good environment for land sharing.

The current world population is approximately 8 billion. In order to fulfil the needs of the increasing population researchers are looking for a better way to carry out agricultural practices and maintaining the wildlife simultaneously. Many researchers believe that land sharing has great possibility for sustainable agriculture, it is a way of agriculture which is good for ecosystem and will not use up all the natural resources and hence the soil remains fertile for a long period of time. Hence food production increases resulting in abundant availability of food. According to researcher’s land sparing is beneficial for biodiversity conservation too (Borrell, 2014). Another example in support of land sharing is the European Union’s agri-environmental schemes compensate the loss of income by farmers that ease the dangerous intensification on biodiversity (Bosch, Kok, de Olde, 2017). National parks have their own rules and regulations to follow, so for researches to carry on some research in benefit of wildlife conservation is a big challenge because firstly they have to follow the norms and secondly at the current state of extinction carrying the research can be beneficial or not hence taking risk is a dilemma.

In my opinion, zoological parks like national parks are an example of land sparing as it a special set of land where different animal species are preserved alongside some plant species. As an intern last year at Rajiv Gandhi Zoological and Botanical Park in Pune I learned and realized many aspects of the zoo. In this form of land sparing, animals get used to the surroundings and culture of the zoological parks. During my time at the zoological park, I worked with tigers and leopards where I was tasked with observing the behavioral patterns of the animals. Despite being wild animals and hunting for their food, they were lethargic and unwilling to even walk around for food which forced the zoo keepers to feed them in order to keep them alive and healthy and prevent them from extinction. Using this opportunity, I tried to use some strategies like making the animals work for their food by hiding their food in different areas in their areas of display. But the attempts failed as the animals were too lazy to work for it. Another strategy I used, was to spray deer’s fecal matter in the area of display in the hope of attracting the animals and encourage them to move around. My observation was that these animals were too dependent on the humans to survive, and if left in the wild all by themselves they would suffer in finding their own food.

There are few major problems faces by national parks, the climatic changes due to global warming lead the animals residing in the national parks to migrate. But national park being a restricted area the animals are bounded to stay and face the harsh climatic conditions, which consequently lead to their suffering. Glacier national park, Montana is one of the examples as the glaciers are melting down. Water issues is also a crucial matter to look upon, as some national parks face drier conditions which leaves the animals with no water. Fresh water is used up more in big cities and national parks surrounding these cities have a scarcity of water. Great smoky mountain national parks are affected by air pollution because of power plant and smoke from the industries which travel towards the parks and is accumulated due to the mountains which in turn affects the acid levels of water and even the plants (‘Top 10 Issues’, 2010).

These are some of the factors which affect the animal and plant species present in the park adversely. The same problems may be faced by natural forests but the animal’s species are not controlled by any management which gives the animals the freedom to migrate, which is not an option in national parks. In Yellowstone National Park in 1920 a decision was made to cull grey wolves in order to save livestock, as a result grey wolves became one of the endangered species. In 1995 wild wolves were reintroduced into the park to bring back its glory, as the absence of wolves lead to a lot of drastic changes within the park. The park has not been restored completely but it is on a path of progress (Breyer, 2018). This is evident enough to prove us that in a series of good decisions can keep national parks on a right path at a slow pace but one bad decision can prove to be fatal causing big blunders. It is seen that the coffee plantation in Northern Latin America has an abundance of birds an insect species as compared to the forest nearby. It is observed that as the tree cover increases the specie abundance also increases. Tree cover is the area covered by the crown of the tree. Even by the slight change in the percentage of tree cover can affect the birds and insect species (Primack, 2010, pg.424). This is a good example of land sharing where areas of coffee plantation are shared with the birds and insects.

Dr. Akira Miyawaki is a Japanese botanist who invented the Miyawaki method which is helpful in restoration of tropical forests. This technique is a quick method of growing plants and maintaining them. Firstly, the seeds are germinated, moved and kept in a pot until it is filled with the roots. Secondly, the samplings are kept under 60% sunlight for next one to two months followed by 40% sunlight for next one or two months. Thirdly, the plants are kept in an existing forest for adaption of the natural environments for a period of one month. Lastly, the trees are maintained up to three years after which they are left alone for natural management. Seeds from these very plants are then obtained for repeating the process. As a result of this, Miyawaki method successfully begins the process of restoration in tropical forests also resulting in increase in biodiversity, decrease in soil erosion and return of small insects and soil animals which restore the natural cycle of the forest.

In conclusion, it can be said that land sharing weighs more than land sparing in the positive direction towards biodiversity conservation through the methods of sustainable agriculture, Miyawaki method, coffee plantations and better decision-making skills. Now that there are national parks, we cannot do anything about it, but to upgrade the infertile land structure we can use Miyawaki method for forest habitat restoration, and eventually wildlife will be more attracted to a healthy forest area. Measures should be taken for promoting land sharing among the citizens of this globe to increase its use and to reap its fruits. Using my personal experiences along with some other examples, land sharing is a better prospect than land sparing as it is more cost effective and a better way of protecting the endangered animal species while producing agricultural products on a large scale. Even for the increase in the population land sharing is proved to be the best method.

India is home to an array of wildlife, living in different stretches of land. The country’s distinctive ecosystems comprising high mountains in the snow regions, east and west coastal regions, deserts and semi-arid regions, close to all ‘types’ of forests, grasslands, plateaus, rivers, estuaries and islands makes this country unique and rich in biodiversity. Truly, it is a treasure trove of a large portion of the world’s animal and plant species. During ancient times, Indian religious teachings and socio-economic ideology considered nature to be sacred and humans to be the guardians of natural wealth. Over the years, as humans came to be at par with nature, the fundamental code of ethics was to live in peace and harmony as man and nature were interdependent; destruction or damage to one, is the destruction of self. It was ethically implied to not destroy forests, keep the water bodies clean and the air pure. Human civilization continued to maintain peace and tranquility among all living creatures.

Times changed as man advanced in his thinking and his actions. The very famous ‘Chipko Andolan’ showed a movement in rural India where villagers hugged trees to save them from being cut for the benefit of logging companies. While in the village of Kherjariilli of Rajasthan, Amerita Bai and her family of 4 members also staged a protest against the Maharaja of Jodhpur to save the trees intended to be cut down for the construction of the new palace. She, her 4 family members and other 363 individuals sacrificed their lives to save trees of the village. This demonstrated how mankind fell apart in differences, one started exploiting the environment and the other was keen on conserving the natural resources, yet the morality of people staged a strong movement towards co-existence of man and nature. It displayed a battle between the rightfulness and dutifulness of the people of that village against man-made selfish societal norms. The important question, however, is how ethical conduct can be fortified by the other elements in the society. Are people blinded with selfish desires or simply ignorant? The standard of living of an individual, a family, a group of people, a community or a nation is another concerning factor affecting the environment and destroying natural vegetation. The extensive needs and wants have taken a toll on the survival of the other living beings to an extent that moral values towards natural habitation hold no good in the way of development.

Man is to live by the rules of nature, but in actual practice, he rules over nature for his own motives and habits. There is a need for stronger establishment of laws and ethics to co-exist. Law controls and regulates human conduct in situations of conflict of interest and ensures justice to all. But for its effective and successful implementation, it must depend upon the will of mankind as a whole. An ethical action from the conscience of men will act as a springboard for prevalence of what is right.

Illustrations

The biggest sign of threat in the wildlife has been the dangers of species becoming critically endangered and rapid extinction. To further substantiate the concerns of the prevailing ethical issues, the following are cases of endangered species and situations which throws light on the sad tale of wildlife and brings out the issues which limit ethical action in the conservation of wildlife.

Ganges River Dolphin

The Ganges river dolphin is virtually blind. But the eyes of those who live beside the Ganges are being opened to the plight of this endangered aquatic mammal. The number of threats that the dolphin is facing currently from humans could lead to its extinction. Unfortunately, the Dolphin inhabits one of the world’s densely populated environments where its twin needs – sufficient unpolluted water and food, either compete or conflict with the needs of human neighbors.

The Ganges water quality is declining. Chemical plants, oil refineries, and other industrial plants on the river banks leak pollution daily into the Ganges and its tributaries, along with untreated sewage. Pollution has also reduced the number of fish, upon which the dolphin prey. Noise from increasing numbers of large ships, such as oil tankers, interferes severely with its echolocation system. Despite legal protection, some dolphins are still caught for food, even more so, are killed for oil which is used by fishermen to attract different fish. Others become entangled in fishing nets and perish. Dam building has also had a grave impact on the river dolphin because dams block their annual migration. The morally unethical act of excessive unchangeable religious beliefs, of dumping the idols, bathing, etc, also add to the plight of this poor mammal.

The Ganges river dolphin has been legally protected in India since 1972, yet its population continues to decline by 10 percent. The dolphin’s problems have been known for some time, but attempts to help have so far been ineffective. For instance, a 1986 Indian government initiative to clean up the river has had little impact- despite the fact that it would not only benefit the dolphins but also the people.

Asiatic Elephant

The Asiatic elephant occupies the world’s most densely populated regions where human numbers are rising. It is on the brink of extinction in the wild. Their living territory is cleared and made into farming lands, which has also disturbed their traditional migratory routes. With no other option, they have moved to the human occupied territories, ransacking crops leading to conflicts with farmers and mounting political pressure to eliminate them near populated areas. Elephants are also illegally poached for ivory. Veerappan, a notorious Indian bandit alone has poached over 2000 elephants and smuggled millions of dollars of ivory.

There is a serious issue of escalating man-elephant conflict. But aren’t elephants respected in India? No significant work begins without invoking Ganesha. The horror of the present is framed when a massive elephant was killed by enraged villagers. This occurred in Sonitpur district, one of the most severe man-elephant conflict areas.

“In Western Ghats, past few years, more than 50 elephants around protected areas have met a grisly end from high voltage electricity illegally connected to farm fences to stop crop-raiding”, according to wildlife biologist Sanjay Gubbi. The only forests they know are now tea gardens, and paddy fields, or submerged by dams or devastated by mines. Homeless and starved, the elephants maraud crops, destroy huts. In retaliation, people poison, electrocute or blow-up elephants, by placing crude bombs, in elephant delicacies like jackfruit.

The Royal Bengal Tiger

Once common throughout Asia is now restricted to small areas of India and the surrounding countries. These tigers are found in the unique environment of the Sundarbans. The main threats are loss of habitat, poaching, loss of prey and the trade in tiger parts for eastern medicine. Most of these big cats now live in protected areas of India. Lack of funds, equipment and most of all political will is turning the reserves into a risk-free zone for poachers. Ravaged by mining, infrastructure projects, and floods, the barely 5% of India’s land that constitutes its reserve forests can only be saved by proactive legislation, tighter implementation of laws and by the immediate creation of a Special Protection Force for the 1400 tigers left in the wild.

Rare Butterflies – the Blue Mormom, Malabar Bander Peacock, Pale Jezebel, Kaiser-i-Hind

The Indian forests regions on the western and the eastern ghats are main hunting grounds for smugglers of rare Indian butterflies. They are in great demand internationally for private collection, butterfly parks, traditional medicine, and also to be encased into jewelry. This is a case of smuggling in the global market. Svach’s is one of many websites that promises to supply customers rare insects. Kucera, an entomologist, and his companion, were booked under the Indian Wildlife Act, 1972 on two charges: illegal entry into the protected area, and removing its wildlife without the permission of chief wildlife warden.

Critically Endangered Plant Species – Orchids

Orchids are considered to be the enchantress of the plant world. They have been known to Indians since the Vedic period. It was thought to be an aphrodisiac, the ultimate ingredient in a love potion. Unfortunately, this belief hasn’t been good news for the orchids. The wild population has been plundered ruthlessly for commercial purposes, depleting many orchids to the point of no return.

Orchids are widely distributed in the Himalayas, followed by the northeastern regions, the Western Ghats, the Deccan Plateau and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. It’s ornamental and medicinal use has attracted illegal traders, collectors and breeders, who could be clearing out many orchid species before we even know that they exist.

Case of Sanctuary of Bharatpur

Bharatpur had no water, no fish, no birds. Hope had almost died, at the sanctuary of Bharatpur, starved of water and life for nearly five years. Worse, the waters of the Ajan dam, fed by the Gambhir and Banganaga rivers- the wetland’s lifeline- was denied to the sanctuary, thanks to agitating farmers and water politics. Over the 4 years, rainfall has been low, and farmers demanded water for their fields. Rajasthan’s then CM Vasundhara Raje stated in 2005 that, “people, not parks were a priority here’. Not understanding that denying water to the wetlands would mean that the groundwater for the nearby farmers wouldn’t be replenished, the powers-that-be succumbed to political pressure and diverted water meant for the swamp to farmlands. The Result? Devastation. The Siberian cranes were already history; from 400-odd species the park boasted, the numbers crashed to 48. The park that saw hundreds of thousands of birds in a normal season now barely held 4000. Other species suffered too. The endangered fishing cat dwindled to negligible numbers, otters and turtles vanished.

Taken for a Ride – Captive Tourism

Wildlife tourism is a massive industry accounting for 10- 20% of the global tourism industry. People go on vacation and pay money to either view shows or enjoy rides and interactions with the animals. Social media too has set a trend and has a huge role in the tourism industry to have these experiences patronized in the eyes of the public. Most people have no idea what is the reality behind the scenes. Elephants in India have been part of its history and traditions for thousands of years. Capture and trade of elephants are now illegal, but captive elephants are still considered profitable business and it continues to flourish. The temple elephants in Kerala and the Amber Fort in Jaipur are two of the famous places where tourists go for elephant rides.

Gajender K Sharma, World Animal Protection country director of India, says, “The cruel trend of elephants used for rides and shows is growing—we want tourists to know that many of these elephants are taken from their mothers as babies, forced to endure harsh training and suffer poor living conditions throughout their life”.

Inadequacy of Laws for Protection of Wildlife

Law gives protection to life, liberty, and property and brings to books those guilty of the violation. But the question is whose life? Is it only man’s? Can a man destroy natural resources and the lives it inhabits? Environmental protection in India has been on the agenda since 1960′ yet it was only in 1980 that the seriousness of environmental degradation was realized. Here are few of the important laws enacted by the Indian government: the Indian Forest Act (1927), the Forest Conservation Act (1980), the Wildlife Protection Act (1972) and the Environment Protection Act (1986).

There are several more environmental protection laws in place. But still, we find that environment clearance is on the rise. We have industries prioritized over environment protection in the name of development. Shortcomings in the age-old laws, corruption, and political influence have taken over ethical practices. India has a population of 1.38 billion, yet the main problem we face today is the ignorance among the population in knowing the importance of environmental laws and the role, rights of the public in protecting the environment and wildlife. Such ignorance has played in favour of politicians to give away forest lands recklessly to industrial tycoons who are making millions of dollars of profits off the natural wealth which belongs to all of us and to the future generation.

To illustrate this further, let me take an environmental impact assessment (EIA), which is an assessment done to check on the consequences of any proposed plan, policy, program on the environment prior to giving approval for the proposed program. India took up EIA, almost 20 years back, in the year 1976-77, under the Environmental (Protection) Act 1986, disseminated an EIA notification making Environmental Clearance (EC) mandatory for expansion or development of any activity or for setting up of new projects. While the overall spirit of the notification seemed to enforce a strong foundation, over the years the government, the authority have themselves failed to comply and have overlooked all sorts of assessment for industrial expansions. The private industries have also been able to figure out loopholes to keep the authorities happy and also break the law without questions asked.

The industries have fearlessly been able to violate laws, reaping huge amounts of profits, exploiting invaluable resources and walking away by paying insignificant penalty charges. Here is how much industries pay as violation penalties: 20,000 crore worth projects like coal projects, hydro projects end up paying only Rs. 5,000 a day as penalties, which adds up to 1.5 lakhs a month – 18 lakhs violation charges against 20,000 crore revenue. In simple terms, all they need to do is, not comply with the law, set up projects and pay environmental damages worth nothing.

It is not enough that we create a structure of legislation. We must also create a structure of administration to implement laws as well and it is very important for people to be knowledgeable about the high-level manipulations and voice their concerns to the court of law.

Conclusion

There are several conflicts between the conservationist and the local people in imparting the ethical perspective in unethical scenarios. The ethical issue lies in the fact of not questioning the data(false) given, like we did for an over-inflated tiger number. The wealth of exotic insects, beetles, rare species of animals, medicinal plants, continues to lure unscrupulous traders and scientists who clandestinely sell their rich hauls to the world market, at an exorbitant rate. All the reasons or threats to wildlife mentioned in the cases seems to be irrevocable acts that cannot be changed even if it is morally wrong. In this poor and crowded part of the world, wildlife conservation rarely gets the proper attention from public or government resources it needs. These prove to be a challenge for ethical intervention as the conflict lies between the needs and wants of human beings backed by excessive corruption. A major setback also is not enforcing the laws since the development of the country has always come first in comparison with the protection of wildlife.

The wildlife habitat is in danger, there is an urgent need and responsibility to adopt certain specific strategies to protect it. Broad approaches to the solution of wildlife problems are likely to include one or more of the following elements:

• Changes in the attitude and behavior of individuals;
• Independent and unbiased committee to carry out investigation on compliance of the laws;
• The assessment and control of science and technology;
• Specific reforms in society, decision-making process;
• Radical political-economic changes.

Individual actions might be regarded as an essential building block to raise awareness in social processes. The only answer to the wildlife crisis is the united will of people to work together in finding a feasible solution to co-exits. In the end, each individual must feel responsible for the present and future welfare of all living beings. However, if no political, social or cultural awareness concerning protecting the natural environment is happening and no value system has been accepted then it’s time to call for a change in the decision-making process. Humans do not have the right to destroy nature. What is required is a strong movement that would help create and generate the required spirit to protect the environment.

Conservation is a discipline devoted to the preservation and restoration of the planet’s biodiversity. Rapid action is necessary, and failure might have catastrophic consequences. Conservation techniques have developed from a singular focus on ‘nature’ to a broader socio-ecological view on ‘people and nature’, since conservation demands a harmonious link. Nature reserves, game reserves, and national parks all seek to protect wildlife and/or flora, however their strategies and efficacy vary significantly. A nature reserve is a defined area of land for controlled conservation reasons due to the value of the flora and the fauna that inhabit it. This varies from game reserves which are a huge tract of land where animals are protected and hunted responsibly. Finally, a national park is a piece of land that is protected by the government for the sake of environmental preservation.

Nature reserves are critical for protecting animal populations and habitats, as well as several ecosystem functions such as providing refuge for biodiversity and mitigating human impact. These reserves are highly controlled to ensure that conservation techniques are followed. Lundy Island nature reserve in the UK is a great example of a successful nature reserve in conserving indigenous wildlife. The habitats and species that inhabit it are monitored and safeguarded for the future. The spiny lobster and golden hair lichen can be found here, which is a testament to the nature reserves success as they are very rare. The island’s tight laws, such as the prohibition of vehicles, have contributed to its development, allowing indigenous species to thrive in peace. Additionally, success might be credited to Lundy Island’s well-managed tourism. People return repeatedly to enjoy the natural beauty, which helps pay for the management necessary to safeguard wildlife. This is a wonderful example of humans and wildlife working together to accomplish conservation goals, since both parties benefit significantly. This, however, does not always occur, such as the situation in China. Wanglang Nature Reserve protects endangered species, such as the giant panda, but has been criticized by local inhabitants who object to the prohibition of traditional occupations. On a national and global scale, nature reserves are tremendously beneficial for conservation because they provide critical ecological services; nevertheless, their usefulness is harmed by conflict with indigenous people. As a result, nature reserves have the potential to be enormously successful in terms of biodiversity protection, but they must be managed properly to provide both environmental and socioeconomic benefits.

There is much debate concerning the efficiency of game reserves as a conservation approach, owing to the presence of hunting. Tourists pay exorbitant prices to participate in hunting activities on game reserves, with all funds going directly to conservation as seen by the southern white rhino population recovery. This comeback is seen as one of the world’s greatest conservation success stories. The species was thought to be extinct in the early nineteenth century, but the establishment of protected areas and rhino breeding on game reserves has been a phenomenal success. Allowing local landowners to establish game reserves and undertake limited hunting gives an incentive for species protection while also providing the financial resources necessary to do so. Additionally, game reserves have contributed to the reduction of illegal poaching and hence the conservation of wildlife, by allowing for the employment of anti-poachers. Conservation crimes such as poaching are a significant issue in several African wildlife sanctuaries. Numerous inhabitants engage in poaching for food or money and employ traps, which have a substantial influence on animal populations due to their non-selective nature. Residents’ perceptions toward protected areas are sometimes overlooked. In Tanzania, residents were forcefully evicted from land they legally occupied with no warning or compensation causing tensions as they resent the availability of their local land to rich westerners and not to them. While game reserves have been extremely efficient at maintaining biodiversity, they need to rethink their policies and have a better understanding of residents’ perspectives, given many risks to biodiversity stem from their activities.

National parks are critical institutions for environmental protection. The effectiveness of national parks varies substantially between countries, according mostly to government financing. Some countries invest substantial funds in national parks, allowing for enforcement and limits, while others do not. Most national parks are structured around a paradox: while they rely on tourism fueled by public interest in nature to survive, their species’ survival is contingent on their protection. This conundrum is typically overcome by limiting tourists’ access to select areas inside the park, allowing them to see animals yet minimizing their contact with nature. De Hoge Veluwe is a tremendously successful national park in the Netherlands that is home to several unique wildlife and plant species. When required, the park controls the flora and fauna carefully, restricting certain species to enable others to thrive. Numerous species would be extinct if left to develop naturally owing to out-competition. The park’s enormous success can be seen in the diverse, and unusual fauna it has to offer. In addition, the park is available to the public and operates educational programs to involve local communities, which provides socio-ecological benefits, and maintains the harmonious interaction between wildlife and humans that is necessary for optimal conservation. Because national parks are government this constrains their effectiveness as it depends completely on the country and their available funding. However, conservation is becoming more of a global incentive and countries are delegating more efforts into it.

The link between residents and the reserves parks is clearly the most crucial determining factor for success when evaluating these three conservation techniques. Conservation initiatives are hampered in their efficiency without socio-ecological advantages. One of the primary reasons for the increase in conservation conflicts is that regulatory institutions are still primarily concerned with natural components and are incapable of adapting to the development of social components. Methods must be re-evaluated for optimum conservation to be achieved.

Solar energy is the green source with the widest potential and plays a vital role in developing energy all over the world. Human beings have been making use of solar energy as early as 7th century. Later on, due to the advancements in science and discoveries of alternative sources of energies – mostly non-renewable and fossil fuels, use of solar energy was found to be expensive and had comparatively poor performance than other energy sources. Since then more usage of non-renewable energy sources has been done than renewable energy sources. But the renewable energy sources are limited and are on the verge of depletion which made researchers to rethink about renewable energy options like solar energy, wind energy etc. The reason behind selecting this paper is that it provides insight on battery storage technologies and their integration on a small-scale level like residential and commercial structures.

The 5 C’s

The paper is of the analysis category as various simulations are done to check for better performance and financial feasibility of the battery storage systems. The need for storage of renewable energy and integrating it on a small level like residential areas forms the context of the paper. Based on the assumptions made, the results and conclusion appears to be true and correct. The paper contributes to the society as it provides more information and computational results which could be put to use in practice. The clarity of the paper both conceptually and linguistically is appreciable.

Summary of paper

The paper starts with explaining the importance of managing the power from renewable energy sources and storing the energy in section 1. The changes in weather and also changes in climate over a period of 24 hours affect the production of electricity from renewable sources of energy. This leads to inadequate supply of energy. Intelligent grid technologies would be implemented in future which will put consumers in charge of their power consumption.

The second section highlights the need for integration of renewable energy from different perspectives like environmental, monetary, government participation and other organisations. The third section names various energy storage technologies but describes four types of battery storage technologies. Information about lead-acid batteries, Nickel-Cadmium batteries, Nickel metal Hydride batteries and the Lithium ion batteries is provided in this section.

In the fourth and fifth sections the performance of the four storage technologies are tested using Simulink by MATLAB. The parameters like nominal voltage, measured voltage, maximum power etc. were compared. For illustrating the financial and technical feasibility of PV system with batteries, HOMER modelling was done and the results of the analysis is described in table format.

Further discussion and conclusions are drawn in sections 6 and 7 respectively from the results obtained from the previous sections.

Critique of the paper

The paper is about assessing different battery storage systems for integration of renewable energy on a small scale. The author has made a good start of the paper by discussing the need for the study and assessment of the battery storage integration. The relevant findings of the existing systems has been mentioned, thus demonstrating a good example of literature review. A brief description of the method of analysis and results are given in the introduction. In the body of the paper, the need for the assessment from different perspectives is highlighted in detail. After this various energy storing technologies were described which makes the reader aware of the analysis in the later part of the paper. The use of easy and lucid language by the author makes it easy for the reader to grasp the information easily. In the Simulink assessment section, the battery is considered to operate in ideal conditions which might affect the performance in real because of the changes in temperature. Also, the simulation is done considering no charge controllers whereas the systems have the charge controller. Further, the data which is provided to the PV module is only of five days of a certain time of the year. The same data might not hold true for other times of the year. In the HOMER analysis, the results are derived assuming that the load requirement matches 99.9% with the PV system which might not be true in practice. Thus the results obtained may not be completely accurate. The results in the graph and the tables are thoroughly explained. The discussion clearly relates to the purpose of the research mentioned in the introduction. The conclusions were fairly drawn from the results that were obtained in the analysis. The assessment could be improved by considering some of the practical assumptions like variation in amount of sunlight in solar grids, geographical location of the systems etc.

Overall, the paper is well organised and the analysis and simulations are described in detail. The results are explained in a convincing manner. The information in the paper is reliable as it has been cited in more than 200 papers. There are many volumes and issues of the paper which means that the content is updated. The paper has a significant impact as the conclusions drawn from the computations and costing could be very useful in implementing the idea in reality.

Humans have contributed to a higher rate of species extinction today for several reasons. Those reasons include housing limitations, overfishing, worsening climate change, pollution, and increasing the number of invasive species worldwide (Gramling, 2019). Humans have transformed 75 percent of land on Earth into urban areas, leaving the rest for all species. Over time wetlands were lost and so did 32 percent of forest areas across the planet preindustrial times. The production of food crops increased, agricultural lands expanded, palm oil plantations enlarged, and farm lands expanded into forest areas. Higher rates of species extinction also occurred in the oceans too where the main threat is overexploitation. Fishing increased over time leading to harvesting about 33 percent of the ocean’s fish at unmanageable levels. Dolphins and loggerhead turtles suffer when they are accidently trapped during fishing events.

According to Gramling (2019), “Land-use changes are also tied to climate change: Land clearing, crop production and the use of fertilizers currently account for about 25 percent of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions” which warms up the world’s ocean waters. The increase in temperature places stress on the species in the water, damaging the populations long-term.

Plastic Pollution by humans has affected at least 267 species in the ocean. Plastics and microplastics affected 43 percent of ocean mammals. Pollution such as untreated urban and rural waste, mining and agricultural waste, and oil spills contributed to the suffering of the species living in the sea (Gramling, 2019). Due to the global trade and frequent travelling, humans introduced invasive species to many helpless locations worldwide. Those invaders compete with the native species for survival which can cause the elimination of native animals.

Canada’s Species At Risk Act (SARA), and the Manitoba Endangered Species and Ecosystems Act (MESEA) support biodiversity conservation because out of the ten bird species that are located in the region; five of these species are protected under the MESEA or SARA. According to Manitoba Infrastructure (2017), The Canada warbler (Cardellina canadensis), common nighthawk (Chordeiles minor) and olive-sided flycatcher (Contopus cooperi) are all listed as Threatened under both SARA and MESEA, whereas peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) and short-eared owl (Asio flammeus) are listed as Special Concern under SARA and Endangered and Threatened under MESEA. While not protected provincially under MESEA or federally under SARA the rusty blackbird (Euphagus carolinus) and yellow rail (Coturnicops noveboracensis) are both listed as Special Concern under SARA (Manitoba Infrastructure, 2017). Both of those acts support biodiversity conservation because certain birds that are under those acts are legally protected provincially and/or federally. The purpose of SARA is to prevent any wildlife species in Canada from disappearing.

Species of conservation include the species protected under MESEA and SARA. The MESEA was passed in Manitoba to protect and increase the survival of threatened and endangered species in Manitoba. This act raised awareness in Manitoba and introduced surviving species that are endangered and extinct. The federal act, SARA, was passed to protect wildlife species at risk in Canada. According to Manitoba Infrastructure (2017), within the Act, COSEWIC was established as an independent body of experts responsible for identifying and assessing wildlife species considered at risk. Animals that were ruled in COSEWIC may be qualified in the future for legal protection and recovery under SARA. All species are professionally evaluated for further ranking based on the global status, national status, and provincial status as a consistent process used by all Conservation Data Centers and Natural Heritage Programs. The ranking is used to determine protection and data collection priorities, assigned a numeric rank from 1 (very rare) to 5 (demonstrably secure) (Manitoba Infrastructure, 2017). This procedure is very important to protect endangered species based on their rate globally or in Manitoba.

SARA and MESEA strongly supports the safety and importance of our nation’s biodiversity and worldwide. Species at Risk Act protects species that may be affected by construction activities. According to the Manitoba Infrastructure (2017), those doings could affect several protected birds and their habitat and therefore a permit may be required under the Species at Risk Act. Animals have come and gone since life has begun on Earth and many of them have been strongly affected by the actions of humans. The act was enforced to protect and ensure survival of endangered and threatened species, introduce extirpated species, and into the province to designate species as Endangered, Threatened, Extinct or Extirpated species. The act prevents any human activity that would impact negatively on the listed species. It also prevents any type of human activities that could potentially damage or destroy habitats and their natural resources that keep them alive. It is not prohibited to have a possession of the species on the list unless granted by the minister for scientific research (Manitoba Infrastructure, 2017).

The peregrine falcon and polar bear are classified by each of the agencies in question 2 due to both organizations deciding to include them both under their acts. According to Manitoba Infrastructure (2017), a ‘Special Concern’ is a wildlife species that may become a threatened or an endangered species because of a combination of biological characteristics and identified threats, a Threatened is a wildlife species that is likely to become endangered if nothing is done to reverse the factors leading to its extirpation or extinction, and Endangered is a wildlife species facing imminent extirpation or extinction.

Many birds that I covered in question 2 were protected by both acts due to being listed as Threatened under both SARA and MESEA. However peregrine falcons are listed as Special Concern under SARA and Threatened and Endangered under MESEA. Polar bears are listed as Special Concern under SARA and Threatened under MESEA. Both animals are listed as Special Concern under the federal act because it is used for species that may become threatened or endangered due natural characteristics and human threats. Once the province analyzed the federal decision, both the peregrine falcon and polar bear were listed as Threatened and/or Endangered after further investigation.

They classified them based on the global status, national status, and provincial status as a consistent process used by all Conservation Data Centers and Natural Heritage Programs. This method helped them analyze the status of the animal on every scale possible because every classification is different. This in itself would benefit species conservation because humans would be aware of which species are a special concern, threatened, or endangered. This important information would help protect wild species and their habitats in order to prevent species from going extinct in the future.

Mountain Gorillas are found at mountainous forests in two main areas in Africa. A bit more than half of them live in in the Virunga Mountains, which borders the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Uganda. The rest of the gorillas live in the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park located in Uganda (Huijbregts, 2014). Their habitat requirements are forests and mountains. Virunga has a higher elevation, cooler temperatures and a lower diversity of tree species. Bwindi has a higher diversity of tree species, and the gorillas there build tree nests more often and eat more species of fruit (Huijbregts, 2014).

Their classification status was “Critically Endangered” in the 1990’s and early 2000’s. According to Robbins (2010), The International Union for the Conservation of Nature which is in charge of setting conservation status of species, changed their status from ‘critically endangered’ to ‘endangered’ in 2008 as their numbers improved. The locals were told by Scientists that things were getting better but could quickly slip back into being critically endangered due natural characteristics and human threats. Mountain Gorillas live on lands that have come across human violence which caused habitat loss due to agriculture, illegal mining, and forest destruction for charcoal production which have degraded their forests. Climate change has been affecting their higher elevation areas where they adapt to warmer temperatures and little forest remaining (Robbins, 2010).

The stakeholders are people who are concerned or interested in something, the Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in this case. The stakeholders consist of two main groups, the government and the people of Batwa pygmy (Buhanga & Kapere, 2013). Both groups are highly worried and concerned for the growth and security of the National park. This park forms a major part of the Albertine Rift ecosystem and is known for its Pleistocene refuge features that make it an extremely high biodiversity spot (Buhanga & Kapere, 2013). BINP has been well-kept for its excellent biodiversity, such as spreading awareness and protecting the park’s critically endangered Mountain Gorilla and its fragile ecosystem that is also an important water catchment area that benefits the locals, national, and worldwide.

The development of an ecosystem management plan included the following: creation of a living laboratory for researching and monitoring, a biodiversity hotspot, water catchment area, various animals and plants, safe living area for endangered species such as Mountain Gorillas, beautiful scenic spots, ecosystem services such as climate stabilization and being a carbon sink, cultural traditional areas in the forest, and conservation of the endemic species of the Albertine Rift. (Buhanga & Kapere, 2013). This plan covers several different programs that focus on solving park related issues by the Resource Conservation and Management to protect the honor of the park, research and environmental monitoring by the Research and Monitoring program, reduction of conflicts with communities by the Community Conservation program, logistical and administrative requirements by the Park Operations, management actions of park border crossing by the Regional Collaboration, and ensuring the financial fund required to implement the plan by the Business Plan (Buhanga & Kapere, 2013).

Bwindi National Park is located in southeastern Uganda and is home to various species. It has earned the title of UNESCO world heritage site and is owned by Uganda Wildlife Authority. The second step of the Ecosystem Approach is to solve problems in two steps; identify the problem(s) and split the problem(s) into multiple parts to solve it easily (Unit, 2009).

The management objectives for Bwindi National Park were developed initially in 1995 for a period of five years as the Global Environment Facility project (Buhanga & Kapere, 2013). The park management established the Bwindi Magahinga Conservation Trust and created a financial program. The development of local communities was getting promoted and an increase in community welfare based on the objectives.

Food Web – Primary Producers, Competitors and Predators was included in the decision-making process because of the forest’s strength, protection of endangered species and planted trees, controlled number of local visiting to avoid exploitation of resources, and outstanding research, monitoring, and management (Buhanga & Kapere, 2013).

Human Resource Development – forestry, hunting, ecotourism was also included in the decision-making process because of the work with the locals to ensure they are participating, development of their communities, improvement of agricultural practices, and ecotourism that involves the gorillas as the main attraction for tourists in the park (Buhanga & Kapere, 2013). The owners of the park and the closest resorts and hotels had a stable flow of tourist and good revenue collection over the years. There are attractions such as hiking through the forest, a waterfall, and watch various species in their natural habitat.

The management objectives evolved for Mountain Gorillas were various threats such as cross-transmission of disease from humans as a result of tourism activities, habitat loss due to human activity or global warming, and illegal hunting (Buhanga & Kapere, 2013). They now attempt to ensure the viability of mountain gorillas into the future by protecting them from outsiders, researching and monitoring them constantly, increase plantation in the park, and put them in captive to increase their population (Buhanga & Kapere, 2013). The Bwindi National Park is famous for a successful Gorilla conservation due to all the planning and the help of the government resulting in having almost half Gorilla population of the world.

My research question is ‘Could Europe be powered by renewable energy?’ This science in society question falls in the research area of science that has an effect on the environment. The effects of climate change are quickly escalating due to excess greenhouse gasses in our atmosphere that are trapping in excess heat from the sun. A way to reduce emissions and save our planet would be to would be to change our energy sources and switch to renewable energy sources. We are currently using non-renewable energy sources to power the earth such as coal, oil and natural gas. Theses will eventually run out as it takes thousands of years for the earth top reproduce them, while used they also emit toxic and hazardous gases into the atmosphere affecting humans, wildlife and the atmosphere balance of gases. Renewable energy sources such as solar, wind and geothermal do not release emissions and will not run out. They are better for our health and the atmosphere.

Renewable energy sources do not release greenhouse gases, they create many jobs and help to lower bills in developing countries¹⁰. Renewable energy does not run out and could even be more reliable than fossil fuels as its supply is not affected by war, trade disputes, strikes, and political instabilities. Countries can also tap from other countries on a larger scale. Once built, the majority of renewable energy types have lower cost price than fossil fuels, this balances out the high installation cost at the beginning³. In the majority of cases maintenance requirements for renewable energy technologies are lower than fossil fuels, this is because they include few to no moving parts such as solar panels and do not rely on combustible fuel sources to work. Renewables emit little to no pollutants into our atmosphere, unlike fossil fuels that do and as a result, lead to health issues such as respiratory and heart diseases. Using renewable energy lowers our chances of illness, keeps us healthy and contributes to a healthy atmosphere⁶. Using a super grid all of Europe can be powered by renewable energy and if one area is lacking energy one-day they can get energy and get it from elsewhere through the cross border energy network.

As stated in the pros there is a higher upfront cost than traditional energy sources. It’s also very expensive to install. The weather shifts every day so some days we may not be able to produce as much energy as other days. There will be a need for energy and even though here storage solutions they can be expensive however as time goes on they are becoming more affordable⁶. Large dams disrupt river ecosystems and they harm wildlife. Many people dislike wind turbines because of the way they look and the sounds they produce. Wind turbines are also dangerous to bats and birds as they travel around them¹⁰. Burning wood for bioenergy reduces the number of trees and results in habitat loss for animals. As trees produce O₂ and stip CO₂ out of the air if there are less there would be more CO₂ in our atmosphere and that escalates the effect of climate change.

On the 12th of December 2015, the Paris Agreement was signed to combat global climate change and hasten and increase actions and investments needed for a sustainable and low carbon future. The Agreement’s central aim is to strengthen the global response to the effects of climate change by sustaining a global temperature in this century below 2°C.

The EU’s use of renewable energy reached 17.5% in 2017 and is on track for its 2020 goal of 20%. Each country has its own renewable energy goal ranging from 10%-49%, with 11 nations already surpassing its goal. The Renewable energy leaders of the EU are Sweden, Finland, and Denmark. Since 2012, more than half of Swedens’ renewable energy comes from mostly Hydroelectric power and biofuels.

Luxembourg and The Netherlands are the countries in the EU with the lowest renewable energy consumption at 6.4% and 6.6% sequentially. Though the Netherlands has invested into many offshore wind turbines, they are still the second farthest away from their goal.

For Europe to achieve its climate change goals, emissions from the power sector would need to fall to negative zero or at least zero, and to accomplish this we will require low carbon solutions such as nuclear, bioenergy or carbon capture²; Scientists say that cutting down trees for biomass can escalate the effect of climate change, as deliberately using wood will increase carbon in the atmosphere and warming from decades to centuries¹⁵. When natural matter breaks down, carbon is slowly released so either way the carbon will end up into our atmosphere and this is why it is said that bioenergy is okay to use.

Energy demand is required to improve people’s health, welfare, and meeting economic and social development is on the rise each day. All societies in the world need a form of power to support basic human essentials such as cooking, lighting, communication, mobility, and space comfort (Gielen et al. 2020). Fossils including oil, gas, and coal have been the most dominant source of fuel since 1850. These conventional sources have an adverse environmental impact on the environment because it emits excess carbon dioxide (CO2) to the atmosphere, which contributes to climate change. There is a need to adopt a renewable energy supply system with zero carbon emission to save the planet. This paper aims at expounding the effectiveness of renewable energy and the utilization of energy efficiency in regards to climate change.

The continuous increase in energy-demanding services and the decline in fossil fuel deposits are major challenges affecting most parts of the world. For instance, in developed and developing countries, electricity, which is a nonrenewable fuel source powers almost all activities. Unfortunately, it impacts the environment and climate negatively because a large amount of coal is burned to produce it. There is a shift towards the utilization of clean and renewable sources such as solar ones, modern biomass, small-scale hydro, wind, marine, and geothermal energy.

Climate Change

Climate change refers to the global alteration of the natural environment due to an increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide. This phenomenon has become the greatest 21st-century challenge affecting people, government, nations, and businesses (Cavicchioli et al. 2019).

Modifications of weather patterns over a long time have severe implications on natural habitats and human beings. It causes an adjustment in production, resource utilization, and economic activities. To mitigate the possible side effects of global warming, greenhouse gas emission has to be reduced by lowering the predominance of fossil fuel.

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), there has been an unusual global warming trend for the past 100 years (Cavicchioli et al. 2019). Increased greenhouse gases emission attributed to human activities such as burning gas or coal, deforestation, gases from industries, rice agriculture, and methane production accounts for elevation of greenhouse gas emission and later climate. For example, from 1750, the industrial revolution emitted methane, CO2, and nitrous oxide by 15, 31, and 17 % respectively (Riti and Shu, 2016). An increase in wildfires and drought duration, some wildlife species extinction, and reduction in reduced snowpack amounts in the mountains are indicators of climate change.

Natural gas and coal are conventional sources of energy that have been contributing to climate change in the past. Currently, the US electricity, which is a form of non-renewable energy, is the greatest contributor to the climate change. It leads to water scarcity and causes water and air pollution (Laws, 2017). Over-reliance on this power exposes citizens to atmosphere and health damage. In addition, consumers are exposed to fluctuations in commodities prices.

In Polar Regions, climate change effects are amplified because it causes melting of ice caps and glaciers. However, the effects imposed on the south and north extremities have adverse impacts globally (Laws, 2017). Global warming triggers hurricanes and floods and it causes an increase of between 10 and 32 inches in seawater levels (Riti and Shu, 2016). Ecosystems diversity are continuously destabilized due to changes in plants and animal species in a habitat. Some organisms may become extinct while others may adapt to the new environment (Laws, 2017). Additionally, the emergence of novel diseases such as the Zika virus is attributed to the alteration of weather patterns.

Renewable Energy

Renewable energy is unlimited, inexhaustible, clean, and rapidly refilled natural form of energy. A combination of renewable energy and energy efficiency helps in reducing fuel demand (Akram et al, 2020). They benefit our health, climate, and economy because of not emitting carbon dioxide pollution. Geothermal power, solar, and wind energy are some renewable resources currently used in the US. Unlike electricity, these forms of fuel does not utilize water in production. Thus, it does not strain and pollute water resources, which is critical for residential use, wildlife, fish, and agriculture. In contrast, coal and gas impact water bodies negatively by polluting drinking water.

Technology innovations have spearheaded the use of renewable energy globally, and as result, over-dependency on electricity and burning fossils has been greatly reduced. It also helps in restoring the planet by lowering the volume and rate of greenhouse gas concentrations in the air and protecting the ozone layer from depletion (Gielen et al. 2020). Currently, most environmental programs have renewable energy and energy efficiency issues as critical agenda to be addressed critically (Heryadi, and Hartono, 2017). Clean energy utilization achieved through renewable sources prevents climate system interference, it also leads to atmospheric greenhouse gas stabilization.

Energy efficiency cleans out air and saves energy and consumers resources. Wastage of power and heat loss during transmission and through the utilization of inefficient technologies not only cost businesses and family’s income, but it also increases pollution and climate change (Riti and Shu, 2016). There are several ways through which fuel efficiencies can be achieved, this includes using energy-efficient machines for cooking, lighting, heating, cooling, and refrigeration. In addition, designing landscapes and buildings in a way that accommodates trees and changing some behaviors such as leaving lights on when leaving a room promote energy savings.

Energy efficiency and renewable energy can function synergistically to spearhead decarbonization of global power. These two combinations can lead to an 80% reduction of emitted greenhouse gas by 2050 (Gielen et al. 2020). Globally, about 36 gigatonnes (Gt) of CO₂ attributed to energy supply were released into the atmosphere in 2015 (IRENA, 2017). A reduction to about 9.5 Gt and 12 Gt by 2020 is required for maximum warming of 2°C above the preindustrial period to be achieved (IRENA, 2017). Expanding renewable energy and energy efficiencies is likely to reduce 90% of carbon dioxide emitted from the source of power as shown in Figure 1 below.

In a study conducted to determine power consumption rate in China, Germany, India, Japan, and the USA by IRENA (2017), the reduction of energy intensities and energy consumption was evidenced in countries with a renewable energy sources and those utilizing energy efficiency. This implied that the synergy benefits consumers by saving the cost of power. Consequently, it also reduces fossil fuel utilized in production, which in turn lowers carbon emission and climate change.

Conclusion

An increase in renewable energy and energy-efficient technologies result in energy savings and environmental protection. It has been evidenced that synergy between the two has a significant impact on global energy because it causes decarbonization. Therefore, there is a need for all nations to adopt the utilization of renewable sources and efficient energy technologies. This move is critical because it aids in averting the adverse effects of global warming and climate change.

Introduction

Every day people enjoy the convenience of electricity, heating, and transportation. Many of us cannot imagine our lives without technological inventions such as cars or smartphones. But what are the cost of the progress and the heavy consumption of energy? It is becoming obvious that our 7 billion world population is now depleting the energy sources that seemed endless. Moreover, climate change, water, and air pollution pose a threat to humanity as they affect food and water availability.

The term “critical dependency” used by the environmental expert John Erik Meyer emphasizes the need of human civilization for “both abundant energy and a stable, moderate climate” (Meyer 97). While it is not possible to stop the use of technological advancements and facilities, modern society has to step away from dirty energy and adjust to alternative sources. Clean energy coming from renewable sources is a great way to produce electricity and fuel without the devastating effects on the environment. According to global energy estimates, “50% of global energy supply will be generated using renewable energy resources” after 2050 (Kumar 3). Thus, renewable energy is a potential solution to the problem of “critical dependency” as it has multiple environmental, economic, and social benefits that I will explain in my speech along with the current issues.

The first point of my speech is the positive impact of renewable sources on the environment. I will introduce the existing environmental problems and explain how renewable energy might be beneficial for their resolution. All over the world, people are vulnerable to the unpleasant consequences of climate change and pollution. The frequent occurrence of natural disasters like droughts, forest fires, and floods is caused by the changing climate (Meyer). World War II, which lasted for 6 years, resulted in extensive damage and unspeakable human suffering. Therefore, a global temperature rise of 4 degrees Celsius over the same period might lead to catastrophic consequences (Meyer 266). According to John Erik Meyer, “the devastation experienced across the entire planet” due to the environmental crisis would be worse than the destructive outcomes of World War II (Meyer 266). Climate change is aggravated by the emission of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and environmental pollutants (Kumar). Thus, to successfully deal with the environmental crisis, it is necessary to stop or significantly reduce the industrial emissions of greenhouse gases, heavy metals, and poisonous chemicals.

Renewable sources of energy such as solar, wind, or hydropower can bring multiple environmental benefits and tackle the problems of climate change and pollution in several ways. Solar power is the ultimate source of renewable energy available for use in both domestic and commercial buildings. Solar panels provide a constant supply of clean electricity that does not produce carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases (Bush). Moreover, solar energy is a relatively safe source of electricity compared to traditional high-voltage transmission lines or pipelines that might spill or explode, causing water or air pollution.

Wind power is another valuable and inexhaustible source of energy, as well as the oldest one. The first primitive devices for utilization of wind power called panemones date back to the 7th century (Bush 272). Martin Bush suggests that modern wind turbines generate enough power to “light hundreds of thousands of homes” (Bush 213). Similar to solar power sources, wind farms contribute to the zero-carbon generation of energy with a global capacity of 539 gigawatts (Bush 274). Finally, there is renewable energy produced by hydropower plants using dams to process and store water from rivers and streams or by accumulating tidal energy of oceans and seas.

Hydropower capacity has not changed much compared to solar or wind technologies due to its dependence on varying precipitation and fluctuating rainfall patterns. However, hydropower remains the leading source of clean energy in terms of capacity as such energy comes from infinite water movement in oceans, seas, rivers, and streams. Tidal power generators are the most predictable and affordable source of energy. For example, The Bay of Fundy in Canada has the world’s highest tides, which reach speeds up to 17 kph generating 700 kilowatts of power compared to 600 kilowatts produced by wind turbines (Meyer 66). Therefore, the global implementation of renewable sources is a reasonable way of responding to the public need for both sufficient amounts of energy and a pollution-free environment.

The second point of my speech covers the economic benefits of renewable sources and their role in the economic crisis caused by the widespread use of fossil fuels. Engineer and environmental specialist Mahesh Kumar argues that forecasting, execution, and planning of renewable energy plants “require more consideration and knowledge as compared to other projects” (Kumar 6). However, such projects are worthy investments as they provide substantial economic benefits in terms of employment opportunities, economic development of rural areas, and price stability.

Firstly, solar and wind power stations, as well as hydropower facilities, create job opportunities as these renewable power projects need the human workforce for their effective operation. Martin Bush suggests that “access to modern forms of energy has helped lift millions of people out of poverty” since local labor is often used to construct and utilize renewable energy developments (Bush 143). To be exact, ‘renewable energy jobs grew 5.3% in 2017, with the total surpassing 10 million worldwide” (Kurochkin et al. 183). Therefore, renewable energy projects are effective in creating numerous opportunities in the global job market.

Secondly, renewable energy stimulates economic development in areas with limited business opportunities, especially in rural regions. For instance, the study conducted in early 2018 examined 2300 East African consumers of solar energy and demonstrated the positive impact of solar home systems (SHS) on small business development (Bush 250). The system’s affordability is a key to its success as it only costs $0.50 a day for a year plus a single deposit of $35 (Bush 250). Thus, SHS allowed multiple households in rural Africa to start a business or generate extra income from their energy system at a relatively low cost.

Finally, price stability comes from the fact that most renewable sources of energy are infinite, available in most parts of the world, and not affected by economic fluctuations. According to Martin Bush, the cost of electricity from solar and wind sources is “below that of electricity generated by conventional coal, oil, and natural gas” (Bush viii). On the one hand, the prices for conventional energy skyrocketed for the past 30 years due to the growing shortages of natural resources and deteriorating climate change (Meyer). For instance, oil supplies are noticeably declining, while the sources of natural gas might be depleted in 50 years if current rates of consumption remain. On the other hand, solar, wind, and hydropower-produced energy maintains regular pricing since its availability does not raise concerns. Therefore, it is reasonable for policymakers, businesses, and individuals to transition to sustainable energy sources as they are crucial for future economic development and stability.

The third and final point of my speech covers several social benefits of renewable resources. The chronic humanitarian crisis, food insecurity, and famine are related to the poor state of the economy in developing countries around Africa, Asia, and Oceania. Martin Bush estimated that in 2016, there were 804 million chronically undernourished people, while in 2017, the number rose to 821 million (Bush 41). As I mentioned before, renewable sources create opportunities for employment and small-business initiatives ensuring financial support for the residents of rural areas. Economic stability and an active job market provided by modern energy projects in developing countries might help to eliminate famine.

Climate-related issues worsen poverty, especially in the areas affected by natural disasters. According to the World Bank, “in 2015 at least 800 million people in the world lived in extreme poverty, and of those, at least 70% live in rural areas, most of them depending wholly or in part on agriculture for their livelihoods” (qtd. in Bush 77). Therefore, environmental pollution negatively impacts agriculture and causes poverty in regions that solely depend on farming. Currently, about 500 million farms in Asian and African countries provide a living for 2 billion people (Bush 78). The introduction of sustainable sources of power and the decrease in the usage of fossil fuels will decrease air and water pollution, and thus, ensure healthy agricultural lands and the environment.

It is worth mentioning that renewable energy can help to solve health problems as well. Household pollution caused by the usage of cheap fuels like charcoal or wood results in the emission of toxic chemical compounds. The young population is extremely sensitive to air pollution, which causes diseases and infections that annually take the lives of more than 650,000 children worldwide (Bush 37). Affordable and sustainable sources of energy have a positive impact on the health of both urban and rural populations as they prevent the emissions of carbon dioxide and air pollution. For example, M-Kopa Solar company introduced solar energy to more than 600,000 households and organizations in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda (Bush 250). Electric lighting generated from SHS replaced kerosene lamps, which were not only harmful to eyesight but also caused indoor air pollution.

All in all, renewable energy should be considered an essential source of power in the future. Today we live in a world where natural resources are almost depleted. Transitioning to sustainable sources can solve the issue of “critical dependence” as it will respond to humanity’s needs for adequate energy without contributing to climate change. More importantly, sustainable power offers significant environmental, economic, and social benefits. Solar, wind, and hydropower stations generate clean energy without emissions of greenhouse gases and environmental pollutants.

Moreover, renewable power projects such as SHS in East Africa stimulate economic development and job market growth in rural regions with little employment or business opportunities. Finally, sustainable energy is a valuable instrument for the elimination of the global food crisis, poverty, and health issues related to climate change and air pollution. The gradual change in the sources of energy will save the lives of millions of adults and children living in low-income and poverty-driven rural areas. Therefore, the global transition to sustainable energy is the best way for humanity to put an end to the climate change crisis, economic instability, and health concerns caused by conventional sources of power.

A global deal to cut emission and stop global warming signed in Conference of the parties in Paris, obligate oil and gas industry to reduce they co2 emissions. According to Carrington(2015),Paris agreement would leave more than $1tn of oil project without a return as the government increase measurement to cut down emission and tackle climate changes. The industry is facing a high risk of wasted capital in the future years. Oil and gas sector had and is still having an important role in the future of energy sector, but that position is changing. Oil and gas companies are towards planning for a low carbon future and adopting renewables technologies. In order to stay viable into the future they need to pressure some of the opportunity that are emerging in the market. In the long-term renewables technologies have the potential to reduce both carbon intensity and cost of energy sector operation.

As the role of electricity in economy expands and government stimulation towards electricity security and transition towards low carbon economy, renewable electricity became a priority by leaving behind oil and gas industry and increasing competition with natural gas. Even though natural gas is the considered as a transmission tool, investment in it may slow dawn due to being a short time investment as the cost of renewable electricity has continuous decreases. The economy of the business will have an impact on financing the way towards the transition and the presented business models needs to interact with government policies and market design to meet the energy goals. For example, in Europe, different utility companies have used vertical integration and the establishment of a wholesale market in line with retail competition to suicide energy transition, improve energy efficiency and decrease electricity demand (IEA ,2017).

This would not be possible without government policies supporting renewable technology, encourage competition from independent owner companies and corporation investment in low marginal cost wind and solar photovoltaics. Taking together those factors, renewable electricity has significant dropped and spread the profitability of the companies. Government support of renewable technologies has a major impact in the transition of AX-Power company. If the country is offering subsidies and strong energy policies to strength electricity trilemma, the investment from above will be attractive to expand their activity in those country. Each country offers different opportunity and policies for expanding the AX-Power company.

According to Nicolas (2020), Netherland is fare behind compere with other EU countries in terms of energy produced from renewables sources where in 2018 only 7.4% of energy was produced from renewables. Since 1960s all the Dutch households are connected to gas grid and a change in infrastructure would require large capital and time. Currently, Netherland uses gas as the most imported source of energy. The Dutch gas market TTF is characterised by its maturity and market liquidity (CME,2019). Gas can play an essential key towards transition on a low carbo energy society till the renewable share increase. As AX-Power company is based in Netherlands, would be recommended to continue its activity in natural gas for the first 5-10 years. In terms of environment impact, carbon capture technologies would be favourite to put in place. In the future the government of Netherland is expected to stimulate renewables growth by favourite the company towards a smooth transition.

Renewable electricity penetration on the US grid is increasing stadly and in transforming the US electricity grid. Companies have increase solar and wind energy to 72GW in 2020 compere with nearly 6.9 GW of energy in 2010(Piper,2020).One of the reasen of large development of solar plant project ,is the investment tax credit and the federal production tax credit (PTC) which has been implemented from the government(ibid).The implemented tax ,the falling costs and continued implementation of aggressive Renewable portfolio standard(RPS),have maden the outlook of renewable energy in US very promising for the next decate.

For investor, renewable energy assets will further improve their portfolios by providing assets diversification and generating steady cash flows.

With climate changes concerns, UK has developed a clear pathway to reach net-zero by 2050.Recent data shown that UK generates more power from renewables that non-renewable and is a leader in offshore wind power installation (Davis,2020). According to McPhee (2019),UK is the most attractive country for renewable investment due to the government prioritise and schemes for increasing the capacity of renewable energy especial for increasing offshore wind energy. There are a few key drivers that investment are willing to invest in UK such as Contracts for difference, CDF has plaed a huge role in motivsting low carbon investment projects such as Hinkley Point C,Oyster etc . For example ,in order to have a successful investment and lower the risks of Orsted Walney ,largest offshore wind investment the has been possible to finance by CFD.Contract for different encourage investment in low carbon electricity by giving the guaranty to the investment for they project payback time and profits. The CFD can apply for the expansion of AX-Power company by giving the company the confidence and the security to invest in UK The UK government is planning to deliver 1GW of energy from offshore energy by 2030.As the government supports all the investment in offshore wind energy,AX-Power expansion could be towards offshore wind energy. The CFD can apply for the expansion of AX-Power company by giving the company the confidence and the security to invest in UK. Moreover the AX-Power expunction whill have large economic and environment impact in UK ,by generating jobs opertiunity and contributing in low carbon mix energy.Furthermore ,in UK there is a market for renewable hydrogen production.The UK government has make available £12 billion to use 4 gigawatt of offshore wind for hydrogen production by 2030(Deign,2019).

Germany is one of the countries that is high ambitious to achieve a cost efficient and sustainable pathway to meet its transition goals. Even though the country is struggling to achieve its emission target mainly due to its nuclear phase out and notable challenges in transport and heating sector (IEA ,2020).Currently renewable electricity account for 35% of gross electricity consumption and by 2040 it is expected to increase at 80% (ibid).As renewable energy is predicted to increase ,Germany is having issues with grid expansion that have generate considerable congestion management costs(ibid).There are network constraints that prevent transition from north to south by resulting in power surpluses in the northern states and southern once are facing deficits(ibid).Germany is in the top list of the countries that are experience a growth in renewable investment. As the issues with grid connection is relevant in Germany, the AX-Power company is recommended to expand its business in solar PV with storage technology such as battery storage. Germany is expected to install 60GW of solar PV and by instance this technology seems profitable for AX-Power company to expand its activity.

Over the last few decades, concerns have been raised on whether renewable energy is green and beneficial, especially during this period when there are heightened efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Several bills have been sponsored to address the problem of sustainable energy sources; for instance, the former member of the West Virginia House of Delegates Marty Gearheart introduced the House Bill 2001 that sought to repeal several sections of the Alternative and Renewable Energy Portfolio Act in West Virginia. West Virginia, for instance, is known for its coal mining activities, which happens to be a non-renewable source.

Today, a host of countries are adopting renewable energy sources such as the anaerobic energy, solar power, wind power, biofuels as well as geothermal energy at the expense of the traditional forms like fossil fuels. The global rush for “the-so-called” green energy is thus questionable (Goundarzi, 2007). Biomass, for instance, is renewable energy but is its production sustainable? Can it be said to be renewable then? Therefore, this paper seeks to unmask the dark side of the much-touted renewable sources and their environmental hazards contrary to the overemphasized claim that renewable sources are green and beneficial.

Renewable sources of energy are those that are capable of being replenished. They are typically sources that can be used without the worry of them running out. They are also said to be more environmentally friendly as opposed to the non-renewable sources which release too much carbon dioxide to the environment thereby, leading to the depletion of the ozone layer. The natural renewable sources include wind, hydropower, solar, etc. Other renewables that are being produced from the adoption of technology include solar thermal, biomass, ocean energy, etc. Though most of these energy sources are renewable, they are not green and therefore, are harmful to the environment too.

In this section, we examine some of the renewable sources whether they can be said to be clean sources or not and their implied environmental effects.

Hydropower is one of the renewable energy sources that have been projected to expand in their market base in the next few years. Hydropower production is by far not clean and is unsustainable. For instance, efforts to develop hydropower plants have led to tremendous flooding and deforestation in the Amazon forest, which is the world’s largest tropical rain forest. Rainforests are known as a major absorber of the carbon gas because trees need the gas to grow. According to the World Wildlife Fund, forests reduce over 200 gigatons of carbon in the atmosphere (Wapner, 2014). Activities involving cutting of trees lead to the emission of carbon up to 15 per cent in the atmosphere, making it the highest contributor to greenhouse emissions. Since hydropower production involves massive cutting down of trees to construct the hydropower dam projects, such an activity proves to be more expensive than even the problem we seek to solve.

Moreover, the mega rainforest dam projects produce organic matter that is very slow to putrefy. It takes several years for the matter to decompose leading to water acidity. The matter consumes large amounts of oxygen in its long decomposition process thereby leading to deficiency of the oxygen gas that is majorly used by humans as well as other living creatures within the ecosystems. As a result, most animals and fish such as dolphins, especially those that live in water and near the dam projects have tremendously reduced in number leading to their extinction (Pillai, 2014). Human beings too have not been left behind, there have been numerous health effects associated with these hydropower dam project developments. Furthermore, there have been huge displacements of people living around these areas, especially in the South-American Amazon region. This has led to growing complaints by civil societies that question the legality of the dam projects. For instance, the indigenous Kayapos have been battling over the construction of the Belo Monte dam at the heart of their ancestral land leading to the displacement of several of them (Pillai, 2014). In the end, therefore, the hydropower production has proved unsustainable and not as clean as touted.

Wind power is another source of energy that is being recommended as an alternative source to non-renewable sources such as fossil fuels. Today, there are close to twenty million homes in the United States that are being powered by wind energy. While this seems promising especially to the renewable sources’ advocates, the adoption of wind energy has led to numerous challenges such as land grabbing. For instance, to meet the energy requirements for the year 2005 using wind power, there was need to have an area as large as Texas completely furnished with wind power erections operating nonstop (Ausubel, 2007). By 2017, the Texas population was slightly less than 23 million people. This, therefore, meant that if the US were to go full-wind energy, it would need to displace about 23 million people in order to meet its electricity needs. To service New York’s energy demands alone would require the evacuation of people in an area the size of Connecticut. That would quite be unsustainable and impractical to implement.

Wind energy is only capable of producing up to 2W/m2 (Ausubel, 2007). This would be too insufficient to meet the needs of the US large population and electricity needs for companies. Therefore, wind energy cannot be said to be a green source as has been peddled by the renewable sources’ advocates.

This form of energy is majorly obtained from organic matter like animal matter. While most people have been drawn to believe this source is a clean source, much in its preparation raises a lot of questions. In most cases, bioenergy is obtained from sawdust which comes from wood. Since the raw material for producing biomass comes from wood, it becomes unclean source because it requires huge felling of trees (Sommer, 2011). Trees, as noted earlier, are a major absorber of the CO2 that leads to the depletion of the ozone layer, hence global warming.

To produce large amounts of biomass, therefore, a lot of trees will need to be cut to power the biomass production plants. Furthermore, burning wood to produce biomass leads to extensive emission of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Biomass power plants produce up to 65 per cent of carbon dioxide which is greater than that produced by coal (Vogel, 1998). Its production leads to further release of carcinogenic gases like nitrogen oxides and leads which tremendously pollute the environment. Therefore, biomass, though considered a renewable source, is more harmful in terms of air pollution compared to coal energy.

Contrary to those who hold a different opinion on the renewable sources, the pro-renewable sources have succeeded in advancing their arguments and won the conviction of most governments as well as organizations.

Their central argument has been anchored in the belief that renewable sources produce fewer greenhouse emissions as compared to the non-renewable ones. The existence of the global problem of intense warming has enhanced their argument of low carbon emission by renewable sources. For instance, they hold that wind energy is purely clean and pose no effects on the environment. Wind power produces only 0.02-0.04 pounds of CO2 per hour, which is very little compared to other sources such as coal which produces up to 3.6 pounds of CO2 per hour (Matawal & Maton, 2013). However, what they forget to note is that while wind energy produces less carbon emission, its production is just as hazardous as are other fossil fuels. From the displacement of people to the cost of erecting wind power structure, this source is not as green as we are made to believe. Another case is of the hydropower that is largely advocated for by governments, including the United States. While the use of this power may seem promising, it is as well associated with numerous hazardous effects making it unreliable as a green source of energy. Compared to fossil fuels like coal and petroleum oil, this energy source produces less carbon to the environment (Zycher, 2011). Similar to biomass, hydropower involves felling of numerous trees to facilitate the construction of hydropower plants. Borneo and Amazon forests are just examples of how extensive deforestation for hydropower plants constructions have caused the world. Since trees are a major absorber of carbon, cutting them down is unjustified regardless of the reason for which they are being felled.

Moreover, these hydropower dam projects have led to the displacement of several people, especially in the South American region. Due to these projects, the local inhabitants of these areas where dams are to be erected normally get displaced which sometimes lead consociations between the displaced ethnic groups and the inhabitants in the areas to which they move to seek residence. Should these consociational agreements fail, ethnic wars emerge. Additionally, these dam projects produce organic matter which takes hundreds of years to decompose. This, in return, leads to water and soil acidity making it unsafe for both human and animal survival. Therefore, it can be deduced that the disadvantages of the hydropower source outweigh the advantages thereby making it an unreliable source which cannot be deemed to be a green source.

According to renewable energy advocates, biomass is an alternative source of energy that needs to be embraced fully in order to reduce global warming. Ideally, biomass is less harmful to the environment compared to coal and other fossil fuels. Since it uses organic matter for its production, the greenhouse gas emission effect becomes minimized (Wiloso & Heijungs, 2013). However, the production of this energy source leaves a lot to be admired. Encouraging the adoption of biomass as an alternative source motivates cutting down of trees for its production. Besides, biomass is associated with the production of the harmful carcinogenic gases like nitrogen oxide and carbon monoxide. Due to these limitations, therefore, biomass cannot be said to be a green source of energy since its weaknesses transcend its strengths.

Renewable energy sources, just like the other sources, have tremendous negative effects on our environment. Coal, which is largely dismissed as an unworthy source is a better one compared to the other fossil fuel sources as well as a non-renewable source. Unlike most renewable sources, coal production does not lead to deforestation, hence is better. Moreover, the production of some of the renewable sources is practically expensive and untenable. For instance, adopting the production of wind power will require large tracts of land in order to be able to produce enough power for the nation. The question of whether renewable sources are green and beneficial is thus negated.