Category: Environment

Introduction

Over the recent past, global society has been highly sensitized to the concept of global warming and the role of human activities in increasing the temperature of the Earth. It is apparent that the increase in the release of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere by the various activities, including the manufacturing process, transportation systems, and other human activities have led to an increase in the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, and this has led to a higher coefficient of heat retention in the earth.

The resulting conditions include unpredictable weather patterns and general climatic changes in different parts of the world. Scientists have also revealed that one of the major causes of the increase in the amount of carbon dioxide in the environment is the intensive deforestation that has been witnessed in urban areas. Human settlements have forced the authorities to clear large tracts of land to build housing units. Naturally, forests are responsible for absorbing a large amount of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere in the process of photosynthesis, and the reduction of forests has led to a reduction in the absorption of CO2.

The process of photosynthesis yields oxygen, which makes the air fresher for other living organisms. The contemporary world has seen many urban areas experiencing very poor quality of air. People in some cities are even compelled to stay indoors during the day to stay away from the smog-filled streets. Urban planners are, therefore, being compelled to enhance the integration of forests in urban areas to enhance the quality of air for urban dwellers. This paper looks to compare and contrast some of the ways that have been used by various urban planners to integrate forests in the urban space, including green spaces, peri-urban forestry, multidiscipline approaches, stricter zoning policies, and contracting foresters, horticulturists, and arborists.

Green Spaces

One of the emerging trends in the process of integrating forests in urban areas is the development of green spaces in various regions. Authorities in various urban areas have particularly utilized the land along roads and railway lines to plant rows of trees that are intended to enhance the biodiversity in that respective region while increasing the level of sustainable development in the transportations sector (Leahy, 2016).

Building roads and railway lines require the authorities to clear large areas of natural vegetation, and as a measure of ensuring that some of the vegetation in a region is conserved, the developers leave patches of land along roads and railways with natural vegetation. The respective governments and environmental organizations have also been encouraging people to plant trees in their neighborhoods and around their private properties to increase the number of trees in urban areas. The main aim of utilizing the green spaces is to ensure that the concrete forest in the form of buildings in the urban areas is covered with natural forests that will enhance the sustainable development of infrastructure.

The U.S. Forest Service is one of the agencies that have developed a futuristic approach to sustainable development and the conservation of trees in urban areas. The main idea developed by the agency is that shortly, more than 80% of the population will be living in urban areas, which translates to the need for the current urban planners to focus on developing the required infrastructure in a manner that will foster ecological conservation (Cohen, 2015).

The agency has proposed the development of green spaces, especially in private residences. People in the urban areas are being compelled to plant more trees in their front and backyards to ensure that the future is characterized by larger urban areas with more forest cover within the regions (Cohen, 2015). The innovators in the Forest Service are proposing the development of agricultural areas and parks on every space in current urban landscapes. Some believe that it will also be viable to plant trees and other vegetation on the rooftops of buildings.

Peri-urban Forestry

Peri-urban forestry is a modern approach to planning the urban areas that aim to protect the natural vegetation in urban areas while reclaiming stretches of land to plant more trees. This strategy has been influenced by the need for the government to reduce the rate of soil degradation, air pollution, and to enhance the health outcomes of the people living in urban areas. The initiative operates by maintaining the forest covers in the urban areas, and the single trees planted in various areas around the cities. Just like the green space developers, advocates of peri-urban forestry are taking every available chance to plant more trees in the urban areas.

The peri-urban forestry strategy also involves compelling private entities to adopt trees on their premises to increase the tree count in specific regions. Over the years, poor urban planning has resulted in the degradation and pollution of natural sources of water, but the peri-urban forestry approach is set to reverse this issue by ensuring that trees and natural vegetation along rivers in urban areas are conserved (Urban and peri-urban forestry, 2016).

As more land is being reclaimed by the forestry agencies, there will be a higher quality of air in the urban areas. Additionally, the forestry authorities will continue increasing their power to influence the types of development that can be applied in various regions. Urban planners are being compelled to ensure that their plans include the development of forested areas around the various infrastructural developments.

Multi-discipline approach

Over the years, the conservation of forests and trees in the urban areas as a function of the effort of the forestry agency and other non-governmental agencies looking to conserve biodiversity in the cities. However, the contemporary world has seen the development of a culture where various disciplines are advocating for trees being planted in urban areas. Various agencies have identified that some of the problems might be solved through the promotion of tree cover in urban areas.

For instance, the health care system has identified the low quality of air in the urban areas as one of the predisposing factors to poor health outcomes among the urban dwellers. Scientists have shown that planting more trees in the affected areas will foster the development of a more serene environment with fresh air, which will influence the development of better health outcomes for the society (Leahy, 2016).

Increasing the forest cover in urban areas has particularly been adopted by urban planners through the allocation of specific sites for tree planting in the development plans. The main difference between this approach and other approaches is that it is dependent on the integration of efforts from various private and public agencies to influence the development of policies that will enhance the sustainability function of urban development. Some of the entities associated with the program include the education system, health care system, transportation system, and the utility management entities.

The utility management entities such as the water and electricity suppliers have particularly discovered that the conservation of forests and planting trees will enhance the quality of water in the urban areas, and the associated changes in the reliability of rainfall will also benefit urban dwellers. The creation of awareness of the need for environmental conservation is bound to increase the number of agencies supporting the initiative to increase the volume of forest cover in the cities.

Stricter Zoning Policies

Urban development compels planners to continuously increase the land area for constructing social infrastructure and housing units. Most authorities have developed zoning policies to ensure that specific regions are used for specific purposes in the urban areas, but changes in administrations and ideas by the urban planning agencies always leads to alterations in the uses of the zones (Mincey, Schmitt-Harsh, & Thurau, 2013). This is especially attained through political pressure, which overpowers the agencies looking to enhance conservation in the respective areas. However, over the past few years, most urban planners have stuck to the use of stricter zoning policies, and this has led to a higher presence of single trees and forests in urban areas.

Zoning experts have the power to influence the development of green zones in every urban area. The zoning agencies should work closely with the forestry agencies to ensure that the zones with natural forests are conserved accordingly. Unlike the tree planting initiatives to increase forest cover in urban areas, the zoning process entails the development of policies that must be followed by both the private and public sectors when allocating land to various uses (Mincey, Schmitt-Harsh, & Thurau, 2013). This provides required protection for the areas covered with trees within the urban areas, and it limits the clearing of forests in specific areas for the expansion of the cities.

Various interest groups and non-governmental organizations have been active in mobilizing the public to compel the authorities to follow the zoning policies without tailoring them to enable the urban planners to clear the natural vegetation in the associated regions (Mincey, Schmitt-Harsh, & Thurau, 2013). Environmental conservation advocates are in the limelight of ensuring that the development of infrastructure follows the zoning policies in the respective urban areas.

Foresters

The modern society is actively adopting the culture of planting trees whenever people get a chance. Most people are taking the responsibility of ensuring that the conservation of forests is enhanced, especially by planting more trees in their residences. There has also been an increase in the number of forest groups, whose main activity is planting trees in areas around the cities that have been overly exploited through deforestation. The authorities in different cities also have agencies that focus on enhancing the number of trees in urban areas through planting trees in parks and along the roads, as well as around public buildings.

Most cities in the modern world are characterized by the presence of man-made forests in the parks and around the cities. The forestry agencies and scientists also provide support through the donation of trees and the provision of information on the best species of trees to plant in various areas (Piana & Troxel, 2014). Foresters are particularly instrumental in ensuring that the trees planted in the urban areas survive through the development of management programs that entail watering the trees when they are young, trimming them, and transplanting them if necessary.

Arborists

Local governments in various cities across the world have been developing agencies to look into using science and technology to plant more trees in urban areas. Arborists are specialized trees planters with the scientific background that helps them identify the type of trees that can survive in the conditions in different parts of cities. For instance, the type of soil and the availability of light for the trees may determine the probability of survival for the trees.

The role of the arborists is to plant single trees around the urban areas and to provide them with the required care until they are old enough to withstand the harsh environment without the requirement of management from the professionals. This is a viable way of integrating forests in the urban areas, but it is quite expensive because of the equipment required to cater to the needs of the trees, and the cost of labor for the authorities. However, the arborists are quite instrumental in helping urban authorities to increase the number of trees around the cities (Piana & Troxel, 2014).

It is apparent that while the authorities are looking to increase the number of trees in their urban areas, they are also focusing on planting trees that will enhance the beauty of the cities. The arborists are also charged with the responsibility of ensuring the types of trees planted in different regions are safe. For instance, some trees have low canopies that might not be appropriate for areas near the roads, whereas others have a root system that might damage buildings and roads.

Horticulturists

Horticulturists are also instrumental in the integration of forests in urban areas. The main role of horticulturists is to ensure that the biodiversity associated with the natural vegetation in an urban area is conserved. The horticulturists provide tree planters in urban areas with relevant information about the requirements of various trees (Piana & Troxel, 2014). They are also quite instrumental in breeding trees that can survive the adverse conditions that have been associated with the weather in urban areas. This includes the development of species that can survive the extensively polluted water and soils in urban areas, low amounts of water, and other harsh conditions.

Horticulturists are particularly required in the urban areas that have been associated with high levels of pollution. Increasing the forest cover in some urban areas is quite difficult because of the environmental conditions; hence, there need to be groups of horticulturist to conduct studies on the environment and to provide the information to the foresters. The explicit difference between arborists and horticulturists is that the arborists are more concerned about the environmental factors affecting the trees, whereas the horticulturists use the information from the arborists to develop seedlings that can survive in different environments.

Summary

Various authorities and communities in urban areas have applied different strategies to integrate forests into their urban space. This has been prompted by the realization that afforestation is a viable measure to enhance the quality of air in urban areas, and also to enhance the picturesque quality of urban areas. However, the most important aspect of planting trees in urban areas is to enhance ecological conservation as society fights against the adverse effects of global warming. Some of the strategies for increasing the number of trees in urban areas are propagated by people, whereas others are conducted by the authorities.

The main similarity in the strategies is that people are focusing on increasing forest cover in urban areas to naturally reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The differences in these strategies involve the approaches used to increase the number of trees. For instance, creating green spaces in the urban areas entails the allocation of specific land areas to plant trees (Gao, 2015). This approach is similar to the zoning process, but the zoning process entails the development of conservation policies for specific regions within the urban areas.

Creating green spaces is normally associated with man-made forests, whereas zoning protects natural forests. Peri-urban forestry entails the development of forests within the cities with the help of various professionals, including the horticulturists, arborists, and other foresters who are committed to enhancing forest cover in urban areas. Various agencies, such as the health care system, have identified the increase of forest cover in the urban areas as a viable approach to eliminating some prevailing health issues.

For instance, increasing trees in the residential areas within the urban areas are bound to increase the health outcomes of the community. While there are many similarities and differences in the strategies used to integrate forests in the urban areas, the most important thing is that various entities are actively taking part in promoting the afforestation process as society works to reverse the adverse effects of global warming.

References

Cohen, J. (2015). Creating a new green space model for tomorrows cities. Web.

Gao, T. (2015). Biotope and biodiversity mapping in forest and urban green space. Web.

Leahy, I. (2016). Innovations in urban forestry. Web.

Mincey, S. K., Schmitt-Harsh, M., & Thurau, R. (2013). Zoning, land use, and urban tree canopy cover: the importance of scale. Urban forestry & urban greening, 12(2), 191-199.

Piana, M. & Troxel, B. (2014). Beyond Planting: An Urban Forestry Primer. Web.

Urban and peri-urban forestry. (2016). Web.

Sustainability is a key aspect of any production and when it comes to the specific goal of packaging, it is highly necessary. When a product is manufactured, a lot of things have to be considered and means from the very beginning when the product is just raw material to the point where it has to be disposed of after the consumer is finished with it. Here comes the matter of sustainability in packaging which is very important. With sustainable packaging, it is actually possible to use all the resources effectively instead of having it thrown away to waste. There are many possible options that are actually in use like the films and wraps that keep the packaging compact and also sustainable when the material used is right.

Abba Seafood used a simple recyclable paper based packaging. The wave style of packing not only made sure the packing is attractive but also ensured that the whole unit could be accommodated in a convenient larger package. The recyclable paper board is collectable and can be used for further non edible packaging. The size of the package was easy to hand carry avoiding further usage of covers at retail point. (Landor, 2010).

Coco-cola (2010) on the other hand, optimizes the usage of various plastic products in its beverage packing to bring about environmental responsibility. Usage of a smaller plastic cap ensured a 38% saving in plastic usage. Change in thickness of PET bottles saved large quantum of plastics across the board. An overall average saving of 32% of plastics in every one of the activity was identified.

Batik Drinks were launched by San Benedetto (2010) in the course of the year 2009. They used a shrink wrap to realize certain eco-friendly results. For one shrink wrap ensured lesser amount of glue usage and at the same time better appeal. The shrink also ensured that the temperature of the drink was locked up in the bottle. This saved on air-conditioning and refrigeration.

They have many kinds of packaging which helps all the products sustain. They have innovative packaging that use the latest technology and they were the very first to come up with POF film, Bubble film and also the PVC cling film in the whole of the G. C. C. They have a lot of multipack options available which are well tested and of the finest quality. The quality and the effort put into it prove the sustainability (Emirates National Factory for Plastics Industry, n.d.).

Another fine option would be the sustainability in the hot melt packaging tape. They give you excellent resistance against external forces while holding really firm. The best feature would be the versatility. The consistency is something else that is looked for from all the companies and of course, the strength that they offer (Shurtape, n.d.). At the same time, the green nature of the tape is recognized and LEED certification is given for usage.

Wood packaging for export is another way for sustainability in packaging. The packaging is of many types ranging from pallets to boxes and they have many regulations which have to be followed for the recycling and also the exporting (IPCC, Nov 2005). Recycling of wood packages has been proven and today, only certified wood is made use of to ensure that the trees cut are replanted.

Strata Packaging by Enviro Packaging reflects the policy of the company. The sustainability with the renewing, recycling, reusing, reducing, and the removal and also looking to adapt rather than becoming extinct is what the package seem to drive at. (Enviro Packaging Solutions, n.d.). These are 100% recyclable, less weight therefore, lesser transport cost are some of the major eco-friendly features of the packing.

Sealed air Cryovac takes their stand on the food packaging and they make it clear that wasted food is a complete waste of a lot of resources used while the food was produced and also something that someone else might have found useful. Packing for cryo and cold packing has also been made recyclable. (Cryovac, n.d.).

The materials sold by Azo Materials is packed in recyclable material and is found to offer non-plastic content in them. Mostly these are wood and plant source based which help s them to recycle as well as ensure they are of sustainable origin. It offers sustainability and companies have come with ideas to do away with quite a portion of the plastic in the packaging which is a great thing (AZO Materials, n.d.).

The plastic bottles, typically, PET are used extensively in the bottling and beverages sector. ICIS (n.d.) has built its green philosophy on the usage of plastic bottles optimally. It is common knowledge that PET bottles hurt the working of the environmental conditions. Reducing the size of the bottles to the barest minimum including the least thickness are some of the adopted methods by the industries to reduce eco-impact.

Flexis Steam packaging is done by Avery Dennison systems. This helps preserve the food for a longer time and offers more sustainable packaging option. Avery Dennison (2010) claims that using 10 million such packages would result in saving 40 billion BTUs of energy resulting in saving 510 barrels of oil and its equivalents.

Packaging is a unique way of providing the necessary product in such a way that it will last longer or in other words sustain. The main objective is nothing other than to refrain from wasting the precious resources and to manage it and use it effectively and efficiently (ITW Packaging Solutions, n.d.).

Der Gruner Punkt (2010) has introduced a new type of packaging and it calls it as ANV which is the abbreviation in German for Sustainable Packaging Agenda. The major points considered during design of the package are the sustainability, life cycle and the overall usability of the packaging. Multiple or repeated uses for the package is what is planned in every one of such issues.

References

Avery Dennison (2010) Sustainable Packaging Solutions. Web.

Azo Materials Packaging of Ceramics. n.d. Web.

Coco-cola Company (2010) Reduce. Web.

Cryovac Improving Sustainability through Packaging Solutions: Reduction of Food Waste. n.d. Web.

Der Gruner Punkt (2010) Designing Sustainable Packages. Web.

Emirates National Factory for Plastics Industry Plast Future  Next Best packaging solution to Nature. n.d. Web.

Enviro Packaging Solutions The Six Rs of Sustainability. n.d. Web.

ICIS.com Plastics To Gain From Consumer Packagings Sustainability Goals. n.d. Web.

International Plant Protection Convention (IPCC) (2005) Certified Wood Packaging for Export. Web.

ITW Packaging Solutions Sustainability = Doing more with less. n.d. Web.

Landor, Packaging for a small planet: Navigating the sustainability maze. n.d. Web.

San Benedetto (2010) Roll Fed Shrink Film delivers 50% Shrink ratio for High-Impact Appeal. Web.

Shurtape Production Grade Hot Melt Packaging Tape. n.d. Web.

Environmental policy is a set of measures used to achieve the strategic goal of preserving natural systems, maintaining their integrity, and life-supporting functions for societys sustainable development. This paper analyzes the current US environmental policy and its basic principles. It examines them in the context of international politics and globalization. With this approach, the main stakeholders in the development of environmental policy are primarily countries and states, and the major indicator of positive or negative consequences is the global impact on their ecological and economic development.

At the beginning of the 21st century, environmental issues became one of the priorities of international relations, especially the problems created by climate change. In the late 1980s, American and Western European ecologists introduced the concept of global warming: the effect of carbon monoxide emissions on a gradual increase in the Earths average annual temperature (Kraft, 2017). This concept was later consolidated in a series of international legal instruments. In addition to it, the Kyoto Protocol was signed in 1997, fixing quotas for countries to reduce carbon monoxide emissions (Kraft, 2017). Thus, the US enters the international arena of environmental management.

In 1972, the Club of Rome prepared the report Limits to Growth. It recorded two critical problems for modern ecopolitics: the exhaustion of the Earths natural resources and the impossibility of continuing permanent economic growth based on industrial society. To solve these issues, the experts proposed sustainable development: limiting economic growth to preserve the sustainability of the existing ecosystem (Kraft, 2017). In the 1970s and 1980s, the topic of sustainable development was widely discussed at the meetings of the Trilateral Commission and G7 summits. This approach, however, caused a wary attitude in the Third World. China, the countries of Southeast Asia, and Latin America perceived the concept of sustainable development as an attempt to forcefully restrict their economic growth. Chinese experts even invented a particular term ecological imperialism: the policy of perpetuating the economic inequality of states through speculation around environmental issues (Harris, 2017). Thus, an ecological policy cannot be seen as only a set of measures aimed at sustainability.

To reduce emissions into the atmosphere, the United States is pursuing a policy of transferring particularly harmful enterprises to neighboring countries, particularly in Latin America. For example, in Mexico, the Ford Motor Company automobile plant has been operating for a long time, on average, emits about 1,340 kg of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere per day (Lindstrom, 2017). It essentially damages the ecology of the territory where the enterprise is located. The method of transferring production to less developed countries does not solve air pollution, but it does reduce the burden on the US natural environment.

In 2017, with the coming to power of the representative of the Republican Party, D. Trump, the US environmental policy underwent radical changes. In the spring of 2017, a decree was issued, abolishing many environmental norms adopted by the Obama government. The program to reduce atmospheric pollution with greenhouse gases was closed. Corporations have again gained virtually uncontrolled access to energy resources for economic growth. (Harris, 2017). The US also exited the Paris Climate Agreement (Kraft, 2017). Thus, whereas the US may benefit from their policy in terms of economic development and, although doubtful now, sustainability, the main stakeholders gaining advantage from this current policy are the US corporations.

On the environmental example, one can see that crafting any policy involves a lot of different stakeholders and not all of them benefit from it. Nowadays it is impossible to consider any political guideline without linking it with the global arena of international relations. In the case of the US environmental policy, the main actors experiencing negative impacts are developing countries, which receive vast parts of dangerous US industries.

References

Harris, P. G. (2017). International equity and global environmental politics: power and principles in US foreign policy. Routledge.

Kraft, M. E. (2017). Environmental policy and politics. Taylor & Francis.

Lindstrom, P. (2017). U.S. energy-related CO2 emissions fell 1.7% in 2016. US Energy Information Administration  EIA  Independent Statistics and Analysis.

Background

The ozone layer is a blanket of naturally occurring gas that is located in the stratosphere (15 to 50 km above earth) and serves a very important role in blocking the suns harmful ultraviolet-B rays from reaching us on earth. However, this protective layer of gases has been undergoing a slow but steady reduction in size. Ozone depletion has been taking place since the 1960s and is now a global phenomenon that requires urgent attention.

Ozone (O₃) is a gaseous compound made up of three oxygen atoms and is continually being formed and decomposed in the stratospheric zone. The major cause of this depletion is the continued use of substances containing chlorine and bromine, known as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).

Once the CFCs reach the stratosphere, they are broken down into constituent elements and react with the highly reactive ozone molecules, thereby reducing the size of the ozone layer. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that a single chlorine atom can decompose more than 100,000 ozone molecules (Newman et al).

While the largest ozone depletion is recorded at the southern and northern hemispheres, the process is taking place everywhere but is minimum in the tropics. This problem has led to increased levels of exposure to UV-B radiation that will continue to have adverse effects on all people living on earth irrespective of their location or economic status.

Individuals with lightly colored skins are more vulnerable to the cancerous effects of UV-B radiation. UV-B radiation also has an impact on plant life, which in turn creates an imbalance in the ecosystem. Scientists have mentioned that depletion of the ozone layer will also reduce fish stocks in lakes, rivers, and seas hence creating a food shortage in areas that heavily depend on fish.

Ozone Cycle

Formation of ozone begins when oxygen molecules decompose after absorbing UV light with a wavelength that is less than 240nm in the stratosphere, producing two oxygen atoms. One oxygen atom then reacts with an oxygen molecule to give ozone. The ozone molecule absorbs ultraviolet radiation of wavelength 310 and 200 nm, this decomposes it to oxygen molecule and an oxygen atom.

The oxygen atom then reacts with an oxygen molecule to form ozone. The process is continuous and is known as the ozone-oxygen cycle. The cycle stops when an oxygen atom reacts with ozone molecule to give two oxygen molecules, i.e.

Oxygen-Ozone Cycle

O₂ -UV radiation (<240 nm)-> 20

O + O₂ -> O₃

O₃ -UV radiation (310-200 nm)->O + O₂

Process termination

O + O₃ ->2O₂

Generally, the level of ozone in the stratosphere is controlled by the balance between the photochemical production of oxygen atoms and the recombination reaction.

Destruction of the ozone occurs when free radicals reach the stratosphere, these radicals include the hydroxyl radical, nitric oxide radical, chlorine radical and bromine radical. Hydroxyl and nitric acid radicals reach the atmosphere through natural ways, however, chlorine and bromine radicals are due to mans activities and are found in certain stable compounds, especially CFCs (McFarland, pp. 1207).

CFCs can reach the atmosphere without decomposing into their constituent elements since they are stable and non-reactive. When CFCs reach the stratosphere, they undergo photochemical decomposition to release chlorine or bromine atom, i.e.

CFCl₃ -> CFCl₂ + Cl

The liberated chlorine and/ or bromine atoms destroy ozone molecules through a series of catalytic reactions (Solomon et al, pp. 412). In an elementary example of this reaction, a chlorine atom reacts with ozone molecule forming chlorine monoxide, ClO, i.e.

Cl + O₃ -> ClO + O₂

The chlorine monoxide is unstable and can readily react with another ozone molecule to give two oxygen molecules as shown below:

ClO + O₃ -> Cl + 2O₂

This reaction reduces the number of ozone molecules in the stratosohere.

A single chlorine atom would continuously destroy ozone molecules for up to two years, however, other reactions in the stratosphere remove these elements. Bromine is more destructive than chlorine. Both of these elements are present in the stratosphere and cause considerable damage to the ozone layer. A single chlorine atom is able to destroy nearly 100,000 ozone molecules, when we consider the amount of CFCs released into the atmosphere annually, the damage done to the ozone layer becomes apparent (Storlaski et al, pp. 1015).

Trends in Ozone Layer Depletion

Studies of the ozone layer have been undertaken since the mid 20 the century, however, changes in its size became apparent between 1960 and 1970 when it was observed that it had reduced by 23 per cent between this duration. In 1985, the ozone hole was first observed in the Antarctic. By 1986, three models had been postulated to explain ozone depletion:

1. Solar cycle model- regular increases in the quantity of nitrogen oxides in the lower Antarctic stratosphere is due to changes in solar radiation;
2. Dynamical model- an alteration in the circulation pattern from downwelling of air with a high abundance of ozone from the upper stratosphere to upwelling of air deficient of ozone from the troposphere; and
3. Halogen model- a number of variant theories centering on the catalytic destruction of ozone layer because of CFCs and halons (Storlaski et al, pp. 1015).

A study was undertaken by McMurdo in 1986 that showed that the concentrations of nitrogen oxides were remarkably low, hence disapproved the solar cycle model. He also observed that the levels of long-lived tracers were due to complex reactions and was unlikely to occur, and that the high levels of chlorine in the stratosphere was the most probable cause of ozone depletion (Storlaski et al, pp. 1015).

The Montreal Protocol was signed in 1987, although the origin of the ozone hole was not well understood, the protocol recognized that the stratosphere had been disturbed. It was observed that the levels of chlorine in the atmosphere had increased by about 5% and that there had been a considerable loss in ozone every October in the Antarctica (Newman et al). The Montreal Protocol was signed by 31 countries and was aimed at cutting CFC emissions as shown below:

Fig. 1: Montreal Protocol Cap

The pact has been ratified by 197 nations to date and aims at reducing CFC emissions gradually so that no emissions will be made by 2030.Unfortunately, only a few countries have implemented the emission control mechanisms.

Advances in scientific methods improved mans understanding of the ozone layer from 1987 -92. This enabled scientists to re-assess present and early trends in the stratospheric ozone.

Studies undertaken in Punta Arenas, Chile, in 1987 that involved making flights above the Antarctica gave a good understanding of the role of CFCs in ozone depletion (Farman et al, pp. 209). Chlorine and low concentrations of bromine were detected in this area, the study also found out that the level ClO was considerably high.

Other observations such as the presence of bromide radical (BrO), low concentrations of water vapor, nitrogen oxides, and nitrous oxide, and polar stratospheric clouds confirmed that the ozone hole was formed due to the catalytic destruction of ozone by chlorine radicals (Weatherhead & Andersen, pp. 40).

Effects of Ozone Depletion on the Environment

Ozone depletion affects man and the fauna and flora on the earths surface. The most common form of skin cancer in man, basal and squamous cell carcinomas, have been attributed to exposure to ultraviolet-B (UVB) (Kelfkens et al, pp. 821). Absorption of UVB radiation causes faults when DNA replicates, causing cancer.

Studies have shown that a 1% decrease in the ozone would increase the frequency of this form of cancer by 2%. Another form of skin cancer, malignant melanoma, is caused by exposure to ultraviolet-A radiation, however, some studies have shown this cancer is caused by exposure to UVB radiation.

A relationship also exists between cortical cataracts and exposure to UV-B radiation. Scientists have also said that a rise in ozone depletion may increase the occurrence of malaria and other infectious diseases while the EPA forecasts that close to 60 million Americans born by 2075 will have skin cancer (Zehr, pp. 608).

A November 2010 research at the Institute of Zoology in London revealed that whales off the coast of California coast exhibited a drastic rise in sun damage, they attributed this observation to the depletion of the ozone. The study identified widespread evidence of epidermal damage commonly associated with acute and severe sunburn, having cells that are formed when DNA is damaged by UV radiation.

These findings suggest rising UV levels as a result of ozone depletion are to blame for the observed skin damage, in the same way that human skin cancer rates have been on the increase in recent decades. Besides, skin cancer associated with man due to exposure to UVB has also been identified in animals (Zehr, pp. 607).

Increase of exposure to radiation affects crops and other plants. Economically important crops such as rice and beans depend on cyanobacteria living on their roots to help in nitrogen fixation, however, cyanobacteria are responsive to UV light and would be easily affected by increase of exposure to radiation.

Oceans will also be affected: microscopic organisms such as planktons may not survive in the future, this would imply that animals above planktons in the food chain would not survive. Fish numbers will dwindle and this will in turn. Changes in climate could occur and this would have damaging effects on earths balance.

Possible Solutions to Ozone Depletion

Due to the grave effects of ozone depletion, we must strive to work towards abating and reversing the damages that have been done to the ozone layer. Some of these solutions are outlined below:

• Since ozone depletion is mainly caused by CFCs, the first solution would be to ban the use substances containing the se substances. However, this would have to be followed with tough legislations to punish offenders. The tough regulations would compel countries to observe minimum CFC emission into the atmosphere (Norman et al, pp. 331).
• Scientists have come up with a plan to introduce chemicals into the stratosphere to prevent the formation of ozone depleting substances. This plan would involve depositing about 50,000 tons of hydrocarbons (CH₃ or CH₄) into the atmosphere, the following reaction is expected:

CH₄ -> CH₃ + H

Cl + H -> HCl

The challenge with this method is that ethane or propane would decompose after one year and the expensive would have to be repeated annually(Norman et al, pp. 332).

• A solution to this problem lies in adopting simple strategies that can be practiced by anyone. These include recycling CFC containing substances such as plastics to reduce their production.

Conclusion

Depletion of stratospheric ozone layer by chlorofluorocarbons is a universal problem. While the issue was a matter of scientific guesswork in the mid 20^th century, it is now an urgent policy question for governments around the world. The weight of scientific evidence strongly points to CFCs as the main source of the reduction in stratospheric ozone over the Antarctica.

Satellite images supported by ground-based surveillance show that ozone has been declining since the late 1960s in both hemispheres, and this decline cannot be explained by any known natural processes. In weight of this evidence, we can conclude that halogenated compounds are largely responsible for the depletion of the ozone.

Scientists have mentioned that the ozone hole will be around for the next 50 years, and its repair can only start in 2020. However, this does not bar us from carrying out activities aimed at reducing and reversing depletion of the ozone layer.

More than two decades after the Montreal Protocol was signed, the world is yet to get tangible results from these efforts. This stems partly from the lack of stringent legislation to aid in implementation of the agreement and can be compared to the Kyoto Protocol.

A working solution to lessen the depletion of the ozone would be to limit the quantity of CFCs released in the atmosphere. All countries would sign a deal that binds them to the pact. To ensure that all countries adhere to the pact, meetings would be held after every three years to check on the progress of its implementation.

This would also be a time to evaluate the challenges that each country faces, and find possible solutions. This solution stems from the failure of the Montreal Protocol to reduce the emission of CFCs into the atmosphere. Adequate protection of the ozone layer will require the full co-operation between all countries, both developed and developing.

Works Cited

Farman, Joseph C., Gardiner, Brian G., and Shanklin, Jonathan D. Large losses of total ozone in Antarctica reveal seasonal CLOx/NOx interaction, Nature, 315, 1985. 207-10.

Kelfkens, Gert, de Gruijl, Frank R., and van der Leun, Jan C. Ozone Depletion and Increase in Annual Carcinogenic Ultraviolet Dose. Photochem. Photobiol. 52, 1991. 819-823.

McFarland, Mack. Chlorofluorocarbons and ozone, Environ. Sci. & Technol., Vol. 23, No. 0, 1989. 1203-08.

Newman, Paul. A., Kawa, Randolf and Nash, Erick R. (2004). On the size of the Antarctic ozone hole? Geophysical Research Letters 31: L12814.

Newman, Paul. A., Nash, Erick, Kawa, Randolf, Montzka, Steve A. and Schauffler, Sue M. When will the Antarctic ozone hole recover? Geophysical Research Letters 33: L12814, 2006.

Norman, Catherine, DeCanio, Stephen, Fan, Lin. The Montreal Protocol at 20: Ongoing opportunities for integration with climate protection. Global Environmental Change 18 (2): 2008. 330340.

Solomon, Phillip, Connor, Brian, de Zafra, Robert, Parrish, Allan, Barrett, James, and Jaramillo, Matt. High concentrations of chlorine monoxide at low altitudes in the Antarctic spring stratosphere: secular variation. Nature 328 (6129): 1987. 4113.

Stolarski, Richard, Bloomfield, Peter, McPeters, Rich, and Herman, Jack. Total ozone trends deduced from Nimbus-7 TOMS data, Geophysical Research Letters, 18, 1991. 1015-18.

Weatherhead, Elizabeth, and Andersen, Signe Bech. The search for signs of recovery of the ozone layer. Nature 441 (7089): 2006. 3945.

Zehr, Stephen C. Accounting for the Ozone Hole: Scientific Representations of an Anomaly and Prior Incorrect Claims in Public Settings. The Sociological Quarterly 35 (4): 1994. 60319.

Introduction

As it seems, the environment is constantly changing, and the world nations need more than a miracle in order to reverse the damages they themselves have caused. The atmospheric temperature of the world has constantly increased, and there are no signs of the reversal of this situation. This, in turn, has caused some devastating occurrences that make headlines all around the world. These changes, including floods, cyclones, depletion of the North and South Pole, and the daily expansion of the existing deserts, mark the beginning of what seems to be the end of the world. In other words, the environments degradation is the biggest cause of the loss of human life in this generation. However, there are a number of actions that we can take to halt, and eventually reverse the current situation.

My Wish

If I were given a magic wand that would grant me one wish, I would wish that the ozone layer would remain intact and retain its initial state before the depletion began. Industries will constantly emit Greenhouse gases, thus, as outrageous as it may sound, if there would be a magical replacement of the ozone layer every time it gets depleted, the earths internal balance will remain intact.

The ozone layer assists in blocking the dangerous ultraviolet emissions from reaching the earths surface. One can only imagine the extent of the damage caused to the human body if these rays penetrate the human skin. Most projections show that such an occurrence would cause the emergence of cancerous infections, therefore, the ozone layer is a necessity for our survival. Over the past few decades, industrial emissions have depleted the ozone layer, causing some of the harmful effects that are currently being experienced. Greenhouse gases such as water vapor, carbon dioxide (CO₂), methane (CH₄), and Ozone (O₃) are the leading cause of environmental change.

Home appliances contain ozone-depleting compounds such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), and CFCs contain bromine and chlorine, and which accelerates the rate of depletion of the ozone layer. They are usually present in refrigeration systems and fire extinguishers, which are frequently used.

Secondly, the ozone layer regulates the earths temperature. When heat rays penetrate through it, some of the rays that hit the earths surface do not undergo absorption, but rather undergo reflection back into the atmosphere. Over the last 20 years, the amount of industrial emissions has increased by an average of 1.99ppm annually, creating of a greenhouse effect all over the world. This has led to a large rise in global temperature all over the world, the effects of this phenomenon include the melting of the sea ice in the Arctic and Antarctic regions.

Melting of ice in the Polar Regions has led to a rise in the sea level from 7 to 23 inches has continually caused massive flooding along many coastal strips around the world. Hurricanes, cyclones and storms are becoming stronger, while some animal species suffer from the imbalances caused by changes in weather.

Conclusion

The Ozone Layer is a very important component of our planet, in fact, our survival on earth depends largely on its continued existence, hence my magic wish. My magic wish would ensure that the Ozone remains intact irrespective of the Greenhouse gases.

Abstract

The given paper revolves around the peculiarities of various natural resources and the major concerns related to their usage. The work tends to classify natural resources and provide the information about the main ways of their usage. Moreover, the relations between the natural resources and the environment are investigated to determine the way these two phenomena impact each other.

Resting on the great importance of natural resources which are considered the basis of the functioning of our society, the precise analysis of their global significance and the way they promote the prosperity and development of a certain country are suggested. Additionally, the paper also provides certain recommendations related to the further developing and exploitation of various kinds of sources. Finally, at the end of the paper conclusions are given, and the main ideas are summarized. The work rests on credible sources that provide the credible information needed to analyze the given issue.

Main Body

Humanity has always been using the gifts of nature to guarantee its survival and create the comfortable environment. At the dawn of civilization, such resources as wood, coal, and other minerals provided people with warmth, shelter, and tools. However, the further sophistication of society and the invention of different tools conditioned the appearance of the need for new materials that would be able to meet the existing requirements and guarantee the further evolution of various communities.

Finally, the industrial revolution and the blistering development of technologies conditioned the growth of the importance of natural deposits and gave rise to another concern related to the excessive usage of non-renewable resources which might result in the collapse of industry and human society. In these regards, the precise investigation of the major aspects of natural resources is crucial in terms of the further evolution of our society. Speaking about the UAE one should admit the great topicality of the given issue for it.

The state depends on oil producing and refinery greatly, and its further development is conditioned by the state of natural resources. Being one of leading oil producers, the UAE also has some other deposits which though do not play such a significant role in the development of the state. For these reasons, the investigation of the major concerns related to resource development becomes crucial for the existence of the UAE and other countries. Yet, the main aim of the given paper is to provide the detailed classification and delve into the peculiarities of the usage of various natural resources and their potential.

At first, there are several classifications which could be used while speaking about various resources. However, the modern science adheres to the approach which is based on the ability to renew. That is why there are renewable and non-renewable resources which play the great role in functioning of our society. Moreover, it is vital to admit the relative character of the given classification as some resources could be taken as both renewable and non-renewable. For instance, such substances as oil and coal are taken as non-renewable; however, they have the organic character and might appear in the course of time. Therefore, using the above-mentioned classification as the background, the information about various types of natural resources should be provided and analyzed.

Renewable resources could be considered the first ones used by human beings to guarantee their survival and dominance. Numerous facts evidence that primitive communities were dependent on this group (Holechek, Cole, Fisher, & Valdez, 2003). Besides, the further evolution of society promoted the development of tools and approaches used to collect materials.

This fact resulted in the increased importance of this sort of resources and conditioned the growth of their exploitation. Furthermore, the continuous sophistication of human thought and evolvement of industry promoted the reconsideration of the role of renewable sources which lost their dominant role still remaining important for the existence of numerous communities. At the moment, this group of resources could be considered the main factor that could guarantee the further growth of the society. Additionally, numerous scientists accept its great significance in terms of the non-renewable resources deficit.

Plants could be considered one of the main renewable resources that provide people with food and other substances needed for their beneficial existence. Being one of the oldest sources of food, plants still have the great potential for their further usage. Yet, numerous debates related to the excessive development and usage of non-renewable sources promoted the increase of the level of attention given to plants. Nowadays, apart from the traditional spheres of their usage, such as agricultural sector and logging and woodworking industry, this kind of natural resources could also be used to obtain energy, numerous substances, gas, fuel, etc. Moreover, there are many perspectives for the further usage of various plants to satisfy consumers needs and replace some non-renewable resources.

Furthermore, animals could also be considered the renewable natural resource that provides the basis for the existence of human society. Animal breeding has always been an important sphere of human activity that provided food, meat, skin, horn, and other materials and conditioned the further evolution of numerous communities.

The development of society did not trigger the reconsideration of the role this resource played and just emphasized the significance of the given issue. However, the inconsiderate development of this sort of natural resources resulted in the extinction of numerous spices. In this regards, the modern approach highlights the necessity of the creation of the environment beneficial for the recreation of endangered species. Additionally, the animal breeding should also provide society with the needed materials and satisfy its need for meat, milk, skin, etc.

Finally, speaking about the renewable resources, one should admit the significant growth of the interest towards such phenomena as sun, water, and wind. These elements comprise the new group of renewable resources that is taken as the most promising alternative to such materials as coal, oil, gas, etc. The fact is that due to the numerous investigations of the character and practical applicability of this group, the humanity obtained the vision of the possible ways of their usage (Holechek et al., 2003). Thought, the power of the sun is considered the main alternative to traditional sources of energy. Moreover, wind and water are also used by humanity to satisfy its need for green sources of power. In general, the inexhaustible character of these phenomena conditions their great potential and promotes the further investigations of the possible ways of their usage to replace the traditional and environmentally unfriendly approaches.

If to speak about the second large group of resources, non-renewable one, it is vital to admit their overwhelming impact on the modern world. The industrial revolution and the rapid development of technologies introduced the requirement of the efficient sources of energy which would be able to satisfy the existing needs. For this reason, the extensive resource development started.

The coal era was replaced by the gas and oil ones; however, the modern world still depends on these resources greatly. Moreover, the appearance of the new peoples needs contributed to the increase of the amount of resources needed to satisfy all existing demands. In these regards, non-renewable resources and their exhaustible character become one of the major concerns of the modern age as the lack of various minerals might trigger the contraction in manufacturing and collapse of the economy (Holechek et al., 2003).

Traditionally, non-renewable resources are subdivided into three subgroups which are minerals, fossil fuels, and soils. Minerals could be considered very important in terms of the modern industry. Being one of the main sources of energy, coal could also be related to this group. Statics show that nowadays about 8 million tons are produced every year (Wright & Boorse, 2010). However, such an extensive usage of this mineral could result in the appearance of numerous problems related to its exhaustible character. Furthermore, there are also many other minerals which are widely used all over the world by various spheres of industry to guarantee the further evolution of society. In these regards, resources of this group provide the basis for our society and determine its beneficial functioning.

Besides, despite their organic character, soils are also related to the non-renewable resources which importance could hardly be overestimated. Creation of the fertile soil is the long-termed process that might take thousands of years and demand the combined influence of a number of beneficial factors that might contribute to the creation of the topsoil.

For this reason, scientists consider it the non-renewable resource that should be given great attention. There are several concerns related to this issue and its nature. First, in consequence of the heavy use of soils the significant deterioration of their quality could be observed. Additionally, such processes as erosion, deforestation, desertification, etc. introduce significant shifts in the natural balance and result in the reduction of land dedicated to agricultural production. That is why it is crucial to investigate the modern state of soils to be able to predict the further changes of their state.

Finally, fossil fuels are the third group of non-renewable mineral resources which changed the image of the modern world and introduced the new pattern of the distribution of energy. One admits the significant role oil and natural gas play in the modern world. All modern enterprises and manufacturers use gas as the main source of energy while oil is the basis of various innovational branches of industry.

The growth of the importance and price of these resources resulted in rapid development of oil extraction industry and evolution of countries characterized by great oil and gas deposits. The countries of the Gulf region including UAE became one of the richest states that impact the world policy and condition some changes in the world energy market. However, numerous researches warn about the dangerous character of the excessive use and development of this sort of natural resources as their exhaustible character might result in the collapse of the economy which now depends on oil greatly (Wright & Boorse, 2010).

Nevertheless, alongside with the above-mentioned classification, there is also the tendency towards distinguishing metallic and non-metallic resources. Therefore, all inorganic resources might include metals. The metallic components make these substances harder, shiny, flexible and provide the ability to form new products under the influence of high temperatures.

Iron, copper, and some other ore minerals are the bright examples of metallic resources. However, non-metallic minerals do not have any metallic constituent, and that is why they are soft. Yet, both these groups have the great importance in terms of their industrial utilization. Moreover, the usage of metallic or non-metallic resources also results in the appearance of the problem of excessive use of various substances as they are of the non-renewable character and could hardly be recreated.

Besides, notwithstanding the above-mentioned classification or the renewable or non-renewable character of a certain mineral resource, one should admit their crucial role in the modern model according to which the world functions. It is impossible to imagine the further development of industry in terms of the lack of coal of oil. Moreover, the further evolution of society also depends on various resources used to satisfy the basic peoples needs. In these regards, one could hardly deny the crucial role of natural resources and the necessity of their wise development.

At the moment, humanity uses minerals, fossil fuels, plants, etc. in all spheres of its activity. For instance, the oil refinery industry provides the basis for the rapid development of various states and conditions the increase of their prosperity. At the same time, this process impacts the development of other industries that manufacture goods needed to guarantee peoples comfortable existence. It becomes obvious that all resources are interdependent, and the development of a certain one promotes the growth of the need for another one.

In these regards, the future of our planet, industry and society is conditioned by the perspectives of resource-extractive production as it provides the basis for the further evolution of science, community, etc. Unfortunately, numerous scientists have the pessimistic vision of the nearest future and are sure in the collapse of the economy conditioned by the lack of natural resources (Wright & Boorse, 2010). That is why it is vital to provide the efficient strategy that will be able to mitigate the negative effects of the excessive usage of and extraction of various resources and create the conditions beneficial for the restoration of some of them.

Altogether, there are two groups of mineral resources which are the renewable and non-renewable ones. The given classification is based on the exhaustible character of various resources. However, the modern society depends on both these groups greatly as the elements belonging to them provide the basis for its further evolution. Additionally, the modern world faces the problem related to the theoretical lack of materials needed to satisfy the main peoples needs. Under these conditions, the reconsideration of the approach towards resource-extractive production is the main aspect needed to guarantee the further existence of humanity.

Resting on the above-mentioned facts, it is possible to recommend to reduce the amount of extracted resources and implement the precise monitoring of the all industries that work in the given sphere. The existing problem of overproduction (Wright & Boorse, 2010) introduces the possibility to use less minerals and preserve some deposits for the further generations. Finally, the new strategy related to the replacement of the non-renewable resources with the renewable ones should also be created.

References

Holechek, J., Cole, R., Fisher, J., & Valdez R. (2003). Natural Resources: Ecology, Economics and Policy. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.

Wright, R., & Boorse, D. (2010). Environmental Science: Towards a sustainable Future. New York: Pearson.

Introduction

In the present turbulent world, running either an organization or a company in times of distress has become an indispensable skill for managers in all fields, not even for organizations that has to refurbish power after a storm. Each and everyday managers deal with uncertainties and anticipated events within the business perspective, whether it is a minor issue or a major one; they know how to cope, avoid or adjust to the issue.

Moreover, the strength and the incidence of the events over the past times have accelerated in a recent couple of decades, with much emphasis on how companies and organizations are reacting to the issue of conserving the environment. Solid management practices and policies have to be undertaken in order for an organization to remain strong, enthused and productive. Preserving the environment is, therefore, a contentious issue that ought to be embraced by organizations since it becomes beneficial both to the organization and the environment at large. Organizations should therefore find ways and means in which to use in order to incorporate environmental issues within their organizations (Richard & Marcic, 2008).

Therefore, this paper seeks to assess whether Dubai Aluminium Company (Dubal) is environmentally friendly. The paper analyzes the environmental policies of Dubal and what the firm can undertake in order to create a favorable atmosphere, both for the welfare of the business and its customers. The puzzle to be answered is whether the business does it for its own interest or for the good of its customers and the environment.

DUBALs Environmental Policies

Protecting the environment is one of the key issues that DUBAL has upheld as its core activities. The company has acknowledged the significance of preserving valuable natural resources both in the interest of the company and the environment. The company has endeavored to act responsibly in order to protect the environment within its vicinity. Some of the core activities which the company mostly centralizes on are minimizing harmful emissions besides adopting policies on reuse and recycling strategies in its operations. The policy that the company is currently using in preserving the environment was updated in the year 2005. The policy was amended to suit the comprehensive environment, which entails the health and safety code of ethics (Dubal, 2011).

Providing the customers with high-quality products and services is one of the major aspects that the company has endeavored to offer to its prospective customers. The company is therefore committed to upholding policies that conserve the environment and the well-being of its workers. Moreover, the policies are focused on providing safety measures to its esteemed customers and the community at large and this is practiced at all times.

In this light, DUBAL provides a favorable working environment that greatly reduces the hazardous effects and any contact with the harmful risks in the environment. Being a developing company, DUBAL has efficiently used and embraced technology in its operations. The technology used in this respect has greatly contributed to the growth of the business. As suggested by Newton and Ford (2000), anything that a company undertakes should be in the best interest of both the company and the customers.

An appropriate technology used by the company will ensure that the customers are protected and this is through environmental conservation all aimed at coming up with excellent results. Besides, ethics in business is an indispensable aspect of the success of a business and should therefore be incorporated within the business strategies (Kerr, 2009). This is an aspect of a policy that DUBAL has looked to embrace to ensure that the ethics used within the business are compatible with whatever the business is offering and also go hand in hand with the customers expectations.

Impacts of the Polices on the Environment

The environmental policies implemented have the potential to make a lasting impact on the environment, considering the fact that they are implemented in the best interest of the customers and the company. In endorsing this idea, Dubai Aluminium Company has been a member of UNESCO since the year 2004. UNESCO is a big promoter of environmental education and therefore the policies it sets out for its members cannot be altered at any time but have to adhere to the latter. Such organizations and others, therefore, compel their members to constitute environmental policies that will mainly have a positive impact on the environment.

Some policies may require an organization to re-use or recycle their waste products and this creates employment opportunities for the people living around. However, the policies implemented may also clash with the social-cultural factors of the communities living around, meaning that the two are not compatible and this creates some drawbacks in the organization which can only be put right if either is adjusted to fit into the other (Kerr, 2009).

Business and Environmental Benefits to the Policies

The policies implemented by the company may and may not be beneficial to both the business and the environment considering some factors. Any policies implemented by an organization are first meant for the best interest of its prospective customers and not for foreign investors. The policies that are therefore implemented will be to encourage the customers within a certain region to invest in the business, but the same policies discourage foreign investment within the company because after some time this may spur up the competition.

In addition, the effects that the trade may have on employment and wages and the costs incurred in the trade restrictions can hinder the benefits of environmental policies. Even though the policies may be termed as beneficial to domestic business, some people argue that the interdependence of global financial trade and financial systems may be counterbalanced by the adverse consequences of the policies (Richard & Marcic, 2008). For example, unintentional and unanticipated subvention and tariffs may result in hiking prices to the customers. This may also lead to a lowering in general quality of products produced, and consequently increasing the tax burden to the customers. Although the business may try as much as possible to boost the economy, the trading policies and restrictions may outweigh the economic benefits initiated by those policies and therefore be of no benefit at all.

Competitors Environmental Policies

DUBALs competitors include Al Abbar Aluminium and Alico. Both companies are engaged in manufacturing aluminum products within the United Arab Emirates. The two competitors apply similar policies as compared to DUBAL. These include minimizing harmful emissions and waste management. However, DUBAL seems to be ahead of the game because it has engaged itself in partnering with several policy-making bodies such as UNESCO and Emirates Environmental Group (Dubal, 2011). This shows that the company is committed to preserving the environment. Trade barriers and restrictions are some of the external factors that hinder the companys environmental policies. Still, the firm is trying as much as possible to make sure that the competitors are eliminated from the market and thus pave way for the policies within the company

Conclusion

Environmental concern has dramatically accelerated over the past few years and most firms have decided to embrace the aspect since it has both been beneficial to the organization and the community at large. This paper has provided a comprehensive review of whether the environmental policies implemented by DUBAL are always in the best interest of the company alone or even of the community. It is apparent that the firm is environmentally friendly since if policies implemented do not serve the purpose they were meant for; they may cause some adverse effects to the company. A better environmental policy means quality products, affordable prices, and a clean environment at the best interest of consumers and the ecosystem. This is what Dubai Aluminum Company has clinched on.

References

DUBAL: Dubai Aluminium. 2011. Environmental Standards: Quality & Environmental Standards: How We Care. Web.

Kerr, W.A. 2009, Recession, International Trade and the Fallacies of Composition. The Estey Centre Journal of International Law and Trade policy, 96(1), pp.1-11.

Newton, L. H. & Ford, M. 2000, Taking Sides: Clashing Views on Controversial Issues in Business Ethics and Society, 6th Ed. Chicago: Dushkin/McGraw-Hill.

Richard, L. & Marcic, D. 2008, Understanding Management, 6th Ed. Cincinnati: Cengage Learning.

Abstract

River restoration is often carried out by conservationists in a bid to reinstate a water course back to its initial state. Rivers are often polluted by human activities along and near the water bodies. Environmentalists tasked with reinstating rivers often cite increased human actions along the streams as the fundamental course of their dilapidation. Therefore, the perception of community living near polluted rivers often influences the success or failure of restoration efforts. One key lesson from the article is understanding the compromised rivers, human and natural activities that pollute the streams and the restoration process. Additionally, it is difficult to effectively restore a stream that has suffered from several years of pollution.

Article Discussion

River restoration is an activity that is conducted by the conservations in an attempt to reinstate a stream back to its original state. However, it only deals with the rivers physical appearance instead of the composition and the natural habitats. Many organizations and government entities across the world have developed measures to reclaim rivers in which their original quality is affected. Nonetheless, restoration is often unrealistic since the results may not correspond with the expected outcomes. Although rehabilitation is an essential aspect of conservation, river degradation occurs due to human activities and natural phenomena.

Methods

The researchers used historical analysis of land use changes in Colorado Front Range to conduct their study. The changes were mainly caused by human activities and some natural calamities. Human activities along river banks cause the degradation of streams. Although people may claim that they are exploiting the resource sustainably, the term is relative since what may seem to be a proper utilization of the river can be wastage for another person. Besides, the use of some materials to extract natural resources can also cause damage to the source. For instance, mining exposes streams to lose soil; thus, making it easy for the running water to carry the debris to the river. Additionally, the use of mercury to mine gold also pollutes the water. Mercury is a heavy metal that can cause death or interfere with the reproductive circle if consumed with aquatic life. Therefore, the actions of people contribute to the degradation of a river.

Events of previous natural calamities were also studied to determine the extent to which they interfere with the original quality of the stream. Even though the catastrophes are not frequent, their effects can be both short and long term. For instance, flooding, landslides, and wildfires introduce sediments into the river. The upstream waters carry the loose soil into the water, thus causing siltation. As a result, the composition of water is changed, which can result in the rivers pollution.

Results

The research concluded that river restoration is mainly conducted based on the perception of people. When the locals, national government, and international organizations develop a view that a river does not meet the required standards, they may work individually or collectively to reinstate the stream back to its original state. However, the habitats that depend on the river are not always reinstated. Wohl (2005) illustrates that attempts to restore the river only improves visibility. The habitats are never recovered because the original intention of rehabilitating the river is based on the physical state rather than the surrounding environment and chemical composition. Therefore, it is the people who decide when to reinstate a river and in which capacity.

It also demonstrated that it is difficult to bring back a river when most of its systems have adversely been affected by the land-use changes for several years. Polluted rivers can undergo restoration when the pollutants are still in the initial stages of affecting the rivers. In other words, highly polluted rivers that have suffered for a long time can never be restored to their initial state. Human activities change the original state by either depositing toxic chemicals into the source or altering water composition. As a result, rivers that have suffered several years of the population have lost their originality. Thus, they can never be reinstated, although several attempts have been made to restore them.

Lessons Learnt from the Article

One of the lessons learned from the article is that it is difficult to restore an ecosystem that has suffered several years of pollution. Pollutants become part and parcel of the rivers composition, thus making it difficult for the environmentalists to determine the original make-up and the pollution percentage. Any attempts to restore such rivers may lead to undesired results or further alteration of the river. The origin of the pollution may not be known since it may have started long ago from several unknown points.

Secondly, human activities and natural calamities cause river dilapidation in several ways. However, people events are the leading causes of stream degradation. Society clears the watercourse environment, which makes the soil easily carried away with the flowing water. Besides, some of the chemicals used to extract natural resources release toxic material to the environment, thus adversely affecting the habitat. Human activities, however, can be controlled if their effects are realized at an early stage. Nevertheless, natural calamities such as floods and wildfires can affect a rivers quality by introducing debris and increasing siltation. Although the calamities are beyond control, the rivers can quickly regain their natural state from the catastrophes.

Conclusion

Succinctly, river restoration is done with constraints rather than having an open mind. In most cases, the conservationists only focus on a specified outcome, but there are numerous causes of river degradation that should all be considered. For instance, ecologists concentrate on human activities such as infrastructure and mining. However, there are also natural causes that can affect the original habitat of a river. Nonetheless, the river can reclaim itself from the natural catastrophes within a short period of time. Therefore, restoration should be conducted without a specific goal that may limit people from achieving the result.

Reference

Wohl, E. (2005). Compromised rivers: Understanding historical human impacts on rivers in the context of restoration.Ecology and Society, 10(2). Web.

The primary advantage of using big data analytics in environmental studies is that it helps in understanding how human activities affect the environment. This information can be used to make decisions about environmental policy and regulations. Additionally, big data analytics can help identify trends and patterns in environmental data, which can be used to predict future environmental conditions. It is important to understand how human activities affect the environment because people need to be mindful of their impact on the planet. Human actions have consequences, and if people are not careful, they can cause some serious damage. The more people learn about how their behavior affects the environment, the more they can do to mitigate those effects. Humans need to be proactive in their approach to environmentalism and understand that every little bit helps. It is upon the people to take care of the planet and understanding how human activities affect the environment is a critical step in that process.

Human activities have a profound and pervasive impact on the environment. For example, the over-reliance on fossil fuels has led to increased levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide, which in turn is contributing to climate change. Similarly, the extensive use of pesticides and other chemicals is harming ecosystems around the world. Conversely, deforestation and land-use practices are causing dramatic reductions in biodiversity. It is critical for people to understand these impacts and work to mitigate them before it is too late. Humans need to find ways to live more sustainably, within the bounds of the planets finite resources. There is no easy solution, but awareness and action are essential steps in the right direction. Therefore, after knowing how human activities affect the environment, the government can formulate and implement some environmental policies that can help a country achieve its intended environmental goals. Similarly, by monitoring these human activities, a nation can predict its environmental results after some years and thus can decide to abandon or adopt the human activity based on its consequences.

Introduction

The topic of the paper is the carbon cycle, which includes its description and mentioning its key stages. Though the carbon cycle is barely noticeable for most people, it plays an important role in creating a habitable environment on the Earth. Therefore, the topic came from a closer overview of the environment that people live in and the substances on which they depend. Since climate changes may affect the carbon cycle and the lives of people drastically, the phenomenon deserves a detailed review. Occurring at a range of levels and influenced by human activities significantly, it needs a better focus and thorough analysis.

Search Process

I chose Google as the search engine and typed carbon cycle into the search field. The query returned approximately 2,830,000 results. Needless to say, Wikipedia was the first site that Google suggested in its top ten. To get the general idea of what I would be looking for, I browsed Wikipedia for the essential pieces of information.

Since Wikipedia offered the sources that dated back to 2008 and earlier, I decided to look for the necessary resources on Google Scholar, which is a repository of scholarly sources. First, I used the same phrase (carbon cycle) when searching for the article. However, the results returned by Google Scholar (657,000 items) were too general. By using the word climate as one of the keywords, I narrowed the search down to 226,000 results and located a scholarly article by Reichstein et al.

Results

According to the research implications, there is a direct connection between the carbon cycle and climate change. To be more exact, climate extremes, which can be observed currently, trigger a chain of interconnected effects that cause a change in the carbon balance in the environment. Furthermore, the rate of the carbon cycle and the percentage of carbon emissions depend largely on the type of climate change that occurs in the chosen area.

The authors of the article provide a brief description of the phenomenon of the carbon cycle, stressing that it implies the absorption of carbon dioxide emissions. According to Reichstein et al., the carbon cycle occurs primarily via carbon accumulation in forest biomass and soils (Reichstein et al. 287). The authors also provide a detailed description of the concept of climate variability, as well as the extremes, stressing that the latter phenomenon is typically viewed in the context of not only meteorological but also other essential variables, therefore, creating a complex environment, in which the carbon cycle extremes can be studied carefully.

Furthermore, the authors stress that, despite a large number of forests and the increase in the humidity rates that they allow for, drought is presently viewed as the factor that has the greatest impact on the pace and other characteristics of the carbon cycle. Moreover, the researchers conclude that climate extremes have the largest effect on the net climate variability, thus, contributing to the changes in the carbon cycle.

Therefore, the authors succeed in proving that the phenomenon of climate variability has a direct effect on the carbon cycle and the related processes. Enhancing the climate variability rates, the extremes create the environment, in which the carbon cycle is becoming increasingly fast. I believe that, by controlling the amount of CO2 emitted by vehicles manufacturing organizations, one will be able to affect the carbon cycle speed and magnitude, therefore, shaping the climate change rates. Therefore, the design of the tools that will help improve the carbon cycle process needs to be considered.

Works Cited

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