soc 450 paper
elif sam
PresentationonThreatstotheGlobalEnvironment1.pptxPresentation on Threats to the Global Environment
Student’s Name : Elif Sam
Institutional Affiliation: Strayer University
Professor’s Name: Vasilica Margarit
Course Number : Soc 450
Date: 03.08.2020
Hello. Today I am going to present on the threats to the global environment. The four threats that I chose are shown in slide two.
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Four Threats to the Global Environment that I chose
Climate Change
Energy Sources
In-appropriate use of technology
Globalization
The reason I chose these factors is because there has been an increase in climate change nowadays. Weather patterns have become unpredictable and thus posing a threat to the environment. Additionally, there has been increase in sources of energy used today. Some have lead to emissions which affect the environment globally. Also, technology is being widely used and inappropriate use is affecting the environment. The last one is about globalization and how it has made the universe to be a small village. People can move from one region to another within a short period.
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Climate Change
The history of climate change started in the 19th century when it was first suspected of ice ages and other natural changes (Varallyay, 2010).
That was the first time when the greenhouse effect was identified.
Climate change has been affecting the global environment since it has been causing global warming.
Global warming is being experienced in the world from the North to the South Pole.
It has been observed that the surface temperatures have increased by more than 1.6 degrees Celsius globally(Varallyay, 2010).
In the polar regions, the increase is more.
Thus goes in line with United Nation’s selection and prioritization of goals. This is because global warming is a global problem that needs to be given the necessary attention yo eliminate potential impacts (Varallyay, 2010). For instance , to prevent rise in surface temperatures.
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Countries that have been affected mostly by climate change and the ways in which they have been Affected.
1 Japan
Japan has a climate risk index of 5.5
It has been affected by heat waves, heavy rains, Jebi typhoons, and the Osaka earthquake in 2018 (Tobon et al., 2010).
This made Japan be the most threatened country.
Around 1282 deaths were caused by weather, and this led to economic losses.
The gross domestic product of Japan collapsed by 0.64%.
It is very important to come up with ways of dealing with heavy rains, waves and earthquakes when they occur (Tobon et al., 2010). This goes in line with selection and prioritization of goals by United Nations. The goal here is to reduce deaths caused by such adverse events.
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2 Philippines
The climate risk index of the Philippines was 11.17.
More than 250,000 people were affected by the Typhoon Mangkhut that passed through Philippines (Sharma et al., 2009).
Torrential rainfall led to 59 deaths.
A total of 455 deaths were recorded in the Philippines in2018.
Economic losses were also high to the tune of $ 454 Million.
The gross domestic product dropped by 0.48%.
Phillipines should also come up with contingency plans to deal with the typhoon Mangkhut such as the one that occurred in 2018 (Sharma et al., 2009). Selection and prioritization of the goal should be done. The goal here is to prevent deaths caused by such an event. That will be pertinent to the UN’s discussion on selection and prioritization of goals.
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Effects of Climate change to the world population
Climate change has led to flooding in various areas. This has made lives to be lost in the process as well as the destruction of property (Sharma et al., 2009).
Additionally, heat stress has also led to deaths.
Also, an increase in temperature has led to crop yield reduction in most subtropical and tropical regions.
In water-scarce areas, there has been a decrease in water availability.
Change in precipitation patterns and temperature has also led to an increase in the number of people with diseases like malaria (Tobon et al., 2010).
In the world, adverse events such as heavy rains, heat stress and change in precipitation patterns lead to high death rates (Sharma et al., 2009). Goals to prevent such deaths should be set and this is line with the UN’s selection and prioritization of goals.
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Climate Change Deaths
The diagram above shows the deaths caused by climate change in various parts of the world.
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Second Threat: Energy Sources
There have been many stages passed by humankind in the development of energy sources.
For instance, a fire was the one that was being used from the beginning.
Harnessing of water and wind power for use in transportation was a significant development in energy history (Demirbas et al., 2009). The development of hydroelectric dams also happened later.
Additionally, people started using fossil fuels for production.
It has been observed that various types of energy sources have an impact on the environment.
Fossil fuels than renewable sources cause more harm.
There are various threats posed to the environment by energy sources such as fossil fuels Demirbas et al., 2009). The goal is to set a goal that involves reducing such threats by a certain percentage. The goals have to be selected and prioritized just like it is proposed by UN.
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Countries that Have been affected mostly by energy Sources
China
China mainly relies mainly on coal as the main source of energy.
There are various environmental consequences.
Burning coal leads to the release of sulfur dioxides into the atmosphere. These cause respiratory problems to humans when inhaled.
Burning coal also leads to the release of mercury into the environment.
It then finds its way into the ocean and contaminates the food chain when it finds its way into fish and other aquatic animals ( Demirbas et al., 2009).
Mercury has led to kidney problems and loss o memory in adults.
In China the main source of energy is coal. When coal is burnt, it leads to emission of mercury to the atmosphere and thus this poses a threat to respiratory diseases (Demirbas et al., 2009). The goal here is to reduce coial use and use other sources of energy as well.
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How energy Sources have affected the Global environment and the world population
Various energy sources lead to pollution and contamination of the environment.
For instance, the emission of gases in the environment puts people at risk of respiratory diseases. Such diseases lead to death (Demirbas et al., 2009).
When some energy sources like coal are burnt, they release mercury into the environment, and this ends up in oceans and seas.
Fish and other aquatic animals consume it and are finally eaten by humans.
This leads to diseases like kidney disease and loss of memory (Demirbas et al., 2009). Kidney diseases are one of the causes of death in the world.
Emission of gases and other substances into the environment has led to diseases that have led on high death rates (Demirbas et al., 2009). Then goal is to prevent or reduce such deaths.
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Environmental Impact of Energy
Then diagram above is showing how energy sources have had impact on the environment.
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In-appropriate Use of Technology
Inappropriate use of technology has caused drastic climate changes in the world. Some of these effects include propensity of diseases, extinction of birds and plants, and global warming.
Additionally, winters are becoming very chill while summers are becoming super hot.
This has caused cold countries to start to become hot and vice versa.
This has led to toughness in the normal way of living.
What has caused these changes is the overreliance on gadgets, an increase in pollution, hat generation, and inactive life habits (Baker., 2011).
In appropriate use of technology has also led to climate change and hence diseases and deaths have occurred (Baker, 2011).
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Countries whose Environment has been affected by In-appropriate use of Technology
Both developed and developing countries have been affected by the improper use of technology.
For instance, technology has led to increased travel. This is due to the presence of faster ways of transport and thus pollution increases.
The methods that people were using ton travel previously were less polluting. For instance, the use of horses, camels, and boats (Baker., 2011).
That kind of pollution puts the health and life of humans and animals at risk.
Both developed and developing countries have been affected by in appropriate use of technology (Baker, 2011). This has led to pollution and thus diseases and deaths.
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How In-appropriate Use of Technology Affects the World Population
Improper use of technology leads to the generation of a lot of waste. For instance, computers have CPUs, large monitors, mouse, and separate keyboards.
Such parts are then disposed to the environment, and they have toxic metals like lead and mercury in them.
This leads to diseases that cost some people their lives.
More technical waste that is harmful to the environment is being generated now and then (Baker., 2011).
Disposal of garbage into the environment has led to contamination of plants (Baker, 2011). Consumption of such plants by humans leads to diseases that kill.
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Negative effects of Technology to the Environment-Pollution
The photograph above shows the negative effects that technology causes to the environment. One of them is pollution.
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Globalization
Globalization refers to the interconnectedness of nations due to communication and trade.
It has positive and negative effects on economic, political, and social terms, and it also affects the environment.
Liberalization has led to a strain on the resources of some countries and pollution.
Poor countries lower environmental standards.
Lowering of standards makes industries that want to operate in inexpensive places to utilize practices that are substandard in the production of goods (Halle et al., 2010).
This leads to environmental degradation. For instance, some industries release effluent wastes into rivers.
Globalization has led to interconnectedness among continents and thus industries are established in various places. In poor countries, environmental standards are low and hence industries that pollute the environment are established there (Halle et al., 2010).
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Countries most affected by globalization
Developing countries are the ones that are affected by globalization in terms of the environment.
This is because they do not have high environmental standards. They are lenient in some areas and hence attract industries that want to operate in such cheap places.
When such industries start operating there, they also release waste into the environment, which leads to pollution (Halle et al., 2010).
For instance, chemicals that are released into the soil lead to the growth of noxious weeds.
This has affected plants, including their genetic makeup. It has also led to air and water pollution.
Developing countries are the ones that are mostly affected by globalization due to low environmental standards (Halle et al., 2010).
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How Globalization has Affected the Global Population
Globalization has enhanced the movement of people around the world. Hence there has been spread of diseases like HI/AIDS and Corona Virus.
These diseases have been causing deaths across the globe and thus affecting the world’s population(Halle et al., 2010).
For HIV/AIDS, it caused high death rates before ARVs were developed.
Also, the release of industrial waste on soil has led to diseases through the consumption of such crops.
Some of those diseases have caused deaths.
On the other hand, globalization has also led to population growth.
Globalization has led to increase in world population though spread of some diseases has also led to deaths (Halle et al., 2010).
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Conclusion
There are various threats to the global environment, and I decided to focus on climate change, energy sources, inappropriate use of technology, and globalization.
Climate change leads to global warming, which causes deaths due to events such as floods.
Energy sources such as coal lead to the release of mercury into the environment that causes kidney diseases and thus death.
Inappropriate use of technology leads to pollution.
Globalization leads to pollution also, and therefore diseases and deaths occur.
Various factors lead to effects in the global environment. I focused on climate change, energy sources, inappropriate use of technology and globalization.
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Effects of Globalization on the World Population
Diagram showing population growth caused by globalization.
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References
Varallyay G.(2010). The impact of climate change on soils and on their water management. Agronomy research. 8(2). 385-396.
Sharma M.P, Saini R.P & Akella A.K (2009). Social, economical and environmental impacts of renewable energy systems. Renewable energy. 34(2): 390-396.
Tobon C, Cuesta F & Buytaert W.(2010). Potential impacts of climate change on the environmental services of humid tropical alpine regions. 20(1).
Demirbas A.(2009). Political, economic and environmental impacts of biofuels: A review. Applied energy. 86(1). 108-117.
References.. Continued
Baker J.(2011). The technology –organization-environment framework. 231-245.
Halle M, Runnalls D & Najam A. (2010). Environment and globalization: Five propositions.
