Ashley Allen
Southern New Hampshire University
GEO 345
Municipal solid waste, which includes paper, plastic, textiles, metals, glass, and other
items, is one major form of pollution. The creation, usage, and processing of waste materials all
result in greenhouse gas emissions. Waste must be carried over great distances to landfills and
materials are frequently squandered needlessly. When recycled materials are shipped around the
world to be reprocessed, many of the advantages of recycling are lost. Public awareness
initiatives to raise awareness of plastic pollution in the world's oceans are being used to solve
this issue. Higher individual rates of recycling and reusing as well as restrictions on items like
plastic bags and straws are the results of this.
Greenhouse gas emissions are another type of pollution; a buildup of carbon dioxide in
the atmosphere causes global warming. Initial studies conducted in the 1960s held that the usage
of fossil fuels was the only factor contributing to the buildup of carbon dioxide. Yet, we now
understand that this reason is also influenced by soil organic matter release, drained peatlands,
and deforestation. It is debatable whether or not planting trees would be a good way to address
this. Carbon dioxide emissions are still the primary driver of global warming, and reducing
emissions would necessitate societal changes that would increase the adoption of clean energy.
Due to their viscosity, oil sands require extensive clearing of natural vegetation in order
to be extracted. Their exploitation harms the environment more than any other sort of petroleum.
If renewable energy sources are not used, it is likely that oil and gas would ultimately replace
renewable energy sources as the most cost-effective extraction-based fuel because it has the
biggest proven reserves in the world. The Dene and Cree people, who are native to the area and
depend on traditional hunting methods for their survival, stand to suffer greatly as a result of this.
Arsenic, lead, and other heavy metals are contaminating their water and soil, which is causing
much increased instances of cancer. Strip mining will take place in a "sacrifice zone" the size of
Greece. Land use choices must, by law, have the consent of the indigenous population because
the property is on Treaty 8 territory. The indigenous population claims that the treaty has been
violated as a result. While making decisions involving their territory, the federal and provincial
governments should consult with the indigenous people. Fish in Lake Athabasca are starting to
develop severe abnormalities downstream as a result of leaky tailings ponds. Despite without
doing any in-depth testing to support their position, government health inspectors have agreed
with mining businesses in asserting that there is no reason for alarm.
The provincial administration vigorously supports the sector and discredits any bad press
supported by the oil sands sector and withhold test findings from the public. Fort Chipewyan,
however, has a significantly higher prevalence of cancer, according to Alberta's Cancer Board.
Although just 22 percent of American imports are from Canada, nearly all of its oil output is sent
to the US. The oil sands are the main source of Canadian oil shipped to the US, and there is a
huge demand for it since it reduces reliance on oil from the Middle East. So, the environmental
harm brought on by the oil sands is partially due to American demand. Low carbon fuel
requirements have been implemented by the US state of California to end the use of petroleum
sourced from oil sands in the state, and US nonprofit organizations recently started attempts to
change the public's perception of oil sands. Future reductions in the motivation for businesses
and governments to invest in oil sands would result from a change in the US market toward
alternative sources of energy.
