Month: March 2021

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“‘We’re getting Europes’s waste?’ U.S. hit by plastic debris lost from UK ship”

McVeigh, K. (2020, December 16). ‘We’re getting europe’s WASTE?’ US hit by plastic Debris lost from UK ship. Retrieved March 15, 2021, from https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/dec/16/were-getting-europes-waste-us-hit-by-plastic-debris-lost-from-uk-ship

 

In the process of transporting a 10,000 tonne shipment of plastic waste from the UK, the shipment fell into the sea and washed ashore in Maine. This debris could have harmful impacts on wildlife in a bay in Maine, which contains a very old lobster fishery. There has been a crew deployed to clean up the waste from the shores. Conservationists are upset that there were not preventative measures in place to stop this from happening. There is general annoyance that this was not U.S. waste, and it is polluting our coasts. This incident represents just a small portion of the problem, as 1300 containers are lost at sea on average each year.

 

It is disappointing that plastic waste is now discarded on the shores and in the ocean that could have been avoided. There should be more measures taken to prevent spillages like these, because there is already too much plastic pollution in our oceans. However, I think it is ironic that there is outrage about the effects on Maine’s lobster fisheries, because fisheries like those contribute heavily to ocean pollution. There should be more focus on the effects of marine life and less on the fishery. I was astounded that 1300 containers of waste are lost at sea each year, which is pollution that is easily preventable. 

 

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“A decade of plastic has entangled, choked, and drowned over 1,500 endangered marine mammals in U.S. waters, new report finds”

Lewis, S. (2020, November 19). A decade of plastic has entangled, choked and drowned over 1,500 endangered marine mammals in U.S. Waters, new report finds. Retrieved March 15, 2021, from https://www.cbsnews.com/news/plastic-pollution-entangle-choke-endangered-marine-mammals-oceana-report/

Almost 1800 endangered animals have been entangled in or have consumed plastics since 2009. Researchers say that this estimate is a minimum and that things are only projected to get worse. In fact, plastic production is expected to quadruple in the next few decades, increasing the amount of plastic in ocean waters. Oceana’s report on plastics’ effect on marine life revealed that 90% of the animals observed had consumed plastic. This consumption can lead to malnutrition, drowning, choking, or infections. Oceana urged the government to take action and for companies to offer plastic-free alternatives for their customers.

 

This statistic was shocking and devastating because these animals are already endangered. We have put them in endangerment through our destruction of their habitats and through other harmful practices, but we still continue to harm them with plastics. Although it would be difficult to remove all the plastics from the oceans, because there are so many, we must do our best to stop plastic production and stop discarding our plastics in the ocean. I thought it was valuable that Oceana, after conducting their research, used their findings to urge change in companies and in the government. 

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“U.S. industry giants pledge to cut plastic pollution in new pact”

Shrestha, P. (2021, February 16). US industry GIANTS pledge to cut plastic pollution in new pact. Retrieved March 15, 2021, from https://www.energylivenews.com/2020/08/26/us-industry-giants-pledge-to-cut-plastic-pollution-in-new-pact/

 

Major businesses in the U.S. have agreed to sign a plastic pact to move towards a circular economy for plastic. These businesses include Colgate, L’Oreal, Mars, and The Coca-Cola Company, and over 60 businesses have agreed overall. The goals are to designate certain plastic packaging as unnecessary and take measures to eliminate these by 2025. Additionally, in the next five years, they aim to make all plastic packaging 100% reusable, recyclable, or compostable. Finally, they hope that by 2025, 30% of plastic packaging is made of recycled materials or bio-based. This agreement follows a similar one made in the UK in April of 2018. 

 

This Plastics Pact is very hopeful news, and could demonstrate a big step forward against wasteful single-use plastic packaging. It is admirable that these big companies are making this promise, because they set an example for the rest of the country and the world. However, making these goals is only the first step. The more important part is that these companies follow through and continue to strive for less plastic and less waste. Perhaps, once these 60 businesses complete this goal, it will show every other business that environmentally-friendly operations are possible and available. In this way, other companies will follow suit. 

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“Real eye-opener: Microplastic pollution discovered in snow near top of Mount Everest”

Rice, D. (2020, November 20). ‘Real EYE-OPENER’: Microplastic pollution discovered in snow near top of Mount Everest. Retrieved March 15, 2021, from https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2020/11/20/mount-everest-microplastic-pollution-discovered/6342235002/

 

Microplastic pollution has been discovered in the snow near the top of Mount Everest. They were found in samples of snow from National Geographic. The majority of these microplastics discovered were fibrous. This means they were most likely from performance clothing and gear used by hikers or were carried from lower altitudes on the wind. These are the highest microplastics discovered so far.

Generally, Mount Everest is considered to be a remote, pure, and pristine location, so the discovery of these microplastics here represents just how far human pollution has reached. Microplastics have already been found in the depths of our oceans, and now in the highest peaks of the mountains. This invisible form of pollution is still harmful and can be found in nearly everything, from our food to our oceans to, now, Mount Everest. It shows the severity of human impact on the Earth and the extent of our plastic pollution. 

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“U.S. generates m ore plastic trash than any other nation, report finds”

Parker, L. (2021, February 10). U.S. generates more plastic trash than any other nation, report finds. Retrieved March 15, 2021, from https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/us-plastic-pollution

 

While former President Trump promised to “continue to do everything I can to stop other nations from making our oceans into their landfills”, the U.S. was found to be the world’s largest generator of plastic waste by far. We produced 42 million metric tonnes of waste in 2016, in comparison to India’s 26 million, the second largest contributor. Meanwhile, many top industry leaders continued to view plastic pollution as an “Asian issue”. Overall, the U.S. generated 17% of the world’s plastic waste, despite making up just 4% of the population.

The facts of this article were humiliating to read, not only because of the insane amount of plastic pollution coming from the U.S., but also because of the horrible anti-Asian narrative. In blaming Asia for plastic pollution, we are distancing ourselves from the problem and living in denial that we are not the largest contributor to plastic waste. Moving forward, it is crucial to recognize this fact and begin to take action against it. We are just one country and are producing 42 million metric tonnes of plastic. In conjunction with the whole globe, there is an absurd amount of plastic being discarded every year that needs to be slowed. The irony of former President Trump’s statement is that we are making other nations our landfills by shipping off our waste to other countries, instead of them doing this to us. Our plastic pollution and the narrative that it is not our issue needs to stop in order to face the immense issue of pollution.

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‘I’m really scared’: NEIGHBORS sound off AFTER 600-GALLON oil spill NEAR richmond’s CHEVRON refinery

Stone, J., & Herrera, J. (2021, February 10). ‘I’m really scared’: NEIGHBORS sound off AFTER 600-GALLON oil spill NEAR richmond’s CHEVRON refinery. Retrieved February 25, 2021, from https://abc7news.com/chevron-oil-spill-richmond-refinery-sf-bay-in-san-francisco/10324620/

 

At a Chevron owned refinery in Richmond around 600 gallons of oil have spilled into the water, harming the nearby ecosystems and communities. Luckily not too many animals were harmed by the spill, even if the ecosystem as a whole was impacted. Community members were told to avoid the water and the shoreline where the oil may have reached. Some in the community see it as a necessary evil in order to support the economic activity generated by the refinery. This spill is an example of how those near polluting activities are more at risk than the wider California community.

 

I am disappointed that once again an oil spill has caused damage to the environment and those that live nearby. They are too common and cause so much harm to local environments and those within them. It is unfair to those communities that rely on the damaged ecosystems and they shouldn’t have to bear the brunt of the damages of pollution and environmental degradation. Communities that live near refineries and other energy processing plants are lower than average income and due to redlining and other antiquated policies are more disadvantaged as well as less able to fight environmental degradation and those that cause it, and benefit less from the economic activity generated from it than the state as a whole. It relates to environmental science as it is both a failure of the California government to properly ensure the safety of the environment, and a failure of Chevron to actually cause harm to it. If we cannot remove harmful oil spills from the equation, we must phase out oil extraction sooner rather than later in the fight against climate change.

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These maps show how air pollution and Covid-19 can be a deadly mix

Roth, S. (2020, October 08). These maps show how air pollution and Covid-19 can be a deadly mix. Retrieved February 25, 2021, from https://www.latimes.com/environment/newsletter/2020-10-08/boiling-point-air-pollution-and-covid-19-can-be-a-deadly-mix-boiling-point

 

COVID-19 and climate change have a large similarity between the two in that they both are much more harmful for the poor and minorities than for richer and whiter people. Decades of racist housing and environmental policies have made minorities and poor people more likely to live in areas contaminated with pollution that can harm lungs and health. These same policies make it harder for minorities to receive decent healthcare and the compounding of these issues mean COVID-19 is a much larger issue for disadvantaged communities. This article examines the intersection of these issues in Los Angeles.

 

I’m really not surprised by this news as seeing the news during the course of the pandemic I’ve seen how the health impacts are much worse on low income communities, both because they have more contact with others and are more likely to get it and they have worse health care so are more likely to suffer. There is perhaps no clearer example of climate injustice than environmental damage disproportionately affecting the poor, and them dying at a higher rate as a result. I am quite disappointed to learn of how painful this intersection of pollution and COVID-19 is specifically in California, especially as Los Angeles is arguably the epicenter of the pandemic where a large portion of the population has gotten COVID, and a lot of people have died from it. This is a pressing issue that must be addressed by the Los Angeles and California governments. We must consider climate science going forward when crafting housing and healthcare policies as a way to fight policies that have led to higher pollution in minority communities that worsens the health of those in it. This article also underscores just how impactful climate science is as it affects policy regarding areas such as housing, and unexpected crises like a pandemic.

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California environmental Officials switch to offense as BIDEN takes charge

KQED Science. (2021, February 01). California environmental Officials switch to offense as BIDEN takes charge. Retrieved February 24, 2021, from https://www.kqed.org/science/1972525/california-environmental-officials-switch-to-offense-as-biden-takes-charge

 

California has been battling with the federal government over the course of the Trump administration regarding climate policy. California’s attempts to set its own car emissions standards among other policies was blocked by the federal government, but now with a new administration willing to work with California, it might be put back in place. Furthermore cancelling of extracting oil and natural gas on federal lands located within California will lead to less pollution harming Californians. California will be more free to pursue climate change mitigation policies and environmental justice policies that lift the burden of climate change on the disadvantaged. 

 

I am pleased with these developments as it makes it easier for California to fight climate change when they have the support of the federal government, rather than forced to oppose them. It opens up the possibility to reinstate former emission mitigation strategies such as clean car standards, but also to go further, and phase out fossil fuels entirely, and cap-and-trade reform. I am also pleased with the specific concerns regarding California climate justice advocates, a community often neglected by governments as their demands are difficult to accommodate, if absolutely necessary. Accounting for climate science is very important and will be easier when having to work with officials in the federal government that believe in science. These policies that will be implemented will benefit the disadvantaged in California that are harmed the most by pollution and the damage associated with climate change, whether by reducing air pollution or forest management that curbs deadly fires.

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Environmental justice Members resign from CARB Task force on carbon offsets

Curry, M. (2021, February 11). Environmental justice Members resign from CARB Task force on carbon offsets. Retrieved February 24, 2021, from https://cal.streetsblog.org/2021/02/11/environmental-justice-members-resign-from-carb-task-force-on-carbon-offsets/

 

California has a carbon offset program in place to allow companies to offset their carbon output as part of California’s cap-and-trade market plan to reduce emissions. Environmental justice organizers have argued this plan is too slow and ineffective and instead of spurring innovation it simply allows companies to ignore their responsibilities through payment, failing to reduce carbon emissions. Two members of the California Air Resources Board (CARB) resigned after seeing a draft report that in their opinion is marred by special interests and ineffective and they didn’t want to legitimize the report.

 

The article points out that this means low-income communities that are living close to pollution sources would face and worst damage from the toxic pollution. The connection to climate science is clear as it directly involves pollution, the disparate impact it has on disadvantaged communities, and the strategies of the government to mitigate the effects of that pollution, as well as its failures in that effort. CARB has routinely faced difficulty working with climate justice activists as they are generally suspicious of the board and have been concerned about advising it, therefore offering legitimacy to it, even if its actions do not change. I am disappointed by this news both because it appears CARB has failed to adequately address climate change and climate justice with their cap-and-trade and carbon offset programs and because the only method climate justice activists could use to make an impact to reform CARB was to resign. I am particularly concerned the draft report is a plan to expand and deregulate the cap-and-trade system in a manner that directly benefits the finances of a majority of board members. I hope that climate justice advocates will still be able to influence policy going forward.

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Conservation groups signal intent to Sue EPA over air pollution in San Diego

City News Service. (2021, February 12). Conservation groups signal intent to Sue EPA over air pollution in San Diego. Retrieved February 24, 2021, from https://timesofsandiego.com/politics/2021/02/11/conservation-groups-signal-intent-to-sue-epa-over-air-pollution-in-san-diego/

 

Conservation groups are alleging that San Diego and Ventura counties are two regions in California that have failed to pass basic air quality standards concerning the ozone, and intend to sue the EPA over this failure. The groups allege the EPA has not properly regulated and ensured plans are in place to limit pollution from oil and methane gas. The areas mentioned in the letter have a population of about 4 million people who are at risk due to air pollution that disproportionately affects low income individuals and those without proper ventilation and untreated chronic health problems.

 

The article relates to environmental science as it directly concerns environmental regulations in California and what happens when they are not followed, including their disparate impact on the poor. The poor, often minorities you have been routinely excluded from the full benefits of increased energy generation, and made to bear the brunt of the environmental damage they create, are not as able to cope with the health effects of air pollution. If they have chronic conditions that are untreated air pollution can worsen symptoms and reactions and cause damage, particularly to the lungs. Even for those without chronic conditions, long exposure to unsafe air can be harmful, particularly when they live in under ventilated and under secured housing, as an impoverished person might.This difference in impacts of environmental damage is an example of the issues climate justice is attempting to resolve. I am pleased environmental groups are willing to take up this fight for clean air, although it is unfortunate the conversation must be had in the first place. I hope the new federal administration is more willing to work with states, such as California, to mitigate environmental damage.