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Meat Production In California

Lazo, Alejandro. “California Weighs Ending Climate Credits for Cow Poop.” CalMatters, 19 Oct. 2023, calmatters.org/environment/2023/10/climate-change-cows-credits/. 

This article explains how cows produce 20 million tons of carbon dioxide which now california has tried to fix by forcing people to reduce the amount of methane that they release by 40% which would greatly benefit the atmosphere’s quality. It also goes into detail on biofuel from the cows and the impact that it has on the environment. The biogas problem that we face in california is that it is a renewable resource provided by cattle and can be another fuel for transport but some do not take into consideration that it is also used for combustion fuel which is greatly impacting the environment and climate change till this and many believe that the bigas will use the argument that it is mainly intended to help the environment to get away from paying the credits they are forced to by california due to their methane emissions.

 

Although this article is not directly talking about meat production it still connects to the issue due to the fact that the waste from the cows is being used for things like biogas which is highly controversial due to the fact that it is intended to be used as something that helps the environment but can lead to further methane emissions if not used property. I believe that cattle production is very important as meat is one of the food that are most eaten in places like california but we have to consider that facts that it greatly impacts the environment which right now we might no see the impact it has on us but in the future are carelessness can affect us so heavily to the point where there is no fixing. The levels of methane production in California is a huge problem as it contributes again to the issue of climate change which has many effects in different places. It also connects to the idea of more renewable resources and the amount of time and resources we put into them due to the fact that they are a lot more healthy for the environment and are renewable but till this day we still lack the incentive and dedication to try and apply ourselves to more healthy way of living for the environment.

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Idaho Power prepares for the next 50 years with hydroelectricity from Hells Canyon dams

Idaho Capital Sun. (2023, June 7). Idaho Power prepares for the next 50 years with hydroelectricity from Hells Canyon dams. Retrieved on January 30th, from 

https://idahocapitalsun.com/2023/06/07/idaho-power-prepares-for-the-next-50-years-with-hydroelectricity-from-hells-canyon-dams/

 

Idaho is attempting to renew the leases so that its hydroelectric sources can be used for the next 50 years. The Brownlee, Oxbow, and Hells Canyon dams are some of the biggest and most powerful dams in Idaho. The company Idaho Power is not trying to work with the native tribes and agencies to gain a license that allows them to operate for another 50 years. It will be estimated to cost them over 1 billion dollars over the next 50 years. Under these new licenses, they will focus on the quality of the water as well as the fish. They will make sure that both of these are healthy and can stay healthy. They will also make sure that the fish will be able to get through the dam and won’t die or get trapped in the process. On top of this, they have to decrease the amount of methylmercury in the river. Some improvements of this will be to increase energy and water across the area. This new lakeside is meant to keep the energy and water flowing as well as being able to keep the fish healthy and the water clean so that people have access to all these things. 

 

This article talks about how important it seems that these dams can be to populations that live around them. It relates to environmental science because we have talked about both the benefits and negative effects that these dams can have. This article can explain both the positives and negatives of the dams and how they can affect people, wildlife, and the environment. It also explains how many people have to agree to it due to the different groups that it can and will impact like the state as a whole, the tribes, the wildlife, and especially all the people that live somewhat near it because it’s their source of water and energy.

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The Life and Death of American Dams

Planetizen. (2023, November 1). The Life and Death of American Dams. Retrieved on January 29th, from

https://www.planetizen.com/news/2023/11/126184-life-and-death-american-dams

 

Many of the current dams that have provided energy and usefulness for many years seem to be poorly maintained and issues that stem from that can possibly cause and are in danger of catastrophic failure. Many of these dams are not currently in the process of being demolished due to these issues. They don’t want these dams to get in that catastrophic state which would cause many issues for the environment around it as well as consequences for wildlife and humans. They were previously used for development in the Southwest, but now their utility seems to be more and more limited. It seemed that it was going to cause issues to wildlife and aquatic life such as the fish that pass through, and it was also wanted to be taken down by the Native American tribes that were there and the dams were damaging their cultures as well as the land around it. The power output from these dams has decreased slowly so that the lack and removal of power from these dams can be adapted to and replaced by another project or source of electricity. 

 

This article talks about the reasons why recently a lot of the dams have been taken down and demolished. This can relate to environmental science because of how we’ve talked about the damages that these large dams can cause both to the environment and the life around it like the fish trying to pass through. It also talks about how these dams can’t just be dangerous because of their possible large emissions but also due to how these dams failing could lead to large and dangerous consequences that can hurt a lot of people and a lot of land. It also says how they were slowly being put out of use and other sources of electricity were being used to counteract this loss of energy from these hydroelectric dams.

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Sounding the Alarm About Disposable Plastics in the Health Care Industry

Shelton, J. (2023, October 10). Sounding the alarm about disposable plastic in the Health Care Industry. YaleNews. https://news.yale.edu/2023/10/10/sounding-alarm-about-disposable-plastic-health-care-industry 

Plastic waste in the medical field is a big issue, particularly because the majority of medical supplies have to be re-sterilized before it is used again. With misinformation about preventing infection, there is a misguided belief that supplies in the medical field can not be reused and recycled due to the belief that it prevents infection and bacteria from spreading. Jodi Sherman, a doctor and environmentalist, proposes three recommendations that address changing the guidelines the FDA sets to help change the idea about reusable and recycled medical supplies. She ends by saying that the world has to find a balance between patient health and the planet’s health. 

This article brings up many interesting ideas about waste created in places we might not think about. It’s hard to contemplate how much waste is used in the medical field unless you have seen it yourself. It is an interesting concept that we should spend more time on when thinking about recycling and finding a more sustainable practice for the medical field. Additionally, the medical field creates a lot of waste, but these plastics that do not break down also are going to hurt us in the long run, with us either breathing in the micro-plastics or how it will affect climate change. 

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Electric vehicles use half the energy of gas-powered vehicles.

Kirk, K. (2024a, January 26). Electric vehicles use half the energy of gas-powered vehicles ” Yale climate connections. Yale Climate Connections. https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2024/01/electric-vehicles-use-half-the-energy-of-gas-powered-vehicles/

There are many pros to electric vehicles, but the major one related to global warming is that they only require about half the energy needed for a gasoline engine. When a car that needs gas to function heats up, it burns fuel to move pistons and propel wheels. That heat is vented off and carries away most of the energy in the fuel, releasing greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. On the other hand, electric cars don’t burn fuels so there are no thermodynamic issues for converting heat to motion. It’s the same with wind, solar, and hydroelectric energy; they reduce pollution, but also decrease the total amount of energy since there’s no energy lost while burning fuel. 

As electric vehicles become more popular each year, their prices are also becoming more reasonable, ultimately getting people to buy them since they’re so much better for the environment. If this process continues, we will see a drastic decrease in greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere because gasoline cars won’t be as popular to be releasing carbon dioxide. We will need more charging stations around the country since that’ll be a necessity, but I hope people realize the amount of benefits electric vehicles have to gasoline cars.  

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Gene–environment interactions and their impact on human health

Virolainen, S. J., VonHandorf, A., M. F. Viel, K. C., Weirauch, M. T., & Kottyan, L. C. (2023, January 11). Gene–environment interactions and their impact on human health – Genes & Immunity. Nature.   https://doi.org/10.1038/s41435-022-00192-6

    This article explores the complex interplay of heredity and environment in developing human health and disease. It highlights gene-environment (GxE) interactions, which are non-linear interactions between genes and environmental variables. The review covers many situations in which these relationships increase disease risk. It goes from the independent effects of genetics and environment to known GxE interactions involving toxicants, pollutants, viruses, and sex chromosomal composition. The paper discusses the promise and challenges of investigating GxE interactions to illuminate the complicated mechanisms behind human health issues.

 

    The article is relevant to environmental science since it discusses how our genes and the objects in our environment interact to affect our health. It illustrates how pollutants, chemicals, and viruses can work with our DNA to make some people more susceptible to illness. This is significant because it helps us understand how our surroundings can substantially influence illness transmission. It also provides scientists with suggestions on how to keep people healthier by caring for our environment. While reading it, I was confused because it’s like a puzzle where our genes and environmental factors like pollution come together to determine whether we get a disease. Genetics and environment are crucial, yet some aspects are difficult to catch.

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Adopt- a- Topic: Invasive Species & Mgt Gabriel Heiss

Mazzei, P. (2023, March 14). Pythons, Invasive and Hungry, Are Making Their Way North in Florida. Retrieved September 6th, 2023, from https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/14/us/pythons-florida-invasive-species.html 

 

For over the last two decades Burmese pythons, an apex predator originally from South Asia, have been wiping out native species around the Everglades. Over time these pythons have made their way up north, and have been spotted in Naples and far west Miami. What’s concerning is the fact that these 10-16 foot pythons have greatly increased in population, and still little is known about their way of traveling, population, and life expectancy, ultimately troubling this difficult situation. To fix this situation the state has funded research and a yearly public Python Hunt. Also, many expansive projects are working to repress the Python population.

 

The Burmese python poses a huge risk to the health of the Everglades, and stopping its spread is vital to protect Everglade species and ultimately its ecosystem. Also, it’s important to keep in mind that the only species that pose a threat to these pythons are humans, so fortunately enough the state has taken action and hopefully the state will find success in restoring their ecosystems.

 

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Managing the Risks of Biotechnology Innovation

Global Health Program (2023, January 30) Managing the Risks of Biotechnology Innovation. Retrieved August 27, 2023 from https://www.cfr.org/report/managing-risks-biotechnology-innovation

 

The use of biotechnology in agriculture also has the potential to address some of the world’s biggest challenges, such as feeding a growing global population while also reducing the environmental impact of agriculture. Biotechnology can help crops become more resistant to natural disasters, leading to increased food security. We can help that by improving infrastructure, reduce food waste, and get rid/ fight climate change. Biotechnology can also reduce the need for harmful pesticides (kill, repel, or control forms of animal and plant life) and herbicides (a chemical substance used to destroy or stop plant growth), as well as reduce the carbon footprint of agriculture by improving soil quality and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Overall, biotechnology has the potential to revolutionize many industries and address major global challenges.

 

This article is related to environmental science because it explains how biotechnology is affection our environment in some negative ways. It explains how we can also improve on our environment. The article was explaining the parts that was being harmed, and also how it’ll be a hard challenge to our environment globally. 

 

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Adopt-A-Topic: Mining Metals and Minerals Geographic: Russia

White and case (19 January 2023)Mining & Metals 2023: Lifting the fog of uncertainty. From: https://www.whitecase.com/insight-our-thinking/mining-metals-2023-lifting-fog-uncertainty

 

The article “Mining and Metals 2023: Lifting the Fog and Uncertainty” provides an insightful overview of the current state and future prospects of the mining and metals industry. It examines the challenges faced by the sector, such as geopolitical tensions, supply chain disruptions, and environmental concerns. The article delves into the strategies and innovations that industry leaders are adopting to navigate these uncertainties successfully. It highlights the importance of embracing technological advancements like automation, digitization, and sustainable practices in order to enhance operational efficiency and reduce environmental impact. The article offers a comprehensive analysis of the mining and metals industry, shedding light on the key trends and opportunities that lie ahead in the Russia industry. 

 

The article explores how the sector is addressing environmental concerns through innovative approaches and sustainable practices. In recent years, the mining and metals industry has faced criticism for its environmental impact. However, the article highlights that Russia is making significant strides in this area. It discusses how the country is embracing advanced technologies and investing in research and development to minimize the environmental footprint of mining and metal extraction. One of the key aspects emphasized is the integration of environmental science into mining and metals operations. The article showcases the use of cutting-edge techniques like remote sensing and satellite imagery to monitor and manage environmental impacts. These technologies help identify areas of concern, track biodiversity, and ensure compliance with environmental regulations. My reaction is they are making strides for the future environment in Russia even though there has been a downfall for the past year.

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Hawaii’s climate-change lawsuit going to trial next summer

 

Cable News Network. (2023, August 20). Hawaii’s climate-change lawsuit going to trial next summer. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/videos/us/2023/08/20/exp-hawaii-climate-environment-trial-intv-moriwake-082005aseg1-cnni-us.cnn 

This article talks about Hawaiian children suing the state for projects that escalate fossil fuel use. They are claiming their constitutional right to a clean, healthy environment is not being met. A similar thing just happened in Montana which was ruled in favor of the climate. This is the first time these loss suits are winning in their favor. This is also the first indigenous youth led trial. The children are taking their government to court which is specifically transportation. They want to introduce clean energy transportation instead of just fossil fuel driven cars. For example clean electric energy, bikes, and other clean transportation. Hawaii has been a leader in a lot of respects for clean energy, and is the first state to commit to decarbonizing their state by 2045. They are lacking in transportation, and greenhouse gas pollution from transportation is going up steadily rather than down. The Montana right being won gives them hope that they will have a good fight that is a plausible win. 

This article is very honorary because these are children that are fighting for our climate. Children are the future so this is good that the next generation has started to put up a fight in two instances across the country. I think the kids are looking in the right direction because even though their state is already making changes to try to reduce the climate effect, they want to take it a step further and take out the government for not trying to create clean energy cars because the fossil fuels are being burned quite a lot with cars. While other aspects of contributors to climate change are going down, the fossil fuels being burnt from cars are on an increase. I also think it’s quite honorable that the state has a law to healful clean environment being a right because they are already recognizing the environment in many ways. To take it a step further and have a win where cleaner cars and transportation would be created would be a great step.