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Activity 4.2 Environmental Policy Frameworks

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  Ethical Responsibility This frame stresses the moral duty related to conservation of the environment for future generations, considering the intrinsic value of ecosystems and the rights of all living things. Economic Sustainability Concerns balancing economic development with environmental conservation. Policies should ensure benefits that can be enjoyed on a long-term basis without depletion of resources and/or irreparable damage to the environment. Cultural Sensitivity Recognizes that cultural beliefs and practices form important bases for environmental attitudes. Policies should respect and conform to local traditions and values. Risk-Benefit Analysis Calculates the potential risks (such as ecological harm and financial costs) against the benefits (such as improved health and resource conservation) in undertaking environmental actions. Collaborative Governance A multi-stakeholder collaboration that ensures diverse voices-government, businesses, local communities, and NGOs-are ...
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Activity 4.1 – US Environmental History and Major Regulations

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    Throughout time history has changed so much, going back to early on when colonists and settlers arrived there were no environmental policies and no concern with the environment at that moment. They weren't aware or concerned that these items could be overconsumed. Therefore this led to the large consumption of natural resources without consideration of what will follow. Although not all were unaware of the effects, there were very few groups during the 1800's who were concerned about the impacts of the rapid growth of society. Not many paid any attention to these groups until the 1900s. As time went by American's thoughts about the environment shifted the public decided to hear them out. The three groups changed viewpoints, in the book states these groups" came to have profound influences on the way we thought of ourselves in relation to the environment, on our land use policies, and on providing environmental goods and services to the growing population: the ...
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Activity 3.3.3 – My Plastic Use

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31What are Microplastics? What are microplastics? Microplastics are tiny pieces of plastic less than 5mm in diameter. Therefore, many of these microplastics can only be seen through a microscope. Due to their widespread presence, microplastics are a major form of pollution and a real problem for us and our environment. Where they are found? Little did we know nearly everything we touch consists of some form of plastic. Microplastics are found everywhere in our homes, the water we drink, landfills, our environment, the ocean, marine life, humans, animals, and much more. These come from a variety of sources.  There are two microplastic categories, primary and secondary. Primary plastics are intentionally made small for commercial use such as the products we use every day . The plates we eat on, the toothpaste we use, hair products, clothing we wear, paint, and various other everyday items we use. The next category is secondary plastics which happens when larger plastics break down...
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Activity 3.3.1 Air Pollution Core Activity

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 What is Air Pollution? There are various forms of Pollution and air pollution is one of the most common ways pollution occurs. This occurs in many ways some are from natural sources and others are from human activity which is known as gaseous air pollution. Some human activity that causes air pollution are industrial facilities and motor vehicles. Natural occurrences examples can be volcanoes and forest fires. This type of pollution can cause severe damage not only to the environment but also to us. Causes climate change, habitat degradation ozone depletion along with many illnesses and diseases that can potentially lead to death.   Three gaseous air pollutants Sulfur pollutants SO2 also known as Sulphur dioxide is a common air pollutant. Sulfur pollution occurs in both natural and human activity. Some of the ways this happens is from volcanos, and fossil fuel combustions such as the burning of oil, coal, and gas that contain sulfur. You can detect sulfur in the air a...
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Activity 3.2.3 – Alternative Energy

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     Alternative energy is an energy source supplied from renewable resources and not fossil fuels commonly known as renewable energy. These sources include solar, wind, biomass, hydroelectric, and geothermal energy There are many pros to switching to alternative sources a major one is that it will reduce environmental impact and pollution from the use of fossil fuel energy. These resources are inexhaustible which is beneficial, especially with the increase in energy usage.      Solar energy is energy from the sun converted to heat or electricity for our usage. The sun's energy is one of the renewable resources that has been used for centuries and is widely expanding. There are two types of solar energy we learned which are passive and active solar power. Passive is used for heating and cooling in a more natural sense. Manipulates the sun's energy to give off heat such as south-facing windows to absorb heat. Whereas active solar power harnesses the sun...
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Clean Coal? Myth or Reality.

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       Often times when we see the word clean we think of something pure, uncontaminated, not damaging. Such as the term "clean living" we think of healthy living. On the internet you see many people trying to remove products from the shelf such as baby products that contain cancerous ingredients or snacks that contain red 40. Would you label these items "clean snacks" because they are 10% less harmful to our bodies than another brand? Therefore can something be labeled clean if its still harmful?      When you think of clean energy what comes to mind? For me, clean energy includes solar energy, wind power, and bioenergy. Did "clean" coal cross your mind? Of course not because the term clean coal is misleading. How could something be labeled clean but have negative effects on the environment? Some of the negative effects are " water and air pollution, occupational hazards due to exposure of workers to pollution, high risk of developi...
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