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Population stability, Reforestation, Recycling, Energy efficiency, Renewable energy technologies

By using energy as efficiently as possible, including electricity and fuel. The less we need energy, the less we will burn fossil and the less we will produce greenhouse gases. There are many different ways of saving energy. Some are very simple and immediate, such as switching off lights, heaters and other electrical appliances. Others involve long-term changes such as using different building materials and technologies.

Industries involved in energy technology could develop the use of alternative sources of energy, which do not give off carbon dioxide. These include harnessing the energy of the sun (solar power), the wind, waves and even hot rocks (geothermal energy).

Alternative energy use – a way, the device or a construction, allowing receiving electric energy (or other demanded kind of energy) and replacing with itself the traditional energy sources functioning on oil, gas and coal. The purpose of search of alternative energy sources – requirement to receive it from energy of renewed or almost inexhaustible natural resources and the phenomena. In attention ecological compatibility and profitability can undertake also.

By avoiding CFC and halons. There are substitute chemicals for most jobs without using chemicals at all (Ban of CFC due to Montreal Protocol, 1987).

Industries, which produce solid organic wastes should devise ways of reusing as many of the wastes as possible.

Corporate actions and individual actions.

Environmental legislation.

International cooperation on climate change problem

Frame convention on climate change (FCCC, Rio de Janeiro, 1992): the main aim is to stabilize greenhouse gas emissions at a level, which would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system. Industrial nations decided to return to 1990 emissions by 2000. Unfortunately, few countries have actually reduced greenhouse gas emissions.

Total annual amount of CO₂ emissions is 22 mln tons. The range of 5 countries with highest industrial output of CO₂: USA (produces 1/5 of CO₂), China, Canada, Russia, Japan.

Kyoto Protocol (Japan, 1997): collectively, more than 160 industrial countries agreed on new treaty and decided to roll back greenhouse gases about 5% below 1990 levels by 2012. Kazakhstan ratified Kyoto protocol on 26 February 2009.

Carbon tax – a tax leveled on fossils (or any fuels) in proportion to the amount of carbon emitted during combustion (introduced by competent international, national or local organizations).

Carbon credit – unrealized amount of permitted carbon emissions; credits in terms of unrealized carbon emissions (in international calculations through the CO₂ restriction policy to mitigate global climate change).

Car Emissions: CO₂ is the main Greenhouse Gas. Gasoline used in our cars as fuel when burning produces CO₂ that contributes to Greenhouse Effect.

Car emission coefficient shows how much emissions are released into the atmosphere by unit volume of gasoline. It is measured in: kg/L, kg/gallon, the emissions may be expressed in kg of carbon (C) or kg of carbon dioxide (CO₂).

For regular type of gasoline car emission coefficient equals to 2.5 kg of C /gallon. To calculate CO₂ equivalent, use CO₂ / C conversion factor: 3.67.

Fuel consumption rate (or simply gas mileage) shows fuel consumption by a car and may be expressed in: km/L or L/100 km.

Examples: 10 km/L means that 1 liter of gasoline is required to drive 10 km.

7 L/100 km means that 7L of gasoline allow to drive 100 km.

Fuel efficiency of a car is estimated by fuel consumption rate: the lower consumption rate, the more ‘fuel efficient’ is this car.

Ethanol Blends of fuel: Ethanol produced by fermenting corn and other crops reduces GHG and air pollutants’ emissions.

E10 or ‘gasohol’ contains 10% ethanol and 90% gasoline. Сheaper than gasoline, can be used in any vehicle types. E85: 85% ethanol + 15% gasoline. Used only in special Flex-Fuel Vehicles. Ethanol has lower energy content (heating value), resulting in higher fuel consumption.

Biodiesel – commercially available diesel replacement fuel manufactured from vegetable oils or animal fats. Produces less GHGs than regular diesel.

Electricity contribution to GHG effect: Electric power plants use coal to produce energy. Burning coal releases CO₂ into the atmosphere thereby increasing GHG effect. CO₂ Emission Coefficient for Electricity = 0.75 kg CO₂/kWh shows mass of CO₂ in kg released into the atmosphere per kilowatt-hour (kWh).

Questions for review:

1. How do anthropogenic factors differ from natural factors affecting to organisms, ecosystems and biosphere?

2. Name the two basic causes of environmental problems.

3. Compare and contrast “the first”, “the second” and “the third” nature?

4. What states of nature and appropriate ecological situations do you know? Give examples.

5. What are the reasons to classify pollutants in different ways?

6. Can the estimation of nation’s “ecological footprint” help to reduce its environmental impact?

7. Give a list of harmful agents and define their potential treat to ecosystems and human health.

8. What gases build up the atmosphere?

9. Name the main anthropogenic pollutants.

10. What is the greenhouse effect? What gases are responsible for it? Which ones are natural or anthropogenic?

11. Describe the potential social, economic, and environmental impacts of the continued rise of greenhouse gases?

12. How could environmental impacts lead to social and economic impacts?

13. How industries can contribute to global warming?

14. How industries can help to prevent global warming?

15. Which international documents control climate change?

Critical thinking (Writing an essay):

1. What ecological crisis preceded the modern crisis? What is principal difference between modern crisis and preceded crisis?

2. Give some reasons for pessimism and optimism about our environmental future and summarize how you feel personally about the major environmental problems that we face.

3. Do you think that environmental conditions are better now or worse than they were 20 or 100 or 1000 years ago? Why?

4. More and more machines, from washing machines to cars, are being designed to use energy more efficiently. How can people get information about these? Are energy efficient appliances likely to be more or less expensive?

5. What are your efficiency measures (at home, in school, university, other places)?

6. Carbon dioxide contributes more than any other gas to global warming. Nuclear power does not produce carbon dioxide, but it is very controversial. What is your reason about using nuclear energy?

7. Developing nations were free from emissions limits at Kyoto because of fears that restrictions would hold back standards of living. Wealthy countries created the problem, the poorer countries argued; now is it their responsibility to deal with it? What do you think would be fair in this situation?

8.