Assignment #5 and Final Paper Topic

1. The text states the rain forests of Africa, South America, and Southeast Asia are treasure chests of incomparable biological diversity and provide approximately 80% of the world’s species of plants and animals. These rain forests are counted on for several things such as stabilizing soils, reducing the impact and incidence of floods, regulating local climates, watersheds, and river systems. These areas are also counted on for the conversion of oxygen by removing carbon dioxide through photosynthesis, trees, and other plants. In addition, more than one-quarter of the prescription drugs used in the United States originate for tropical plants.

Developing countries are receiving push back from developed countries who state additional consumption of resources such as tropical deforestation will increase the burden on these areas that are already strapped and over utilized. However, the developing countries want that same consideration for development and held to the same standard Europe had as they destroyed its forests during the industrial revolution and the United States did during the nineteenth century. In my opinion developing countries should be allowed to exploit forests to increase their economic well being but within reason. Although times are different today, I believe it would be a double standard not to allow development countries the same opportunity as other countries. Obviously, tropical deforestation requires some form of government regulation to ensure these areas are not overly exploited leaving future generations without these much needed resources.

2. Industrialized nations should expect developing nations to pay close attention to the climate change debate since the effects of climate change would affect the developing first. The text states harmful effects of a warming climate will impact “low-lying” and other small island countries and that climate changes will present a threat to millions of poor, small scale farmers in Africa and other tropical countries.

A. Yes, there should be an effort to strive for equity between industrialized and developing countries in the climate change debate. It is well know that developing countries have fewer resources than industrialized countries which makes it difficult to adapt to changing climates. Due to the wealth some countries stand a better chance at managing climate change than others. The international community recognizes the importance of equity and is attempting to assist by putting measures in place to help assist the less wealthy smaller developing countries. The Annex II of the UNFCCC currently lists twenty-three countries that are committed to providing resources to developing countries to help address issues related to climate changes.

B. If a developing country values economic development more than slowing down the global warming I believe they should be required to participate in reducing emissions. It is understandable why developing countries would have a higher concentration on economic development to be prosperous but in order for the international community to be successful all countries need to do their part. In my opinion these developing countries can still concentrate on economic development and reduce emissions by using less carbon intensive energy sources including wind, solar, and hydro power as well as concentrate on additional energy efficient initiatives such as vehicles, buildings, and appliances. Although these initiatives may be costly to implement, a reduction in emissions will be beneficial in the future for all parties.

C. Developing nations should have high expectations from industrialized countries to provide financial support to help achieve goals and address climate change issues. I believe it is the moral responsibility of the industrialized countries to be proactive in providing support not only on a financial level but in any means possible to help the developing countries be prosperous and successful. It is everyone’s responsibility to protect the environment and since the industrialized countries are in a position to support, they need to find a way to assist these countries as they develop especially since the concept of producing less for the good of all would tend to hamper development efforts for these smaller, poorer countries.

Final Paper Topic

H.R.2868 : To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to enhance security and protect against acts of terrorism against chemical facilities, to amend the Safe Drinking Water Act to enhance the security of public water systems, and to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to enhance the security of wastewater treatment works, and for other purposes.

This bill includes several provisions to increase federal control over the security of chemical facilities, water supplies, and wastewater treatment processes. In addition, the bill authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security to designate certain chemical substances as “substances of concern” based on potential effects resulting from a terrorist incident. It also directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to identify the terrorism risk of specified chemical facilities and water systems, to establish vulnerability assessment standards, and to require facilities to submit assessments and site security plans. The bill designates these vulnerability assessments, site security plans, and related documentation as protected information.

The legislation requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency EPA) to develop regulations and permits the Administrator to issue orders to prohibit the unauthorized disclosure of protected information. The bill also establishes criminal penalties of up to one year imprisonment and/or criminal fines for the unlawful disclosure of protected information.

Madison's Manure

http://badgerherald.com/news/2010/03/25/county_boards_tackle.php

This article in the Madison Badger Herald discusses new environmental initiatives and sustainability projects. One initiative is an attempt at the county’s first manure digester. The digester would use manure piped in from three farms and will break down waste to produce methane gas and provide power to approximately 1,700 homes.

The manure digester may also be used to fuel transit systems.

NextGen

http://avstop.com/news_march_2010/faa_nextgen_implementation_plan_released.htm

The Radio Technical Committee for Aeronautics (RTCA) is a private, not-for-profit corporation that develops recommendations regarding communications, navigation, surveillance, and air traffic management system issues. Its recommendations are used by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to address and implement policies, programs, and regulatory decisions. In September 2009 several hundred members of the aviation community who form the RTCA NextGen Mid-Term Implementation Task Force issued a report that included a number of recommendations that helped the FAA spur its plans to deliver benefits today as they build a foundation for the mid-term. The report represents the aviation community’s commitment to NextGen, as well as its endorsement of the FAA’s incremental approach to NextGen implementation. NextGen is the name given to a new National Airspace System due for implementation across the United States in stages between 2012 and 2025.

This issue qualifies as an environmental justice because airports are being asked to provide additional capacity in a safe, efficient and environmentally responsible manner. Stakeholders realize there are benefits to integrated airport planning and terminal airspace redesign projects that deliver new airport infrastructure. The groups affected by this are passengers and residents of neighborhoods in close proximity to airports. Passengers will enjoy fewer delays and safer, more predictable trips. People living in neighborhoods near airports will experience less aircraft noise and emissions. And communities will make better use of their airports, strengthening the local economy.

In addition, although the FAA is focused on safety as their top priority they are also concentrating on working with the international community to ensure that their technology systems work seamlessly with one another and working to standardize global operational procedures that better protect our environment.

One point that is relevant from this week’s reading that was captured in this article is the FAA plans to use an EMS approach to integrate environmental and energy objectives into the planning, decision making and operation of NextGen. The FAA is also targeting partnerships to advance noise and emissions reductions, while improving energy efficiency. Another point that is relevant from this week’s readings that was captured in this article is the FAA is using a systematic approach adopting specifically designed measures will yield better results than a sporadic and haphazard approach. The NextGen plan lays out the agency’s vision over a six year time period and identifies specific goals that FAA has set for technology and program deployment. It also requires annual updates that document their work plan for meeting their goals.

Environmental Management Systems (EMSs)

The Matthew’s article discussed that Environmental Management Systems (EMSs) are tools to assist organizations to meet their environmental goals and usually have a cycle of planning, implementation, review, and improvement as well as documented procedures and reports, training, and communication to help to meet regulatory compliance. The article also discussed some basic components of an EMS. I found an article relevant to our readings this week about Sysmex America, Inc. (www.sysmex.com/usa) who is a U.S. subsidiary for Sysmex Corporation, Kobe, Japan, a global leader in medical diagnostic testing equipment and information systems technology.

The article discussed how Sysmex recently received their ISO-14001 Environmental Management System Certification and some additional environmental protection initiatives.

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sysmex-america-intensifies-environmental-protection-initiatives-with-iso-certification-85038767.html