Gasland: Can You Light Your Water on Fire - Research Paper Example

Introduction Identify the most significant concerns regarding hydraulic fracturing presented in the Movie. It is evidentthat drilling and fracturing activities have a myriad of adverse effects to both human and animal life, and the general environment. In addition, most of the products and chemicals used by the natural gas industries are hazardous as well. This necessitates full disclosure the information regarding the chemical content of any product from such industries plus the number of health effects associated with each of the chemical. The public deserves access to such information. This could acquaint them with the possible risks and other adverse effects related emission of gas from industries, fracking, and drilling activities. Such information is a prerequisite for them to make informed decisions about fracturing. Most products have the capability of causing defects to the endocrine system thus affecting development and reproduction in human and wildlife. Others are known to affect the skin, eyes, sensory organs, respiratory system, and liver. In addition, they have adverse effect on the general environment, soil, water, and air. As such, it is important to have fracturing contractors reveal full information about their products to the public. Natural gas manufacturer too, are obliged to reveal the chemical contents and effects of their products. However, a major drawback associated with this is that, most of them rely on Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDA) for product information. Seemingly, it has been discovered that many MSDSs provide unreliable fragmented information. This therefore hinders the public access to full information about products and related chemicals. As a fact, the Chevron company should have full disclosure of its product and chemicals associated with fracturing and natural gas manufacturing may not only enable people to know about their adverse effects on health alone but may also enable them to be conversant with the air and water quality they consume. This is very significant in developing air and water quality monitoring protocols. Those living near natural gas development industries stand to benefit the most from such information. Besides all these, such information could be very important for the public to make decisions about the regulation of the fracturing and drilling activities. Thus, based on deep analysis of the movie, it can be concluded that the general public deserves to be informed about the effects of gas products from industries, fracturing and drilling industries in order to enlighten and make them take necessary precaution. Carbon emission The impact of climate change is felt in all areas of economy and life. Together with decrease in emission of carbon dioxide, there is need to develop adapting infrastructure in order to address the challenges of climate change. On earth, carbon is produced by both the natural factors and the people. So far, the environment has been damaged by people’s consumption of manufactured goods and the trash left behind by their consumption. Furthermore, the burning of the fossil fuels adds to the global carbon overload (47). The consequence is the increase of the carbon dioxide gas in the atmosphere, which results in producing Greenhouse Effect. Such effect disturbs the natural balance in the planetary exchange of the thermal radiation from earth to the sun and vice versa. Thus, the issue of climate change has been at the forefront of the international discussion. The causes and consequences of the climate change have been extensively researched by many scientists in the world. Atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration has been drastically increasing in the last couple of decades. According to the Department of Geological Sciences at the University of Oregon, CO2 over the past 140,000 years has been increasing sharply. The earth ability to self-regulate has been compromised by the urban sprawl in the great metropolitan areas of the world. Human activities alter the carbon cycle as well as the carbon production rates also known as “fluxes” in different spheres on the earth. Humanity’s use of nature has produced a negative consequence on the carbon cycle; thus, an environmental problem ensued. Element Carbon takes many forms: carbon dioxide (CO2), limestone (CaCO3), wood, plastic, and various other materials. They are all vital necessities for nature and human beings. The earth’s atmosphere, lithosphere, biosphere and ocean each stores carbon in many different forms; they are in continuous equilibrium state balancing each other. Carbon is exchanged amongst the different spheres on earth, which is known as “flux” The process is also known as the “carbon cycle.” Carbon sinks and carbon source are thus differentiated to assess who or what is producing carbon and who or what is consuming carbon. The main problem is that the human interference of nature has altered the natural process in the carbon cycle. The earth itself has a natural carbon cycle in weathering, subduction, and volcanos that affect atmospheric carbon dioxide levels. The photosynthesis of plants, energy (sunlight) + 6CO2 + H2O = C6H12O6 (organic matter) + 6O2, has been severely compromised by human dominance on the biosphere of the earth. Deforestation and preparation for urban housing have eradicated many types of grassland on the earth; thus, the total consumption of the carbon dioxide has been decreasing faster than the production of it. The greenhouse gas protocol The greenhouse gas protocol is an accounting tool utilized by businesses and government leaders to comprehend and manage greenhouse gas production or emission. The greenhouse gas protocol aims to work with environmental groups and water resources institutes around the globe to establish and build a new generation of reliable and efficient programs for dealing with climate change. The greenhouse gas protocol offers a direction on greenhouse gas accounting and reporting tenets, inventory designs and business objectives, accounting for greenhouse gas reductions and quantifying greenhouse gas emissions. For example, Mckinsey (2008) required that the company had to be accountable for 10% for carbon emissions and electricity consumption while the suppliers had to be responsible for 15% of carbon emissions and energy consumption. This implies that the raw materials in the company’s product had to have 75% of carbon. Assess Carbon related Risks and Opportunities 1. Physical impacts of Carbon emissions The physical impacts of carbon emissions include change in weather patterns, rise in sea levels, and increase in temperatures. These physical impacts of climate change vary across different sectors, private firms, and industry groups. In addition, they vary across geographical places, and have far-reaching effect on legal, cultural, economic, and political conditions. Therefore, reaction to these risky changes is relevant and necessary for long-term development and growth. 2. Reputation Most companies do not have adequate information on direct emissions from suppliers and their own emissions, and thus, they are not prepared for mandatory reporting demands as stipulated by the greenhouse gas protocol. However, some companies present information about their carbon emissions but their submissions are not adequate and do not comply with the greenhouse gas protocol. 3. Litigation The central question is whether companies will face huge liability for failure to construct greenhouse buildings and establishing a myriad of litigation that could address the increase in carbon emissions. Currently, focus rests on entities like automobile manufacturers and power industries, and there is not recognized litigation targeting carbon emissions from constructed buildings. There is need to have litigation in the commercial building sector either from building residents who complain of health and safety policies or from other plaintiffs looking for accountability for not adhering with global warming or climate change regulations. 4. product and technology Companies should use technology to make products that emit less carbon. Carbon emissions produced during product in service life is distinct to the emissions produced in manufacturing the product. The manufactured products should be finished products that produce direct or indirect carbon from consumption of electricity during the manufacturing process. For example, a lightweight component to an automobile if the car is fuel-efficient would reduce carbon emissions and increase fuel efficiency. 5. supply chain Most of the greenhouse gases produced in the atmosphere are from bought electricity and other suppliers rather than emissions from company’s operation that they are able to control. Therefore, companies are exposed to carbon costs brought to them by suppliers in increased prices. The opportunity is that suppliers can use biomass to supply to their clients energy needs, offering a sustainable and secure source of energy. 6. Regulatory In order to regulate carbon emissions, it is significant for companies and government to spark the required change via gradual market base cap on carbon emissions or pollutions. Companies’ and governments should not delay in setting up a platform for a clean energy economy. Therefore, Businesses should be aware that there is not room for carbon emissions, and thus, they have to start investing in clean energy. The cost of capital will be affected by the capability of a firm to decrease its carbon emission intensity and disclosure to liabilities under future carbon prevention program. People willing to invest in industrial plants, buildings, and power stations could drive disclosure to carbon costs for many years to come. Adapt your Business It is significant for business owners to reduce energy use and carbon emissions, create supply chain standard, redesign products, and change their business model in order to adapt their businesses to the new law that requires low carbon emissions to the atmosphere. Do it Better than Competitors In order for a business to survive with tough climate change regulations, managers should adapt to these regulations in a good way than their competitors to ensure that they are in compliant with the regulations. They have to develop a strong competitive advantage by using advanced technology that captures and stores carbon dioxide. Works Cited Gasland: Can you light your water on fire? Dir. Fox, Josh. Perf. Seeger, Pete, Cheney, Dick and Fox, Josh. HBO Documentary Films, 2011. Film. Read More