ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE 8 - Essay Example

TOPIC: ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE Environmental Science can be defined as an interdisciplinary academic field that integrates physical and biological sciences, to the study of the environment, and the solution of environmental problems. (Environmental Science) Environmental problems affect the ecological balance and hence it impacts all areas related to the fields of science and technology, laws and regulations and man. Environmental science encompasses issues such as climate change, conservation, biodiversity, water quality, groundwater contamination, soil contamination, and use of natural resources, waste management, sustainable development, disaster reduction, air pollution, and noise pollution.

(New World Encyclopaedia) EPA is the most comprehensive regulatory agency for environmental concerns. There are several legislations such as Clean Air Act, Clean Water Act, United Nations Environment Programme, Energy Policy Act etc. for tackling the environmental issues. Climate change is caused due to imbalance between the incoming solar radiation and the outgoing heat of the earth. Human influences, Orbital variations, Solar Output, Volcanism, Plate tectonics and Ocean variability are the causes of climate change.

Climate change can be prevented from reaching dangerous levels by reducing emissions through efficiency, substitution and sequestration. Conservation of energy, habitat, water, wetland, wildlife, marine life and soil helps restore ecological balance. The costs associated with loss of biodiversity is high and can lead to deteriorating ecological balance, hence sustainable development and consumption can help to conserve biodiversity. Non-Point Source Pollution is the source of water problems and to mitigate this we must achieve zero discharge of pollutants as per the Clean Water’s Act.

Chemicals, bacteria, virus, medications, fertilizer and fuel can cause groundwater contamination and nations have strict laws concerning groundwater contamination prevention which needs to be adhered to. Soil contamination is caused due to rupture of underground storage water tanks, chemicals and oil dumping and bioremediation methods can be utilized to prevent damage to the ecosystems. Climate Change is one of the main factors that led to the Greenland’s ancient Viking community to collapse.

Harsh climate conditions made farming and cattle production increasingly difficult and the extensive sea-ice prevented navigation and trading with Europe. (Science News) The World Bank and other Multilateral Development Banks revise environmental strategies for development planning. There are natural elements which help in conservation of the environment such as forestry which helps in decreasing the carbon di oxide content in the environment, water, food, cotton, timber and wetlands help to filter and purify water.

There are several environmental preservation activities which can replace mining, hunting with recreational activities and thus maintain ecological balance. There are several volunteer organisations such as Eco world and Paryavaran Sachetak Samithi which promote environmentalism. Natural Resources Defence Council and Environmental Defence Fund specialize in bringing lawsuits in the United States. National Wildlife Federation, the Nature Conservancy and The Wilderness Society and global groups like the World Wide Fund for Nature and Friends of the Earth, disseminate information, participate in public hearings, stage demonstrations and also purchase land for preservation.

Wildlife Conservation International conducts research on endangered species and ecosystems. Greenpeace, Earth First! and the Earth Liberation Front , have opposed actions which they regard as environmentally harmful. United Nations Environment Programme and United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, Commission for Environmental Cooperation (NAFTA), the European Environment Agency (EEA) and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) are in favour of implementing environmental policies to maintain the balance in the ecosystem (Environmentalism) Works Cited: 1.

“Environmental Science”. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_science. Web. 21 June 2011. 2. “Environmental Science”. http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Environmental_science. Web. 21 June 2011. 3. “Did Climate Change cause Greenland’s Ancient Viking Community to Collapse?” . http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110620095238.htm . Science News. 20 June 2011. Web. 21 June 2011. 4. “Environmentalism”. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmentalism. Web.22 June 2011