Human Impacts on the Environment and an Analysis of Alternative Energy Production - Essay Example

Section/# Human Impacts upon the Environment and an Analysis of Alternative Energy Production One of the most relevant topics of interest within the news these days is the issue of climate change and what humans can do to seek to ameliorate it. Ongoing debate has almost invariably been centered upon the processes that humans engage in as well as to what level these processes ultimately contribute to climate change. As a function of this focus within contemporary media, the preceding analysis will seek to understand the levels to which human actions impact directly upon the environment, the levels to which this interaction may be slowed, and some of the main contributing factors of human activity that drive climate change. Moreover, an analysis of current strategies as well as alternative energy dependence will also be discussed. It is hope of this author that through an analysis of these different mechanisms, the reader will be more fully able to integrate an understanding and appreciation for the fragile environment that humans currently exist within. Firstly, it should be understood by the reader/researcher that many natural processes that take place within the current system have a contributing effect upon the mass of CO2 that is released into the air atmosphere; thereby directly contributing to the greenhouse effect that impacts the planet as a whole. Recent research into this topic has indicated that processes such as volcanic eruptions or even the methane gas released by the Earth’s bovine population have an even greater impact upon overall CO2 levels than all human activity within any given year. However, this should not be seen to delegitimize the processes whereby humans can provide additional negative impacts upon the global environment. Due to the fact that the Earth is ultimately a closed system, it can only integrate a certain amount of change before negative impacts are seen. As such the Earth’s ecological system might be able to integrate with volcanic eruptions or the methane gas produced by cows; however, further integration of the ever-increasing levels of human CO2 emissions is likely well beyond the capabilities of the system as a whole. Although human CO2 emissions have commonly been viewed within the context of emissions from internal combustion engines, the fact of the matter is that industrialized nations as well as power generation from a variety of sources, rainforest instruction, and a litany of other activities contribute to the overall levels of CO2 that are produced within any given year. Due to the fact that the earth’s population has continued to increase at an exponential rate of growth over the past centuries, it is only reasonable to assume that the impacts of technological advancements as well as further urbanization and construction play a prominent role in the overall level and extent to which humans affect the environment. Whereas the preceding analysis has focused solely upon whether or not, and to what extent, humans’ impact upon the global environment is, the proceeding section will seek to place a level of focus upon some of the strategies and means by which humans can seek to wean themselves from fossil fuel dependence and become more reliant upon alternative energy. Whereas few individuals promote industrialization as a means of promoting the global environment, the most rational and reasonable strategy is to seek to find alternative means to continue the technological and industrialization advancements while at the same time promoting the environment. One of the most powerful mechanisms to accomplish such an end is by focusing upon the means of energy production that humans so readily consume. Some of the most effective means of accomplishing this are by integrating a further reliance upon solar, nuclear, wind and other alternative means of energy production. Although the “dirty” forms of energy generation provide for the current needs of the system, they have a massively negative impact upon the environment. As such, seeking to provide means of renewable and cleaner energy has been the gold standard of environmental stewardship. With regards to the best of these strategies, it is my belief of that there is not any single strategy that can be definitively said to be the best. This is due to the fact that depending upon the environment/location in question any of the three that have previously been listed may be the best. Wind energy policy represents a hopeful promise; however, the fact of the matter is that a large amount of production and subsequent resource usage is demanded in the creation of wind turbines to harvest the energy in the first place. Conversely, many environments are not conducive to the use of wind farms due to the fact that they receive very low levels of wind on a weekly/monthly/yearly basis. With regards to solar, the fact that many regions around the world do not experience a high number of total daylight hours of sunlight year-round must be realized. Similarly, with regards to nuclear, this is a resource that, although renewable, exhibits waste and is highly toxic. Moreover, the use of nuclear fuel, and subsequent generation by nuclear power, also requires a great deal of water in order to cool the heating rods that are used within the process. Due to the fact that water is one of the most valuable resources on the planet and heavily contested water rights exist in many municipalities, states, and countries, the full extent to which nuclear power can be utilized is also ultimately a situation that demands the given region consider its strength and weaknesses before integrating nuclear energy (Zehner 6). As a function of the preceding analysis, the reader can understand that humans have a responsibility as well as direct impact upon the overall levels of waste, deforestation, and CO2 levels that are released into the atmosphere in any given calendar year. Consequently, of the approaches that have been mentioned, it is ultimately up to the shareholders within the society as well as the government to determine the best means to facilitate the creation of larger, more renewable, and responsible means of power generation for the planet’s inhabitants. Work Cited Zehner, Ozzie. “Alternatives to Alternative Energy." Bulletin Of The Atomic Scientists 68.5 (2012): 1-7. Academic Search Complete. Web. 9 Apr. 2013. Read More