How British Columbia Gained By Putting a Price on Carbon

Before this article, I knew the general principles of carbon taxes, cap and trade techniques, yet I had no idea about British Columbia's specific policy actions regarding the price on Carbon. British Columbia, unlike its peer regions who prefer a cap and trade system, in 2008, established an economy-wide tax on carbon. This has incentivized investments in cleaner companies and industries and has disincentivized pollutant-heavy investments. BC's fuel efficiency has increased by 19% over the last few years. The price on carbon started at $10 a ton but has been increasing every year. Proponents of this tax are not trying to claim that it is the reason for BC's economic success, however, it certainly hasn't hurt the economy, which is often the fear of anti-mitigation skeptics.

This is relevant to our class because of our discussion of Global Climate Change, the effect that Carbon emissions have on it, and techniques for reducing such emissions. We've talked about mitigation techniques and people's responses to it, especially economic concerns.

This story proves that a carbon tax does not cripple the economy. If anything, it incentivizes cleaner and more efficient investments, which is better for the economy anyway. A carbon tax is a deterrent from the use of harmful energy sources, so I am in favor of such a tax. It also gives more potential spending funds for the federal government. If they were to invest the profit from the tax into clean energy and environmentally-friendly initiatives and infrastructure, this would be an effective and salient use of a more involved government. 

Phosphate: A Critical Resource Misused and Now Running Low

Pearce, Fred. “Phosphate: A Critical Resource Misused and Now Running Low.” Yale E360, 7 July 2011, e360.yale.edu/feature/phosphate_a_critical_resource_misused_and_now_running_out/2423/.

1. From our reading last week, I remembered that phosphate was an important ingredient for many fertilizers around the world. I also recall that humans have been harvesting an unsustainable amount of the resource and may become scarce in the near future.

2.From this article, I learned that phosphate is used in fertilizing fields that grow food that you and I will likely consume. A large reserve of this phosphate rock, located in the Western Sahara, has been subject to years of civil war and mismanagement. Phosphate is so effective that it only takes one ton of phosphorus to produce 130 tons of grain, which has led to its widespread use throughout the world. Although we are not currently running out of phosphorus, Dana Cordell of Linking University in Sweden thinks we could hit "peak phosphorus" production by ~2030. 

3. This article is applicable to our class as it revolves around the concepts of resource sustainability and sustainable consumption. This good, which is so vital to maintaining the world's food supplies, has been mismanaged and overused. As domestic production wanes, the U.S. is beginning to rely on external supplies from countries like Morocco. We must put something in place to regulate phosphorus production if we want to avoid a scarcity in the coming future.

4. I found this article to be slightly repetitive, but overall effective in conveying the author's overall message. I liked how he warned that although we have not reached peak production yet, we are much closer than many people would expect. This is not an issue that is commonly discussed in the media, but perhaps should be

In a Troubled African Park, A Battle Over Oil Exploration

Alexa Cotton

Pearce, F. (2014, May 1). In a Troubled African Park, A Battle Over Oil Exploration. Retrieved February 19, 2018, from http://e360.yale.edu/features/in_troubled_african_virunga_national_park_a_battle_over_oil_exploration

1. I already knew about the biologically sensitive area which Virunga National Park protects and the great biodiversity which exists within it. I was aware that in many protected areas of the world there are often rich natural resources such as oil and so it creates large conflict within those communities. This problem is oftentimes aggravated if the country or region in question is not rich in socioeconomic resources. While this article only touched upon the issue, I have done lots of reading on different methods to mitigate poaching in regions similar to Virunga National Park.

2. I learned about the conflict which occurred with the oil company Soco International and its attempt to gain access to the oil in Virunga National Park. I learned about the efforts of certain key players such as de Merode, the park warden and the effect which nonprofits can have through creating enough pressure to stop the drilling. It was very interesting to read about the tensions between park rangers and militias, park patrolling becomes ineffective 3 km past the patrolling stations because of violence from militias.  Additionally, in terms of conservation strategies there are studies which indicate that focusing on resource protection and as a byproduct excluding local communities is ineffective. It has been found that involving local communities and allowing them to be the warden of their land is the most effective strategy.

3. I found this article relevant to our class because it discussed the topic of resource management in relation to balancing environmental, economic and social capital. Soco International promised that it would raise the standards of the community through investment in its development. It also promised to not negatively impact the biologically important areas of the park. Interestingly, it was the outside actors such as the UN, UNESCO and international nonprofits such as WWF who put heavy pressure on preventing the drilling.

4. I found this article to be interesting and representative of a lot of the issues which developing countries in Africa are facing since they hold such biologically important regions but they also need resources to survive. While this story ends with a note that Soco International halted its efforts to drill, I would imagine that is not that common.  

With the Boom in Oil and Gas, Pipelines Proliferate in the U.S.

Before reading this article, I was aware of the oil boom due to the increasing use of hydraulic fracturing, and how the increased oil production was causing pipelines to begin being built. I did not know the extent of the boom, however. The oil production between 2008 and 2013 increased by 50% due to fracking technological advancements. I also did not know that there were around 1.5 million miles of oil pipelines in the US. I was not aware that 374 people had been killed due to pipeline-related causes since 1994. Additionally, I learned that pipelines account for 10% of the oil industry's fugitive methane (20 times more potent than CO2).

This is relevant to class as we just discussed peak oil and its effect on the environment and on society. The US is experiencing a recent boom, yet how far can fracking take us until we reach out peak? We have also compared Oil to other energy sources, and how oil is not necessarily a sustainable source. When we build pipeline infrastructure, we are basically committing to using oil, when switching to cleaner and better energy sources may be the superior option moving forward.

In my opinion, to set up years-worth of oil-based infrastructure is to set ourselves up for failure. Oil is already being exposed as a dirty, harmful, and antiquated energy source, so to double down on its use for years to come is ignorant and myopic. Pipelines ruin usable land for both people and other forms of industry or energy production, and the use of fracking is only making that worse.

Oil Drilling in Arctic Ocean: A Push into Uncharted Waters

1.    What you already knew:

I knew that efforts by several oil companies, and those funded by governments themselves, to drill for oil in the arctic ocean has slowly been increasing as current oil fields are getting depleted. Some of these countries include the United States, Russia, and Canada. I also knew about the problems associated with drilling the in the Arctic, in addition to those normally seen. First, it is extremely expensive and different technologies are needed to drill in that kind of environment. The area is available for use for only around 4-5 months where there is enough light, and temperatures are not extremely low. 

2.    What you learned:

Microbes in warmer climates are able to break down hydrocarbons, helping to a small extent with cleaning up oil spills. It is unknown how these microbes work in the arctic ocean, or if they even exist there given the harsh conditions. 

Around 100 million gallons of oil are still missing from the deepwater horizon spill even after cleanup. A lot of this oil is expected to have settled on the ocean floor.

Only about 20% of oil from oil spills can be mechanically cleaned up without using harmful chemicals that damage ecosystems. In the Arctic, clean-up efforts would likely tend towards in-situ burning and the use of chemicals. 

3.    Relevance to this class or topic we are covering:

This directly related to our conversations about peak oil and oil reserves around the world. As existing oil fields start running out, we are either going to have to come up with new sources of energy or find new reserves of oil. Currently, a lot of oil reserves are estimated to exist in the Arctic. Until recently, these reserves were inaccessible because of ice but now with warming sea temperatures, this ice has started to melt away, allowing nations to drill for oil. 

4.    Thoughts:

I think that this article raises a lot of issues with drilling in the Arctic, specifically focusing on the difficulties that would be faced if there were ever to be an oil spill. I think this article could have looked into possible fixes for these issues in a little more depth. It does mention new research into technologies that would help detect oil in ice but does not divulge any more details. It would be interesting to see the results of those studies, now that it has been several years since the article was published. 

Tar Sands Oil Boom Drives Push for A Northern Pipeline

Matthew Martin

Struzik, Ed. “Tar Sands Oil Boom Drives Push for A Northern Pipeline.” Yale E360, Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies, 29 Nov. 2012, e360.yale.edu/features/alberta_tar_sands_oil_boom_drives_push_for_northern_pipeline.

1.     I already knew that tar sands are a relatively common but somewhat inefficient and not heavily utilized source for oil (in the US). I also knew that pipelines are often proposed as projects to transport oil and natural gas efficiently across long distances, but are very often strongly contested by many groups for environmental, economic, cultural, and/or social reasons.

2.     I learned that while the tar sand industry in the US is relatively small, the tar sand industry in Canada is very large and profitable. Moreover, at the time of this proposal, the oil sands industry was experiencing a massive amount of growth in Canada, which a number of oil industry executives were looking to take full advantage of. I learned that those leading many of the protests against the pipeline were members of the First Nations community, as many native Canadians were afraid that their lands and even way of life might be negatively affected by this pipeline, especially if there were to be a spill. I learned that many experts predicted that this pipeline would fail, due to the heavy opposition from various groups and disagreements with individual provincial governments.

3.     Earlier this week in class, we spoke in class about tar sands and their general inefficiency as an energy source. This article serves as an example of a country trying to utilize this resource in an economically viable way, and that tar sands are actually an important industry in areas outside of the US. Additionally, pipelines are generally one of the most debated and well-known sustainability issues. Pipelines are generally seen as very unsustainable, yet they continue to be built across the world, and are very common in the US. Both of these issues closely tie into the discussion of the oil industry we’ve had in class.

4.     I thought this article was interesting and did a good job of explaining through examples how pipeline projects (and the oil industry) can have effects on the environment, the economy, and social issues. This article was written in 2012, so I did some research to see what came of this proposal. After being hotly debated, this proposal was eventually officially blocked by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. I think the author was right to be wary of the power that vested interests in the Canadian oil industry might hold, but I am not too surprised that it got blocked, considering the huge opposition and clear evidence that pointed towards the high possibility of very negative environmental and social effects.

Jack Lindenman

Hearn, K. (2010, September 13). Deep in Ecuadors Rainforest, A Plan to Forego an Oil Bonanza. Retrieved February 14, 2018, from http://e360.yale.edu/features/deep_in_ecuadors_rainforest_a_plan_to_forego_an_oil_bonanza

1. I truthfully did not know much about this plan nor the potential oil drilling that was scheduled to happen. I did know that this area of the Earth is rich with biodiversity as well as native groups of people that still live without modern technology.

2. I learned about the oil reserves in Yasuni National Park in Ecuador that contains almost a billion barrels of oil. This, of course, is extremely lucrative for both oil companies and the government to gain profit. A plan, though, was created that took in the help of international donors as well as an organization within the United Nations to stop any sort of drilling in this rich and biodiverse area. Ecuador would be paid to keep the oil reserves intact so that they can invest the money and resources obtained towards renewable energy, reforestation, and energy efficiency. This plan would allow Ecuador to develop their country further without destroying a large portion of their pristine forests and National Parks. While oil drilling seems to be the biggest problem, some argue that it is colonization and logging that are the true culprits to the destruction of this national park. The plan does not deal with logging and colonization directly, but it does obtain capital that can be put forth to stopping illegal logging in the area.

3. This is relevant to the course because we are reading and talking about ways in which we will have to deal with peak oil. By withholding such a large reservoir of oil, it is encouraging Ecuador to move towards a sustainable energy system, while holding out from oil companies from gaining greater access to oil. This, in turn, will probably cause peak oil to happen sooner due to the fact that we are unable to tap into every single oil reservoir in the world.

4. I found this article quite fascinating and eye-opening to the potential that international policy and agreements can have in mitigating unsustainable practices. This is something truly extraordinary in that a country is getting paid to keep their oil in the ground. It is unlike what we have seen in the industrial and modern age of society. 

The Dark Legacy of China's Drive for Global Resources

William Franke

Laurance, W. (2017, March 28). The Dark Legacy of China's Drive for Global Resources. Retrieved February 14, 2018, from http://e360.yale.edu/features/the-dark-legacy-of-chinas-drive-for-global-resources 

1. I already knew that China, due to a huge population size and rapid economic development, is a major consumer of resources at the domestic level. This large level of consumption makes them the world's leading polluter. In order to combat this though, I also know they have been investing heavily in renewable energy and have become one of the world leaders in alternative energy production.

2. From this article, I learned of the somewhat predatory nature of Chinese development both domestically and abroad. Despite investing heavily in renewable energy sources and appearing to commit heavily to greening their economy, the country is still responsible for massive mounts of environmental degradation on a global scale. Their infrastructure investments overseas, especially in Africa, has and will continue to lead to significant deforestation, ecological fragmentation, resource exploitation, and loss of biodiversity among many other issues. 

3. This article is relevant to what we are learning in class about resource consumption. China is responsible for consuming a vast amount of both renewable and nonrenewable resources. If China continues to consume at their current rate, they are quickly bringing the world closer to peak resource production in many different areas (book ch 6). Additionally, their environmental impact will continue to grow at an expedited rate and lead to greater pollution and a larger ecological footprint (book ch 3). 

4. This article sheds light on a lot of China's harmful environmental practices. Even practices that seem environmentally friendly, such as their effort to regrow their forests is not as effective as it seems since they are planting monocultures of non-native species. Additionally, China's ability to bribe officials in order to have their international investment projects approved further shows the predatory nature of their practices. Although China may seem like they are attempting to become more sustainable through their green energy investments and pollution cleanup programs, they are still very much solely concerned with their economic interests even if it comes at the cost of the environment. 

e360 articles for Chpt. 6

• How Falling Oil Prices Could Help Stop the Keystone Project <http://e360.yale.edu/features/how_falling_oil_prices_could_help_stop_the_keystone_project>
• Oil Drilling in Arctic Ocean: A Push into Uncharted Waters <http://e360.yale.edu/features/oil_drilling_in_arctic_ocean_a_push_into_uncharted_waters>
• Tar Sands Oil Boom Drives Push for A Northern Pipeline <http://e360.yale.edu/features/alberta_tar_sands_oil_boom_drives_push_for_northern_pipeline>
• In a Troubled African Park, A Battle Over Oil Exploration <http://e360.yale.edu/features/in_troubled_african_virunga_national_park_a_battle_over_oil_exploration>
• Shipping Crude Oil by Rail: New Front in the Tar Sands Wars <http://e360.yale.edu/features/shipping_crude_oil_by_rail_new_front_in_tar_sands_wars>
• Deep in Ecuador’s Rainforest, A Plan to Forego an Oil Bonanza <http://e360.yale.edu/features/deep_in_ecuadors_rainforest_a_plan_to_forego_an_oil_bonanza>
• With the Boom in Oil and Gas, Pipelines Proliferate in the U.S. <http://e360.yale.edu/features/with_the_boom_in_oil_and_gas_pipelines_proliferate_in_the_us>
• Global Scarcity: Scramble for Dwindling Natural Resources <http://e360.yale.edu/features/global_scarcity_scramble_for_dwindling_natural_resources>
• Phosphate: A Critical Resource Misused and Now Running Low <http://e360.yale.edu/features/phosphate_a_critical_resource_misused_and_now_running_out>
• The Dark Legacy of China’s Drive for Global Resources <http://e360.yale.edu/features/the-dark-legacy-of-chinas-drive-for-global-resources>
• China’s New Arctic Presence Signals Future Development <http://e360.yale.edu/features/chinas_new_arctic_presence_signals_future_development>

Ryan Kenney - “Is Climate Change Putting World’s Microbiomes at Risk?”

Ryan Kenney
Robbins, Jim. “Is Climate Change Putting World's Microbiomes at Risk?” Yale E360, Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies, 28 Mar. 2016, e360.yale.edu/feature/is_climate_change_putting_world_microbiomes_at_risk/2977/.

1.I already knew about the fragility of so-called "microbiomes". These often specialized microorganisms  are the foundation of ecosystems and are especially susceptible to the effects of environmental erosion or climate change. 

2. From this paper, I learned that microbiomes around the world are at risk of being destroyed or degraded as the result of anthropogenic climate change. When scientists moved soil from a wet high-altitude location to a drier, lower-altitude location, the microbes in the soil were unable to adapt. This is concerning to scientists as these fragile microorganisms are extremely important foundations to many ecosystems. I also learned that these organisms convert vegetation into greenhouse gases when previously frozen plants are thawed as the result of global warming. I found it interesting that one of the issues addressed is concerned with our lack of knowledge concerning these organisms. However, recent molecular processes are resulting in a breadth of new discoveries.

3. I found this article to be relevant to our studies as it relates to the effect humans have on their surrounding environment. With new research tools allowing scientists to begin to truly understand microbiomes, it is becoming evident that these tiny organisms play a massive role in their ecosystems. These microbes can also be used as a natural, sustainable, non-toxic pesticide which has massive potential in terms of sustainable agriculture.

4. I found this article to be very thought provoking. I had no idea that the race to understand microbes could be compared to the Manhattan Project...! Seems like this will be something that we will hear about more and more as the technology and research develops...

I 

A Development Expert Relies on the Resilience of Villagers

“A Development Expert Relies On the Resilience of Villagers.” Yale E360, e360.yale.edu/features/a_development_expert_relies_on_the_resilience_of_villagers.

1. I already knew that climate change is an issue that affects some areas of the world more than others, especially coastal areas and sub-Saharan Africa. I also knew that carbon emissions are a major environmental threat, and that it's important to keep them low in developed countries. 
2. I learned that development isn't always the best solution to solve problems in society, because many "underdeveloped" countries have discovered methods to maintain their standard of living despite the massive environmental changes that have occurred in their area. I learned that there are no one-size-fits-all solutions to climate change, but that each community needs to be able to decide for itself the most innovative/useful way to adapt to the changing ecosystem.
3. This is relevant because it addresses the issues of what really constitutes "resilience." Resilient communities are not just the ones that have the highest GDP, or have the most energy efficient technology. Whether or not a community is "developed" matters less than whether the community is willing to adapt it's practices in a way that will benefit it in the long run, like many communities in sub-Saharan Africa that have changed their farming practices to address the issue of decreased water supply. 
4. This is a very interesting argument, but it would be interesting to see examples from other communities in different parts of the world. The author focuses primarily on Africa and the issue of drought, but there are many other areas of the world subject to different environmental threats, and it would be poor reasoning to assume that every part of the world is capable of solving environmental crisis on its own. That being said, I do agree that there are many more solutions than the ones being proposed by highly developed countries, and that it is probably more effective to let communities develop unique solutions rather than impose a specific way of life on them.

Asia’s Fragile Caves Face New Risks from Development

Evan Miranda

Ives, Mike. "Asia's Fragile Caves Face New Risks from Development." Yale E360. N.p., 18 Dec. 2014. Web. <e360.yale.edu/features/asias_fragile_caves_face_new_risks_from_development>

1. I know that increased tourism and mining are detrimental to the environment, specifically those environments with very high biodiversity. In the APAC region, caves and forests are hurt by many anthropocentric activities.

2. I was unaware that increased tourism in Southeast Asia is boosting the construction industry and subsequently creating high demand for limestone. It makes sense that caves would be outfitted to support heavy traffic as scenic attractions, but when compounded with other forms of consumption we are seeing the "extinction of a number of species." Similarly, cave-dwelling plants and animals are sensitive to minor changes in their environment so deforestation and agriculture can have indirect negative effects on cave organisms.

3. This article ties in consumption with conservation. People tend to be unaware of the damage they can cause, especially in caves. For hundreds of millions of metric tons of limestone to be quarried each year in Southeast Asia there must be limited oversight. 

4. I am surprised that an area with such high levels of biodiversity doesn't have more stringent regulations regarding cave exploitation. Considering the high need for limestone and other cave resources, it makes more sense for APAC countries to conserve and protect these caves. I definitely agree that "if people start caring about [caves], then that's the best protection of all." 

Resilience: A new Conservation Strategy for a Warming World

Daniel Feldman

Robbins J., (2015). Resilience: A New Conservation Strategy for a Warming World. Yale Environment 360. Available at:

http://e360.yale.edu/features/resilience_a_new_conservation_strategy_for_a_warming_world

1. I knew that limestone was a geological indicator of a biologically diverse environment. I didn’t know that environmentalists were using abiotic makers and sediment to determine where animal migration due to climate change will occur.
2. I learned that the Bay Area is moving sediment from behind dams in lakes and rivers to places where the marshland cannot naturally recede as ocean levels rise, i.e. where roads are built near the ocean. I didn’t know that moving sediment could increase biodiversity and, therefore, resilience.The low acidity, calcium rich sediment behind these dams provides a great ecosystem for bacteria, small biomes, and, eventually, larger environmental biomes to exist. Not only are environmentalists using calcium rich soil to actively increase resilience of systems, but they are also looking at geological records to determine where different species may migrate as the climate warms. The nature conservancy is buying land based on the potential biodiversity of the soil, particularly, where there is limestone soil. But, only using an abiotic method of predicting animal and environment migration as the climate changes is not reliable because of invasive species. What's more, the nature conservancy has also created a software called circutscape, which analyzes where corridors could be for highly fragmented areas. This would provide safe routes of migration given an environmental crisis or disaster.
3. This article directly talks about the importance of resilience in conservation issues (Chapter 4). It stresses that simply conserving at risk landscapes are not enough, and that for environments to survive climate change. Like in the Bay Area, those at risk environments need biodiversity to become more resilient.
4. The article did not address how increasing biodiversity by adding sediment to shorelines may change the ecological system there. I am curious whether or not there is the possibility for the ecological system to change into a completely different ecosystem. If so, is there the possibility that the new ecosystem is less resilient than the last? Similarly, is it possible to completely fabricate more hospitable ecosystems by introducing new listemstone-like sediment to ecosystems?