Blog 10: Japan Shelves Plan to Slash Emissions, Citing Fukushima

Japan, among the world’s top polluters, has new goals to address the threats of a changing climate by reducing its current greenhouse gas emissions. However, it has taken major steps backwards from its pledges to reduce its pollution. An estimated 3 percent more greenhouse gases will be released by 2020 than its emissions in 1990. The country relies on nuclear power to provide about 30 percent of its electricity. Due to the 2011 disaster at Fukushima, the governing body shut down nuclear power plants to ease its citizen’s worry over safety. However, the government is now seeking economic growth and has plans to restart the reactors, despite the failure to stay within its emission targets. The leader of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change stated that Japan has made strides in efficiency and renewable power, hopefully making the new targets achievable. Backtracking on emission levels like Japan and Australia are doing could essentially reduce the global efforts previously made by other countries that agreed to reduce its industrial emissions.

Global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions cannot work with only a few of the leading countries that produce nearly 70 percent of emissions (United States, China, Japan, India and Russia) reducing its industrial emissions. It takes a consolidated effort to reduce the global levels of greenhouse gases. This brings up the topic of should there be a global governing body to hold each nation accountable? What does that mean for sovereignty? Also, the idea of developed vs. developing nations and their limitations on emissions. How can the developed nations determine the right and wrong type of industrialization when they are the ones most responsible for the current pollution levels?

Breanna Steinke

4:00PM
11/15/2013

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/16/world/asia/japan-shelves-plan-to-slash-emissions-citing-fukushima.html?ref=international-home&_r=0

Blog 10: Tehran schools ordered to shut down over air pollution

Earlier this week in the capital of Iran, elementary-level schools were shut down do to high air for a total of three days. To diminish air smog, alternate-day driving is a rule based on license plate numbers in the city, but that doesn't reduce the levels enough, nor reduce the heavy traffic. Currently, Iran has among four of the top ten most polluted cities on earth, due to the oil industry exports. In 2012, an estimated 4,500 premature deaths were caused by pollution in Tehran. The nearby city of Ahvaz is also oil-rich and experiencing similiar issues with air pollution levels as Tehran.Thousands of people living in Ahvaz were hospitalized last week due to high pollution levels.

Here in the U.S., our consumer-level of oil has put it at high demand from oil-producing nations such as Iran. This is an instance of modern-day dependency theory, in which the U.S. as a post-industrial nation is causing destruction in Iran as it uses its oil resource. Efforts should be made by the U.S. to lower pollution levels in countries like Iran from which they demand goods that cause high pollution levels. At the same time, Iran has a comparative advantage over other nations in the oil industry and the nation, of course, needs a good export in the market of free trade. Regardless of reason or motivation, pollution levels that are so high that schools needed to be shut down for three days is a desperate situation. Officials in the Iranian government and the U.S. government should work to decrease pollution levels from nearby factories by reducing emissions and moving factories away from the cities. The efforts to boost public transport has been ineffective and officials will need to produce a more viable solution in order for the air pollution to be put under control.



http://www.france24.com/en/20131111-tehran-schools-ordered-shut-over-air-pollution

Blog 9-- Shanghai air pollution limit

Shangai, China is catching up to Beijing's high pollution levels. At 4am, pollution levels in Shanghai were reported at 200 and rose to 255 by 8pm. The levels, being just under the 300 level of being considered severely polluted, are a cause for concern for the government. The central government has decided to fund 5 million yuan to work with the industrial factories of Beijing and surrounding areas to lower pollution levels. Last month, the government reported that it would limit traffic and shut down factories if PM2.5 levels exceeded 300.

Citizens of Shanghai are shocked that their pollution levels are as high as Beijing's and have taken to posting pictures on social media websites of the smoggy, gray sky that hovers over the city. Education authorities have alerted schools to limit outdoor activities for children. This is concerning for parents when children must commute to and from school. Studies of poor air quality have concluded that up to five years of person's life is lost due to poor pollution levels. The citizens of Shanghai don't want to live among such high air pollution levels that can cause multiple health problems. The WHO states that a concentration of PM2.5 particles that exceeds level 25 is unsafe. For 24 hours straight, the PM2.5 levels in Shanghai were 200 micrograms per cubic meter. The government's plan to limit traffic and shut down factories if that number exceeds 300 is trivial if the concentration levels are already 8 times the limit. With China's many factories and big cities, the government would need to focus on cleaner energy sources and invest in limiting carbon emissions. The government has plans on China's mainland to limit carbon emissions by forming a national carbon trading market. The air pollution levels in Shanghai should be more under control and the government funded plan to tackle it could work, but the problem should not have reached this level before officials put forth 5 million yuan to do so.


http://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1350234/shanghai-air-pollution-hovers-near-indexs-limit

Blog 9: Environmental Woes Could Reverse Global Development

               The United Nations report on the state of global development stated that due to environmental disasters and climate change, 3.1 billion people could be put into extreme poverty by 2050 unless steps are taken to become more sustainable and prepared. Although things like pollution, climate change, and deforestation are not prejudice, it seems to strike the poorer countries even worse. Specifically in places like sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, development in income levels, education levels, and life expectancy will see a sharp decline because of environmental challenges. A prime example was the developing island state, Grenada, after hurricane Ivan. The losses accounted to twice its GDP. When the ecosystem loses out, livelihood opportunities are constrained and an already harsh lifestyle goes from poverty to extreme poverty.

               This article is all too relevant to the current topics we have been discussing; population, environment, and poverty. It is the best explanation for the fact that despite world inequity is declining; a large portion of the population is still impoverished. The article states that by 2030, 80 percent of the world’s population will be living in what is the developing world today. Schuetze then states that because of environmental disasters, those gains are at risk to be slowed or even halted. To take care of the people that inhabit the planet, the planet first has to be taken care of. Just like the Easter Island example, but magnified. If we overshoot our resources, the planets carrying capacity will collapse. 

Breanna Steinke

11/08/13 12:30AM

http://rendezvous.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/03/18/environmental-woes-could-reverse-global-development/

Blog 8: Wind Farm in Ethiopia

 The Ashegoda Wind Farm is the largest in Africa, with 84 turbines, and is estimated to generate 120 megawatts of electricity. The wind farm cost $290 million dollars and was built by French firm Vergnet SA. According to experts, the wind power potential in Ethiopia is third in Africa behind Egypt and Morocco.The Ashegoda Wind Farm was initially set for completion back in 2011, but was delayed due to logistics. Currently, Ethiopia gets most of its power from hydroelectricity, but this poses a problem during drought seasons. According to Mihret Debebe, CEO of the Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation, "It compliments hydro power, which is seasonal. When you have a dry water season we have higher wind speed". 

The population in Ethiopia is growing and they are forming a more stable economy that is focused on using clean energy. European and Chinese investment in coal-powered electricity has lowered the cost of producing wind power. Because of this, the use of wind power and hydro power to generate electricity is becoming worthwhile investment . According to Roman Coutrot, a site manager at Vergnet SA, the organization that built the Ashegoda Wind Farm, says, "The problem they might face is financing but they are not worried about that".  The country plans that, along with the wind power, geothermal power from the East African Rift will make Ethiopia carbon- neutral by 2025. The country's focus and ability to act upon a plan to produce green energy that contrasts the pollution mayhem occurring in China is promising and advantageous for the current and future populations. While clearly, the energy is clean and sustainable, it still leaves many citizens of Ethiopia in the dark. 77 percent of Ethiopians are without power and the government in Ethiopia will need to work on a plan to get this sustainable electricity to its own citizens first, and neighboring countries second. Ethiopia has shown determination and innovation in yielding the electrical potential of its geography and weather, they will hopefully show the same in making sure their citizens can reap the benefits of the clean energy sources. Doing so would benefit the economic growth of the country and provide Ethiopian citizens with better living standards.




  http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2013/10/africa-biggest-wind-farm-opens-ethiopia-2013102713165843147.html

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn24485-ethiopia-switches-on-africas-largest-wind-farm.html#.UnMAehDjWYE

Blog 7: Response to a City’s Smog Points to a Change in Chinese Attitude

             Efforts to combat the first rush of air pollution in the autumnal season in China included citizens wearing face masks, schools shutting down, ordering large vehicles off roads, and checking tailpipe emissions in police stationed roadblocks. Northern residents fear the smog clouds are just the beginning to a harsher winter. Coal-fired systems, that have been proven to shorten life span by five years, will only contribute to the air pollution in China’s cities and rural communities. Government emergency strategies point towards solving the problem despite its past efforts that seems to only cover up the issue (says environmental activists). The Ministry of Environmental Protection is sending inspection teams to ensure environmental regulations are being enforced. Wong (2013) writes “enforcement is often a weak point, even when leaders understand that cleaning up the environment has become critical to maintaining social and political stability.” The ministry is also making efforts to 

identify those companies, whose emissions are above the regulated limits.

             Local citizens fear that while policy is great, enforcement is key to changing environmental problems for China. Execution begins to fall short when local officials who are growth and business-minded fail to comply with all regulations. An environmental advocate, Ma Jun, said that he is confident that the people of China are not happy with wearing a mask to go outside, and really want blue-sky days. Spending government money on short-term answers shouldn’t be the solution for long-term problems.

Breanna Steinke

Oct. 25 2013

4:00PM

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/25/world/asia/smoggy-days-in-harbin-prompt-quick-reaction.html?ref=science&_r=0

Blog 7: West Bank Charcoal Pollution

 Residents in the communities of Kibbutz Metzer and Mitzpe Ilan are experiencing heavy pollution from nearby charcoal factories in the northern part of West Bank in Israel. A few weeks ago, the Environmental Protection Administer Amir Peretz, Health Minister Yael German, and Agriculture Minister Yair Shamir received were implored to take action against the heavy pollution caused by charcoal fires.  The Sharon-Carmel Association for Towns of Environmental Protection evaluated the pollution problem in the area based on numerous complaints from residents. One resident complained that "the house is filled with the unbearable smell of smoke and chemicals". Shutting windows and placing towels under the doors hasn't provided noticeable alleviation from the heavy charcoal fumes of the last couple of days. Experts reported that the high charcoal pollution is "a nuisance and a danger". Residents of Kibbutz Metzer and Mitzpe Ilan have demanded that the raw materials from Israeli farms that are causing the pollution not be sold to charcoal factories. Despite efforts to stop the pollution, charcoal factories in the area maintain the same production rate and pollution levels have not changed.

The residents of the West Bank neighborhoods have dealt with suffocating charcoal-filled air that fills their homes and roads. The Environmental Protection Ministry is answering the complaints by setting up inspectors in the West Bank area to regulate the pollution. Because charcoal pollution has been observed to be caused by wood from pruned trees, the Environmental Protection Ministry inspectors will work to prevent the transfer of these trees to the charcoal factories. Over the past few weeks of complaints and demands from the IDF's Civil Administration to the West Bank factories to stop polluting, the lack of change has lead the people living in that area to take more drastic measures. The effort has apparently paid off, now that they have received attention and support from government ministries whose sole aims are the environment and health. Even the experts of the Sharon-Carmel Association of Towns for Environmental Protection have seen the devastating effects the charcoal pollution has on the neighborhoods. It is not fair for the residents near the West Bank to live in heavily-polluted environment, even when the factories have been made aware of it weeks ago. The prevention of pruned trees being sold to charcoal factories will reduce the pollution significantly. Restrictions on the amount of fumes from the factories could become a possibility in the future if pollution continues to be an issue, but for now a positive and workable solution has been found.



 http://www.haaretz.com/news/features/.premium-1.554106

Blog 6-Britain Looks to Fracking as North Sea Oil Dwindles

               Nations, like the United States, have become self-sufficient in extracting natural gas through a process called fracking. Across the Atlantic Ocean in the European nations however, environmental concerns have been stirred by the hydraulic technique. Recently France upheld its government’s right to ban fracking and in Germany fracking has been suspended until further notice. Britain on the other hand is facing struggles with its energy future because the North Sea oil reserves have become depleted. Before the end of the year a small shale-gas company, IGas, has plans to drill an exploratory well on the edge of a peat bog that geologists say looks promising. British environmental groups widely oppose shale gas fracking despite the benefits compared to coal gas. The groups are concerned not only for unpredicted seismic eruptions but also possible water pollution. Other worries that don’t directly effect the physical environment is that if shale-gas fracking proves to be a success, it will reduce the incentive to invest in renewable energies. Leila Deen, the head of energy policy for Greenpeace in Britain, said, “If you care about climate change, you shouldn’t be looking for new fossil fuels.” (2013) Not only are oil and gas companies finding new fossil fuels but also the government is preparing a favorable tax system for locals that use and support natural gas use, to reward and help overcome opposition from the community. Ian Stewart, mayor of Salford (a city where exploration drilling will be taking place), said that any company that wishes to begin fracking would have to seek separate planning permission.

Despite opposition from the community, elected officials and environmental groups in Britain, the government is supporting the exploratory drilling by IGas. If the drilling proves to be successful the government has prepared tax incentives for those who oppose the use of natural gas through fracking. Although IGas is not a big business gas company, if this process is successful they will be. This may change some aspects of globalization in the oil business. Poland has been open to shale gas exploration and has relied on Russia for most of its resources. If Britain becomes a contender for natural gas, what does that mean for the international trade of natural gas? I also have to think about what Leila Deen brought up, that although natural gas may be cleaner than burning coal, it does not help the fight to reduce greenhouse gases that effect climate change. Why are so many funds allocated towards other fossil fuels instead of the renewable energy sources the planet truly could benefit from?

Breanna Steinke

4:00 PM Oct. 18 2013

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/19/business/energy-environment/britain-looks-to-fracking-as-north-sea-oil-dwindles.html?pagewanted=2&_r=0&ref=international-home&adxnnlx=1382124237-kAW%20Z/WZsziQZTHh8RcOyw

Blog 6--Air Pollution Linked to Low Birth Weights

 A recent study has found that air pollution is linked to low birth weight. The study was conducted on 74,000 mothers and children in 12 countries by European researches. The study was conducted in the densely-populated, highly polluted Europe between February 11, 1994 and June 2, 2011. The concentrations of nitrogen dioxides and nitrogen oxides measured in the homes of the mother-child cohorts in the areas they conducted their study even had an negative impact on the fetuses. Over the years of their study, researchers found that a 5 micrograms per cubic meter increase in air pollution was enough to increase the risk for low birth weight by 18 percent. Remy Slama, a senior investigator at the Institute of Health and Medical Research in Grenoble, France, believes that low birth weight in infants caused by air pollution also links to medical defects in children and adults.

The researchers in this study estimate that if air pollution in Europe is decreased by 10 micrograms per cubic meter, then the low birth weight percentage would decrease by 22 percent. They interpreted from their study that traffic effects low birth weights in Europe. This makes sense, as many areas of Europe are densely populated and the exhaust fumes from cars is a concern in most city-areas. Air pollution has been suspected to link to lung cancer and emphysema for years, but this study shows that unborn infants are even in danger of the pollutants in the outside world. Remy Slama, who conducted the study, also states that even the smallest of air pollution particles have the ability to enter the bloodstream of the mother and effect the fetus. This study shows how sensitive an unborn fetus is to air pollution, even though it has not breathed in the air outside through its own lungs. As population increases over the years, so does the pollution levels.The researchers of this study have also linked the low birth weight of their study population to respiratory health problems as the infants aged into childhood. The best solution is to find a clean energy source for motor vehicles to run on. This will greatly reduce the air pollution in high-traffic cities in Europe. If not, the risk for low infant birth weight will continue to rise, as will the medical risks to children and adults as they age.




http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/10/17/air-pollution-linked-to-lower-birth-weights/?_r=0

http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2600%2813%2970192-9/fulltext

Blog 5: Despite Climate Concern, Global Study Finds Fewer Carbon Capture Projects

            Although one of the Environmental Protection Agency policies are to limit carbon emissions, an other is to capture carbon emissions from coal refined power plants with the intention of sequestering it, meaning injecting it below the earths surface. C.C.S, carbon capture and sequestration, projects have fallen from 75 to 65 over the last year in a worldwide survey. Despite debates over the injection of carbon dioxide into the earth’s surface, carbon capture and storage has been ranked third among ways to reduce carbon emissions. Garth Lloyd, the GM of corporate affairs for the C.C.S Institute even stated that this “technology is not optional when addressing climate change.” Although studies have proven the influence of carbon dioxide having direct effects on climate change, countries like China (who is leading in carbon emissions) and the U.S. (not far behind China) have reported either postponing or completely cancelling projects that demonstrate this technology.

The idea behind using technology like this is consistency. There is no point in investing parts of governmental budgets if the projects close in a matter of a few years. It’s only the publics money wasted and no progress gained for the global environment. Although technology like this is helpful, the problem is that we are trying to remove carbon dioxide emissions that will continue to exist as long as fossil fuels are burned. The article briefly mentioned the use of renewable energy like solar and wind power in opposition to using coal, but society cannot afford for coal plants to be completely closed. It has to be a gradual change to renewable energy but one that also helps reinstate the current coal miners into trade schools so that an entire population isn’t rendered jobless (which would only increases economic struggle).

Breanna Steinke

Oct. 11 2013 

4:20 PM

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/11/science/earth/study-finds-setbacks-in-carbon-capture-projects.html?ref=world

Blog #5: Coal Pollution in Indonesia

For the past year, residents living in Kampung Muara Bahari in the northern part of the city of Jakara in Indonesia have felt the damaging effects of the Nusantara Port activities.The coal unloaded at the port has created thick clouds of black smoke that blankets the trees and creates a heavy dust on the floors, according to the head of the neighborhood unit in Muara Bahari. The residents living outside of the port have been experiencing respiratory and eyesight problems and some cases of respiratory infection have required hospitalization. The residents of Muara Bahari complained to the Indonesia Port Corporation around three months ago, so the IPC built a wall between the village and the port to hide what was going on on the other side. According to the IPC's spokesperson, Sofyan Gumelar, all coal unloading activities have followed the best standard practices. Gumelar goes on to say that the IPC will investigation and communicate with the shipping company responsible for the air pollution. The IPC knows the coal comes from a state-owned coal mining company called PT Bukit Asam from South Sumatra and want to take measures to ensure that the coal dust from the port no longer effects the village of Muara Bahari.

Jakarta is the largest city in Indonesia and the thirteenth most populated in the world. The Bering Sea provides a profitable shipping port, but this appears to be yet another example of profit having a higher value than health and environment. The IPC spokesperson's words about IPC attempting to amend the environmental destruction may hold some merit, but based on their past solution of building a wall between the Nusantara Port and the village, the statement may be nothing but smoke and mirrors. The residents of Muara Bahari are valid in their requests of the port to monitor coal-trade activities. Living among thick coal dust clouds that fill up human lungs and cover the trees is detrimental obviously physiologically but also psychologically. The IPC will probably do something about the Nusantara Port pollution, but it's highly likely that the problem will return within a year or two and the Muara Bahari residents will once again be writing formal complaints.


http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2013/10/09/residents-face-more-coal-pollution-muara-bahari.html

Blog #5: The New Climate Normal

                Together as a collective we march on blind to the fact that the world love and know is rapidly changing, the world of our grandparents, the world they neglected and destroyed with rapid progress all for the sake of the market. The world of our grandchildren, our children, and yes, even our world will not be that safe and infinite world. The first area expected to have a complete shift in climate will be the Philippines. Summers that we currently deem to hot will become the new normal. Fifty years from now the coldest summers will be our current hottest summers. This spells out drastic changes not only for the individual, but for the economies of the world, and global politics.

                Countries with comparative advantages in certain resources and commodities will find themselves unable to hold on to that advantage as temperatures change. Resource scarcity will be on the rise and tensions between countries will increase with them. While humans will likely adapt to climate change and its effects one can be safe in saying that tensions around the world will be further exacerbated by harder living conditions on all fronts, not just in the developing world.

                We continue to face down certain disaster with the elementary thought process of continued advancement and growth bringing us out of this disaster paradigm. I worry that this toxic paradigm might innervate itself into our economic and political systems. With “new normals” emerging around the world governments must have the abilities to adapt and survive. Hedging our bets on the all-powerful market demanding change that is environmentally sustainable is a sluggish process and one that is not likely to occur in time to avoid disaster. By 2080, the year estimated that self-sustaining climate change will occur; all the continents of the world will have completely changed climates. By that point, humanity will be forever changed.

 http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2013/10/9/study-predicts-imminentnewnormalofhotterclimates.html

Blog 4: China bars water-polluting projects

 The Ministry of Enviroment Protection in China has prohibited the districts of Siping, Hefei, Liu'an, Kunming, Enshi Tujia, and Miao from starting projects that have a high potential for water pollution. Furthermore, the Ministry will not allow any projects in those districts in the future that threaten the . water quality. This is part of the 2011-2015 plan from the Chinese government to diminish water pollution. It is an 82 billion dollar project. Their goal is to have 60 percent of the waterways in China be clean enough to be used for drinking water by 2015, the Yangtze and Yellow River especially. These two rivers is where the Ministry of Environment Protection has placed two water pollution control guidelines and is being used as drainage site from the listed districts. According to the Ministry, those districts also failed to meet standards set in 2012 in their five-year plan to reduce and manage water pollution in China. The spokesperson described the situation as "grave" and spoke of widespread pollution in rural areas that was unaffected by previous pollution control projects.

The pollution in China has gotten so high, that an 82 billion dollar, 5-year plan just for water pollution had to be implemented. The Chinese government's eagerness to reduce water pollution in Siping, Hefei, Liu'an, Kunming, Enshi Tujia and Miao is promising, yet could end up inadequate. While doing something is for the most part better than doing nothing, the Chinese government's enforcement of pollution control should have been implemented and enforced decades ago. It's disappointing that they've allowed the pollution to get so bad that just 60 percent clean water is considered an acceptable goal. The Yangtze has long been an important river in China and that is still true today, proven by the government's effort to prevent waste drainage into its water. This effort has merit and shows an interest in maintaining the ecosystem of China and the health of its citizens. There is hope that these efforts will prove beneficial and shows an interest in environmental protection that for now outweighs the industrial growth of a very industry-focused nation.



 http://news.oneindia.in/international/china-bars-water-polluting-projects-in-five-cities-1316171.html

Blog #4: Australian Coal Burning

With the world dealing with the startling news given out by the IPCC this week one would expect countries to get together and create a new normal, a new way to live that isn't pathological to our well-being. Maybe that's just the naivety of a bleeding-heart liberal in me; I can't be the only one seeing the limits being passed by in our march towards "progress and a brighter future." Yet shockingly there exists very little momentum behind any movement in making meaningful strides in diverting disaster for the human race. In fact, the exact opposite is occurring.

Australia, run by a conservative government, continually destroys their old climate change mitigation policy. Currently they are looking at extracting coal from the Galilee Basin and sending it to foreign markets to be burned there. This is key in that the 705m tonnes of carbon created from the burned coal will not contribute to Australia's carbon footprint just the world-at-large's footprint.

Climate change is the greatest problem facing humanity currently and it will continue to be for the next century. Yet we stare at disaster and shrug it off. We could change to renewable energy rather easily. Australia itself could run on only renewable energy in a few years time for the same cost of "business as usual." But businesses and politicians tied to oil companies seeking short term profit in favor of long term losses deny any chance of movement towards mitigating the effects of climate change. The general populous views climate change as the problem of the next generation, a far off calamity to be fought years down the road. This simply being viewed as real makes it our current “reality.” The true reality, one that is uncomfortable and terrifying, is that climate change has been here and is now knocking down the door to our home, ready to kick us out for what we have done to the place. Many fervent environmentalists have been screaming for needed action in saving the human race, yet those in power never do. Sure they offer platitudes and give it needed lip service to attract liberal voters but nothing is ever done. This global world needs to understand that the butterfly effect is the brutal advantage our enemy has over us. 705m tones of coal burned in China or Australia or anywhere for that matter has the same effect on every global citizen. Each particle of carbon emitted affects all people. We are a global world, we all need to start taking action, climate change is at our doorstep and the way we are going it’s going to kick us out.

 http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/oct/02/australia-mining-alpha

Blog 3 - Italy Polluting Steel Plant put on Notice

The Ilva steel plant is among the largest in Europe, located in Taranto, Southern Italy. It accounts for 40 percent of Italy's overall steel output. The pollution produced by the plant was enough for the European Commission to press the plant for a plan to reduce emissions. In the area surrounding the plant, the EC took laboratory tests and found a high amount of air, soil, surface and ground water pollution. They had also received complaints from Taranto citizens, which prompted the investigation. The Ilva steel plant denies any environmental contamination and causation of cancer and respiratory problems in the area. A special commissioner was appointed by the Italian government in June to run the plant and oversee clean-up operations. The change in leadership was not enough, apparently. The European Commission has sent a letter of Formal Notice to Italy in regards to the plant and a two month time limit to respond. If Italy does not respond, they could face fines. Back in March 2011, Ilva and other industrial plants in Italy come under fire by the European Court of Justice for not issuing industrial emissions permits. The EC is concerned whether the current IPPC permits that Italy has issued meet the criteria for certain environmental conditions and thus comply with European law. Issuing a permit means that said company is responsible for reducing and managing their own emissions and recycling of waste in the least polluting way possible.

Italy's refusal to comply with the European Commission to get its steel plant under control would effect them financially in the short term as well as long term. If they do not find a solution to Ilva's polluting, the steel plant will continue to cause respiratory health issues and cancer to Taranto citizens, which in turn drives up health care costs for the area. The worst part is the Ilva steel plant's denial of environmental destruction caused by the plant's emissions, despite irrefutable evidence from the European Commission' lab tests. Italy needs to get it's Ilva steel plant under control. Producing a large amount of steel and keeping up with those demands has become more important than ensuring that the Taranto citizens are as healthy as possible. The European Court of Justice may also find a way to reprimand Italy for not issuing environmental permits that comply with the law. Because the Ilva steel plant is not showing responsibility for and managing its emissions and waste, Taranto's pollution levels continue to rise and cause more health problems as time goes on. If the EC can put enough pressure on Italy to comply with environmental clean-ups and industrial emissions management procedures, the citizens of Taranto could have a better chance at a cancer-free life.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/09/26/us-ilva-eu-idUSBRE98P0H520130926

http://eandt.theiet.org/news/2013/sep/ilva-steel-plant-italy.cfm

Blog #3: Rising Waters in the Maldives Creates a Resounding "Meh."

                Climate change is an unfair enemy to the human psyche. It’s not overt in action and never attacks in broad catastrophic action, instead, to use the metaphor of a boiled frog, it cooks us slowly while barely notice a change. Residents of the Maldives cherish the beauty of their island home, less than two meters above sea level they face the very real fear of losing their home. Yet largely, apathy is the response one receives when probing about climate changes effects on the Maldives. To quote one resident, "If I woke up one day and the islands were going underwater, I'd just move," to look catastrophe in the eye and merely respond with a sigh represents pathologies in our relation to the environment.

                Elections in the Maldives before the 2013 election involved heavy use of climate policy as a board for politicians to stand on. During the current election, even on the precipice of catastrophe, climate change is notably absent from debates and discussions in favor of more short term policies. Climate change even now has the potential to destroy the 2^nd most profitable industry in the Maldives, tuna fishing. Scientists postulate that tuna populations will migrate to cooler waters away from areas current Maldivians fish for their tuna supply

                To the individual resident of the Maldives the effects of submersion are abundantly obvious but at a world-wide level less so. Upon the submersion of the Maldives 340,000 climate refugees will be displaced and forced to find a new home inundating many nations of the world with refugees they may not be able to handle.

                The current political and economic paradigm largely relies on short term benefits in favor of long term losses. Every five years or so the IPCC releases a report on the current state of climate change and the amount of damage done over the years this, for a little while, informs us of the dire straits we are in as a species but soon afterwards we shift back into a “business as usual” mindset. I just wonder if our response will be too late for the Maldives.