Environmental Management and Pollution Control

Introduction

Environmental management involves the control of environmental programs through maintenance of environmental protection policies. This involves creating an organizational structure, planning, developing, implementing and most importantly ensuring the policies are maintained for the same (Bulkeley & Newell, 2015). The need to have environmental protection policies in place as a means of management has been necessitated by the rampant pollution and nature degradation. These policies are important in light of the welfare of the future generation and for a clean and healthy living conditions. Moreover, similar to the need for effective environmental policies, many students seek healthcare dissertation help to address critical issues within their field. It is true that the nature of the environment has a bearing on the health of people inhabiting planet earth (Carleton & Hsiang, 2016).

Since early times, environmental management has evolved from the aqueducts built by the Romans and sewage channeling to modern waste management systems with zero carbon emissions. In 1952, 4,000 people died and another 100,000 became sick as a result of the London’s Great Smog (Bulkeley & Newell, 2015). The Eisenhower administration considered air pollution as a local problem in the 1950s. For a long time, clear water was believed to be free of pathogens and hence safe for drinking. Today, water purification methods have advanced to a larger extent due to the concern for health of the general population. Hazardous waste including toxic, flammable, corrosive, ignitable characteristics is another form of waste that has posed a great challenge in its management (Costello et al., 2009).

As shown above, instances of environmental management arose in order to tackle pollution. However, pollution and degradation of nature has over time caused a change in global and regional climate patterns. This is what is referred to as climate change which is a reality according to science. The effect of climate change is that it makes worse the existing health problems especially those affecting vulnerable populations in different parts of the world. A befitting solution thus should be measures and policies developed in such a way that they will impact positively on human health for a long time to enhance sustainability (Crate & Nuttall, 2016).

Background

Climate change has been around for a long time and the only difference is that previously it was subtle and initiated by nature. However, over the years, human activities have led to release of greenhouse gas emissions that have interfered with the climatic patterns thus exacerbating the problem. There is a greenhouse effect that is basically an atmospheric layer of carbon dioxide, water vapour and other trace chemicals that act as a protective trap for heat from the earth’s surface (Dunlap & Brulle, 2015). Activities like deforestation, burning of fossil fuels, release of certain industrial chemicals, and agricultural practices are responsible for the high levels of carbon dioxide in the ecosystem. The industrial revolution brought about many positive things with it especially the introduction of machines that replaced human labour, made work easier, and cut production costs. These revolutionary machines contributed to the rise of carbon dioxide levels by up to 30 per cent (Edenhofer, 2015).

In order to tackle the above menace it is important to have a robust and clear climate health agenda. The same should be supported by relevant health policies. In this regard, the United Nations has been at the forefront in championing for climate health. The Kyoto Protocol for instance is an international agreement which requires parties to commit to certain internationally binding emission reducing targets under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (United Nations, 2017). To significantly reduce risks and impacts of climate change, an international agreement was signed in Paris. The Paris Agreement at THE COP21 IN Paris came into force in 2016 and by April 2018 175 countries had ratified it with all countries agreeing to work to limit global temperature rise to below 2 degree centigrade (United Nations. (2018).

Contributing Factors towards Climate Change

As shown above, scientists have amassed sufficient evidence to prove the correlation between climate change and certain factors pegged on human activities. It is notable that some of the current production and consumption patterns are not sustainable and have been the cause of the environmental problems we face today. Sustainable development demands that even as we meet our various present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs (Dunlap & Brulle, 2015). As will be evidenced later on, the contributing factors in discussion have failed the sustainability test as will be seen later on. There are thus certain known factors responsible for the drastic change in climatic patterns and global warming as elaborated going forward.

Growth and consumption

An increase in wealth in societies leads to increased consumption of the available resources, which in turn affects climate change. It therefore means that because of the increasing wealth, more resources are needed to satisfy the need of consumers. The result is more pressure on resources to sustain human well-being as the ultimate goal. However, is this really sustainable over time? While the focus has been on enhancing cleaner production processes by using technological millstones and carbon prices, the effect has not really been felt (Dunlap & Brulle, 2015). A different result has been achieved to the extent that it has worked to increase consumption. So to achieve a sustainable outcome it is vital that complementary strategies should be used. A reduction in the consumption levels as a complementary measure for production processes and promotion of alternative patterns for supply would enhance sustainable consumption with less strain on the resources (Edenhofer, 2015).

The greenhouse effect

Greenhouse gases have the effect that they cause the atmosphere to retain heat that would otherwise be released to space. Naturally, sunlight should arrive onto the Earth’s surface and either be reflected back into space or absorbed by the Earth. Where the Earth absorbs the sunlight, the Earth releases a portion of the energy into the atmosphere (Dunlap & Brulle, 2015). Water vapor, carbon dioxide, and methane are examples of the greenhouse gases that are responsible for the absorption of energy that would otherwise be released to the atmosphere thereby stopping loss of heat to space. Essentially the earth will become warmer than normal to manifest what is referred to as the greenhouse effect (Environmental Defence Fund, 2019). The gradual shift in climatic patterns where there is rise in temperatures has been thus attributed to greenhouse emissions emanating from the burning of fossil fuels by people on earth.

The United States is the second largest emitter of greenhouse gases and is expected to be leading the way in implementation of health policies that would ensure there is a reduction in climate change in a way that is sustainable. Unfortunately, the President Trump announced 1st of June 2017 the intention to withdraw from the Paris Agreement (Mooney, 2017). A move that shocked many people. It was rightfully expected of the United States to be at the forefront of championing for reduction in greenhouse emissions considering its role in pollution and as a world leader. Such roll backs erodes trust, a basis on which the Paris Agreement was made. How can the world have a healthy environment when Japan, Indonesia, South Korea and Turkey are still coal dependent with no apologies? What about countries like Russia and Saudi Arabia with the oil flares?

Changes in the sun’s energy

There are changes in in the Earth’s orbit and within the sun that have a bearing the amount of solar energy that reaches the Earth and intensity of the same as well (Keim, 2008). During periods of stronger solar concentration the Earth is said to be warm while during periods of weaker solar concentration the Earth is said to cool. These changes contribute to climate change since they affect temperatures albeit on very long timescales. Therefore climate change in this context has little to do with changes in the sun’s energy. Similarly, changes in the sun’s energy cannot be said to affect the human health since it cannot effectively be linked to global warming (Leichenko, 2011).

Changes in reflectivity

The amount of sunlight that is reflected or absorbed depends on factors like atmosphere and the Earth’s surface. There are objects that will work towards absorbing the Earth’s sunlight while others will reflect the same depending on whether it is dark or light colored. Water, atmosphere and land are warmed by the absorbed sunlight (Keim, 2008). Apart from the nature of the surface of the earth, small quantities of liquid droplets or particles in the atmosphere also absorb light (aerosols). The proliferation of a variety of sprays has contributed to the existence of aerosols in the atmosphere. Hence, there is need to minimize the aerosols emissions to permit more warming as per natural ecosystem.

Impact of climate change

A shift in climatic conditions over a long period of times is currently affecting communities, countries, lives and costing people. Weather patterns are no longer predictable, weather events are becoming extreme with each year that passes, sea levels are escalating and the emission of greenhouses is at its peak (Environmental Defence Fund, 2019). Due to interventions by the United Nations in conjunction with a number of scientists, affordable and realistic solutions have been after a thorough study of the effects of climate change in relation to human health. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has released assessment reports on the impact of global warming within the context of building a strong global response to the menace of climate change while censuring there is sustainable development and suppression of poverty (IPCC, 2017). As result of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s work we have information regarding the following:

Since 18880 – 2012, average global temperature rose by 0.85 degrees Celsius. This has seen a reduction in grain yields by 5 per cent.

Oceans are warming, sea levels rising and the amounts of snow shrinking.

Considering the present greenhouse emissions, it is possible that global temperature will go past the 1.5 degrees Celsius mark.

Carbon dioxide emissions have increased by 50 per cent since 1990.

There is a chance that with the use of advanced technological measures and global behavioral change can limit the rate of global warming (Islam & Islam, 2017).

Sustainable development is anchored by three key pillars around social, economic and environmental areas. These three spheres have often been informally referred to as people, people profits and planet. The social sphere refers to the world population that ought to be considered by governments and businesses as to how their policies may affect the lives of their employees (Leichenko, 2011). It involves fair treatment of employees, being good neighbours and model community members. Economic perspective refers to the area of production and consumption whereby the population at any given time should be capable of consuming what is produced (the focus here is profit). The last facet, environmental pillar has businesses trying their best to reduce their carbon foot prints, waste and efficient water usage. In all their endeavors companies incorporate measures to reduce strain on the environment (Liu et al., 2015). In fact, a number multinationals have a sustainability agenda and reports released every year. Risks and effects of climate change also aligned to the three sustainability spheres as will be highlighted going forward.

Sensitive health risks

A UN report suggests (Climate Change Impacts on Human Health 2017) that there is arise is health risks associated with climate change. The report projects that climate change will continue to increase health problems to the already vulnerable populations. The researches contend that there are certain group that have a higher vulnerability to climate related health impacts by virtue of their gender, health statuses like HIV, social marginalization and age (United Nations, 2017). These health problems have a high socioeconomic cost that may sometimes be unbearable for poor countries. Water-borne diseases, being infectious, have been found to be a concern in developing and developed countries due to their correlation with increased temperatures. A case in point is the prevalence of diarrhea conditions during the occurrence of El Nino (Von Stechow et al., 2015). The Committee on Climate Change of the United Kingdom has stated that the average number of hot days have been on the rise since the 1960s. They fear that heat waves will become a regular phenomenon in the future. This is not a matter to be shrugged off easily considering that in 2003, more 2,000 people died of heat wave. The sad part is that the United Kingdom population of vulnerable people keeps growing. Further, it is estimated that 2,000 people die prematurely in the United Kingdom as a result of heat related complications (Timperley, 2018). Climate change stretches the period of transmission and also increases the geographical reach of dangerous diseases like malaria, with the ability to kill large sections of populations. In particular, dengue fever is transmitted faster in warmer, wetter and more humid conditions. Heat waves arising from climate change have an effect of heat stress that not only makes working conditions unfavourable but also ignites respiratory and renal diseases (Taithe, 2019). Some Latin America, Asia and African countries face the challenges of malnutrition and under nutrition caused by climate change. Since food security is undermined by harsh climatic conditions, these countries find it difficult to cope and has to rely on relief aid at times. The socioeconomic cost of alleviating such conditions becomes dear for vulnerable populations not to mention the displacement as a result of movement away from prevalence areas (Wende et al., 2012).

Food Insecurity

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Fourth Assessment Report of 2007 indicated that African countries are by far the most vulnerable to the problem of climatic change. It estimated that by 2050, half of the African rain based agricultural could become arid lands incapable of maintaining the same production capacity as before (MacDonald, 2010).. Egypt was considered for a case study in the report and the result is astonishing to the extent that by 2050, the national production of rice will reduce by 11 per cent and soya by 28 per cent. China has been losing 1 per cent of its cultivated land every year due to climate change. It means that in 10 or more years its production will fall, which is not a favourable forecast considering the amount of food needed to feed such a populous country (Meadows et al., 2016).

Water shortage

In 2016, the Committee on Climate Change of the United Kingdom conducted a risk assessment and noted that climate change is expected to drastically reduce the ecosystem. Therefore, the demand for irrigation will increase. At the same time the existing population will increase population on the limited water resources available (McIver et al., 2014).

Wildfire

After one of the deadliest and most destructive wild fires in history, the Trump administration released a detailed assessment of the effects of climate on the United States. It says that the continued emission of greenhouse gases from factories, cars, and other sources will increase the prevalence of wildfires that could burn beyond 12,400 acres (Meadows et al., 2016). The situation in the United States is one where human activities contributing to global warming has created dry conditions in forests and the drying of the forests as well. The fires have been blamed on old policies and human based global warming. Dr. Gonzalez indicates that the snowpack in the Northwest have since reduced due to shift in climatic condition hence decreased amount of water available in summer (Pierre-Louis and Popovich, 2018).

Political risks

Global warming and climate change have for a long time been considered merely to be an environmental issue. However, that is about to stop because it has now reached a point where it is considered for health policies and soon even for political issues. It will be soon easier to mobilise civilians living in certain areas affected by climate change to revolt and protest against the government. Conflicts can also arise nationally and internationally because of environmental degradation resulting in unbearable conditions for concerned populations (Winkler et al., 2013). There could arise a scramble for the remaining resources after climate change has decimated the rest hence causing a state of anarchy. States will fight for shared resources along or closer to their boundaries. In fact other states could use it as an excuse to invade another.

Adaptation/Mitigation

As demonstrated above, the effects of climate change are disastrous and must be counterchecked in every manner possible and with resources. Such interventions should be undertaken in a way that ensures the planet Erath is habitable by the future generations. Thus sustainability is a key component of the measures and policies to be developed and subsequently implemented world over. Climate change is now past that point of being referred to as merely an environmental issue (Smith et al., 2017). Throughout this report it has come out clearly that climate change has gone a notch higher to a serious health agenda challenge. It has undermined efforts to improve human health care in both developed and developing countries. This report will proceed into looking into the possible sustainable mitigation strategies in line with human health. The Nairobi work progamme (UN Knowledge for Action Climate Resilience Network) provides for a five-step process on health and adaptation as follows:

a. Submissions

b. Review and analysis

c. 10th Focal Point forum

d. Collaborative paper drafting

e. Discussions and collaboration (Owusu & Asumadu-Sarkodie, 2016).

Technological intervention

This will involve coming up with creative solutions to withstand new climate patterns, to prevent or reduce risk of health effects from climate change, to improve access and affordability of adaptation policies. Application of modern technology for scientific realization of the extent of diseases through disease surveillance (Owusu & Asumadu-Sarkodie, 2016). The Pan American Health Organization in the Caribbean is supporting the governments of the countries involved in assessing and prioritizing the vulnerability reduction in investments their health sector. In doing so, they are applying the use of Smart Health Facilities Initiative and Smart Hospitals Toolkit. Elsewhere in France, mosquito movements are tracked using the Tiger Mosquito Surveillance Network and the success is remarkable (United Nations, 2019).

Infrastructure development

The initiation of and or continued improvement of public health infrastructure and resources, Long term assessment of infrastructures gaps, critical financial consideration of the output from the investment in infrastructure due to climate change, and using cost sharing methods to cut costs are appropriate. This is a strategy that requires a lot of government involvement through budgeting of the same and subsequent implementation. In the long run, this will ensure that health risk are dealt with adequately once they occur and will prevent deaths caused by delayed medical response to effects like heat waves and waterborne related illnesses (Smith et al., 2017).

Training and awareness

Information is key for lack of it can cause one to perish in ignorance. In Mexico a Self-Learning Course on Climate Change and Health has been developed and implemented successfully. The training done in conjunction with the World Health Organization’s Strategy Plan for Action on Climate Change raises awareness and providing knowledge on the health impacts of climate change (United Nation, 2019). Community based organisations are usually the best tools for a government or non-governmental organization to use in creating awareness in a way that reaches even populations in remote rural areas. The government can also invest in health training programs to disseminate information and acquire more personnel in the process.

Food security

A proper analysis of food shortfalls as a result of climate change is undertaken then actions recommended for implementation as policies. Practicing of agroforestry so as to improve agro-ecosystem function and improving soil fertility for crop production. Food security can also be enhanced by diversifying income sources such as fish farming, rice paddies, and livestock rearing. Employment of technology to provide climate forecast as a way of reducing production risk. Additionally, the management of river and lake basins to offer more efficient irrigation systems that do not waste water (Owusu & Asumadu-Sarkodie, 2016).

Reducing greenhouse emissions

Where the government develops and implements sustainable policies that work to cut the amount of greenhouse gases, there will be a reduction in prevalence or respiratory and heat related diseases. An example of West Africa and Vietnam where rice and livestock systems are integrated to reduced methane emissions. Businesses can be encouraged through policy initiatives bearing incentives to venture into green business with minimal or no carbon footprints. For the existing businesses, there can be guidelines for reducing their carbon foot print in ways that still ensures there is profitability and fair treatment of employees (United Nations, 2019). The insistence on sustainability arises from avoidance of a scenario where health policies result in retrenchment of workers. That is certainly not sustainable in the long run.

Conclusion

All in all, climate change is a sensitive subject with dire repercussions from the unforgiving nature. It has reached a point where environmental management has to be treated with the seriousness it deserves since it transcends that pigeon hole. Currently, it is rightly considered as a human health issue. The Neanderthal view of climate change as being `there’ and people `here’ is time barred. Calamities after calamities has knocked on the planet’s door simply because man became blind of an everyday reality or totally ignored it. One cannot solve his or her nudity by running away except by clothing oneself. The only way out is by addressing the issue of global warming. Consequently, the approaches taken to restore the ecosystem to its pure and undefiled form must take into account the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. In the quest to improve human health, the policies developed should pass the test of sustainability. The good news is that the world is slowly waking up to the realization that our environment is no longer the same and this is a positive note. It provides hope that despite some of the irreversible effects of climate change, measures can be taken to conduct a rollback changes. The mitigation strategies alluded to earlier are actually not a comprehensive way to deal with the environmental health problem. There is still space for more innovative ways that will be tested and applied as the world progresses.

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