Mankind Is The Earths Biggest Threat Environmental Sciences Essay

Mankind Is The Earths Biggest Threat Environmental Sciences Essay Climate change brought about by global warming is one of the biggest threats to mankinds survival. Due to human activity the temperature of the earths surface has increased by about 1.4 °F during the last 90-100 years. Scientists have identified that greenhouse gases are the main reason we are experiencing global warming. The last government was attempting to combat climate change by setting annual targets for the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions until 2050 by placing duties on the Prime Minister regarding the reporting on and achievement of those targets; to specify procedures to be followed if the targets are not met; to specify certain functions of and provide certain powers to Members of Parliament with regard to ensuring carbon dioxide emissions are reduced and to set sectored reduction targets and targets for energy efficiency. This seems very easy in principal but in reality the government has failed since the Kyoto Protocol. One key area where they are failing is in th e housing sector as the aims are primarily focused on new homes rather than the existing housing stock. By the year 2050 there will be 21 million homes in need of an upgrade to reduce the carbon emissions being released into the atmosphere. In this dissertation we will examine the reasons for global warming and climate change, what government initiatives have been introduced and what solutions can, have and will be implemented to reduce carbon emissions with an emphasis on renewable technologies. Declaration I declare that the work contained in this dissertation is my own original work and that no part has been plagiarised from any source whatsoever. Where work, ideas or concepts have been taken or adapted from authors, these will be properly cited and referenced. This dissertation is approximately 10000 words in length. Signedà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Print Nameà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Dateà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦Ãƒ ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Contents The following proposes how my dissertation will be structured. These titles are in conjunction with my aims and objectives and are self explanatory. Introduction Aim Objectives Research Methodology Literature Review Global Warming and Climate Change Energy Use Background to climate change mitigation The Kyoto Protocol European union context United Kingdom Context EU Directive Alternative and Renewable Energy Ground Source Heat Pumps Biomass Energy Solar Energy Types of Systems 5.1(a) Solar Hot Water Systems 5.1(b) Photovoltaics 6. Micro Combined Heat Power 7. Wind Energy Technology Introduction The government and industry must reduce their carbon emissions from the United Kingdoms domestic sector in order to meet their climate change targets. 30% of all the United Kingdoms energy comes from the domestic sector and in turn accounts 45% of all emissions. (2008 Energy Technologies Institute LLP-Part of the low carbon innovation group). By the year 2050 there will be approximately 32 million dwellings of which 21 million will require refurbishment as they will be the existing housing stock. The government have set a target of an 80% reduction in carbon emissions by 2050 and in order to achieve this goal they will have to install insulation, educate householders on ways to use energy more efficiently, use more low energy products and supply energy from renewable sources. Aim The main aim of this study is to examine ways to reduce carbon emissions from the United Kingdoms existing housing stock. Objectives The main objectives of this study to examine: A brief history of global warming and climate change What government legislation is in place to reduce carbon emissions The current energy efficiency of the United Kingdoms existing housing stock What contribution renewable energy can make towards reducing carbon emissions Research methodology The objectives outlined previously will give the reader a better understanding of the subject areas. The research carried out will be a 50 50 split between qualitative and quantitative research. Qualitative research is subjective in nature. It is research that cannot be measured because it is not based on facts. It is based on people beliefs, their feelings and their own personal opinions and experiences. (Naoum 2007 second edition) Quantitative research is objective in nature. It is research that is based on factual information that can be proven. It could be results from tests, surveys etc that can be analysed. (Naoum 2007 second edition) Primary literature is research that includes academic journal, published original work and technical papers. AND secondary literature sources are sources such as text books and newspaper articles ((Naoum 2007 second edition) Dissertation Structure The research into my aim and objective will provide a greater depth of understanding of each subject area. The study will give a background into the need for an energy efficient housing stock including looking at reasons for global warming and climate change. It will also discuss government initiatives and energy use in the domestic sector as well as the reasons why it is difficult to achieve the aims. The existing housing stock will be researched to ascertain their energy efficiency before and after refurbishment. Some of the primary literature I plan to use include; Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change The EUs Contribution to Shaping A Future Global Climate Change Regime The Sixth Environment Action Programme of the European Community 2002-2012 Our Energy Future Creating a Low Carbon Economy Action in the UK The UK Climate Change Programme European Buildings Directive Met office action on co2 Planning for micro renewables Renewable energy technologies, Scottish Executive, Development Department HM Government- Renewable Energy Strategy Some of the Secondary Sources I plan to use include; Environmental science in buildings 6th Edition (Randall McMullan) CIBSE Energy and carbon emissions regulations A guide to implementation The scope for reducing carbon emissions from housing (J.Henderson L. Shorrock) Literature Review Global warming and Climate Change People are the main cause of climate change. 40% of all co2 emissions come from greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane through energy use in the home, driving and air travel. Global climate change occurs naturally through oceans, changes in the earths orbit and the suns energy but there is evidence that the greenhouse effect is made worse by mans actions. What changes have been observed? global temperature increase: +0.75 °C over the past century with 2000-2010 the warmest decade on record rainfall patterns: wet regions of the world are getting wetter, and dry regions getting drier humidity: increases over the last  two to three  decades make extreme rainfall and flooding more likely warming oceans: temperature increases in the last 50 years in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans are not linked natural variations salinity: increased evaporation is making the Atlantic saltier in sub-tropical latitudes sea-ice: summer Arctic sea-ice is declining by 600,000 km ² per decade (the area of Madagascar), a long-term trend only explicable by human influences How the evidence stacks up Scientists have used sophisticated methods to identify these long-term changes, and to then consider: are these changes due to natural variability? (changes in energy from the sun, volcanic eruptions, or natural cycles such as El Nià ±o) if not, is there evidence that human activity could be to blame? Peter Stott, Head of Climate Monitoring and Attribution at the Met Office, said: The science reveals a consistent picture of global change that clearly bears the fingerprint of man-made greenhouse gas emissions. This shows the evidence of climate change has gone beyond temperature increases   it is now visible across our climate system and all regions of the planet. The average person thinks that the weather and climate change are the same but this is not the case. Weather is rain, hail, sleet, snow and wind with varying temperatures that change daily, where as climate change is a study of the weather and it changes over time. The greenhouse consequence is the natural process of the earths atmosphere allowing in some of the energy we receive from the sun (ultraviolet and visible light) and stopping it being transmitted back out into space (infrared radiation the greenhouse effect is the natural process. This makes the Earth warm enough for people to live. Although there have been quite stable levels of greenhouse gases for many years, industrial and domestic energy use has upset the balance with the evidence of climate change now being seen right across the planet with temperature increases and melting ice caps causing havoc with our eco-system. Energy Use Humans use energy such as coal, gas and oil everyday and everytime they do so carbon monoxide and other gases are absorbed by the atmosphere. The natural cycle was for the carbon dioxide to be reabsorbed by the plants and trees. However, we are burning so much fuel, and with humans cutting down our rainforests. the trees and plants can no longer cope. As the increased carbon dioxide levels rise they are being trapped within our atmosphere causing the temperature to rise. This is global warming. As the global temperature is rising daily we are seeing more floods and extreme weather such as tornados and hurricanes. To try to combat this we have to reduce the amount of fossil fuels we are using. (The Carbon

Comparing Media on Trangendered People and Social Issues

In this, the 21st century, control over the masses seems to becoming more apparent from a hierarchy containing a handful of self-selected highly ranked, influential individuals. Controlling the views and beliefs of whole nations of people, by controlling what information they receive and how this information is delivered. Some of these people are highly respected, trusted and in positions of authority.Their words have the power to not only give hope to, but also scare and shape the beliefs of their followers who, unquestionably trust in their intentions. A prime example of this powerful influence on society is in the so-called democratic country of Australia, where one man, Rupert Murdoch, owns two thirds of the nation’s biggest newspapers. 75% of the remaining is owned by one other man, John Fairfax (Donavan, 2011).So then, the well-known saying ‘Don’t believe everything you read or hear’ is a good reminder to anyone subjected to receiving the news anywher e in Australia, to keep an open mind, be sceptical and seek out any other facts through further research before making up their minds on a reported situation. Just because something is broadcast through the media, or is said by an important person, it does not automatically make it fact or cover the whole truth.Very rarely are both sides of a story ever expressed unbiasedly, bringing forth all facts and information and then leaving it up to the individual to make a decision. Consequently, this paper will compare different media outlets. One stemming from great power and position, and the other from a small local community organisation, showing the different strategies and contexts in which they report, how and who they influence and what factual information they use to back up their statements on the topic of transgendered people.Before examining these differences, it is important to mention that the term ‘transgender’ can be defined several ways academically, so for th e sake of this paper ‘transgender’ will be used as the umbrella term covering people whose biological sex does not completely, in part or at all coincide with their gender identity. Furthermore, it must be mentioned that gender identity is different from homosexuality, which is sexual orientation. Transgendered people, like everybody else can be straight, bi, gay or somewhere in-between (Dra.Torres, 2001). For a group of people that have existed as some predict, since mankind’s genetic make-up started to differ from ’perfect’ (Reitz, 2009), equality in society has never seemed to exist for long, if at all. There are historical accounts throughout Ancient Greece, Rome and across the Mediterranean to the Middle East of transgendered people worshipping their transgendered goddesses and not only being socially accepted but thought to possess powers of protection and good fortune.That was until Christian and Islamic influences spread and not only were th eir religious beliefs defamed and eradicated, transgendered people were as well (Dra. Torres, 2001). 2000 years on it seems not much has changed in the eyes of the Catholic Church. On the 22rd of December 2008, Pope Benedict XVI gave his annual end of year Christmas speech to a room filled with archbishops and priests. Broadcasted from inside the Vatican, through their personally owned television station, website, and printed in newspapers across the globe.He summarised the year that was, describing in lengthy detail the occurrence of World Youth Week in Australia, sending messages of peace to war-torn countries and comparing gay and transgendered people to a rainforest. At a time of year that is supposed to be about spreading peace and joy and bringing people together, Pope Benedict XVI started off with these blessings saying â€Å"†¦The grace of God has appeared for all. He then mention World Youth Week in all its glory following by saying and the earth is a gift we must all protect and not abuse the earth’s resources for personal gain. He states it is the Church’s responsibility to firmly publicly protect the earth and the self-destructive man from himself. He describes human being disposition of being man and woman and this ‘self-destructive man’ is anyone that does not ‘respect the order of creation’ by treating it as out of date philosophy of metaphysics. His reasoning that transgendered people exists follows. What is often expressed and understood by the term â€Å"gender† ultimately ends up being man’s attempt at self-emancipation from creation and the Creator. Man wants to be his own master, and alone – always and exclusively – to determine everything that concerns him. Yet in this way he lives in opposition to the truth, in opposition to the Creator Spirit. Rain forests deserve indeed to be protected, but no less so does man, as a creature having an innate â€Å"message† which does not contradict our freedom, but is instead its very premise.The great scholastic theologians described marriage, understood as the life-long bond between a man and a woman, as a sacrament of creation, which the Creator himself instituted– without modifying the â€Å"message† of creation†¦ From this perspective, we should†¦ defend love against sex as a consumer good, the future against the exclusive claims of the present, and human nature against its manipulation. †(Pope Benedict XVI, 22nd Dec 2008) Christmas day, three days later his speech hypocritically had the following comments. Wherever the dignity and rights of the human person are trampled upon; †¦ wherever fratricidal hatred and the exploitation of man by man risk being taken for granted; wherever internecine conflicts divide ethnic and social groups and disrupt peaceful coexistence;†¦ wherever the basics needed for survival are lacking; wherever an increasingly uncertain f uture is regarded with apprehension, even in affluent nations: in each of these places may the Light of Christmas shine forth and encourage all people to do their part in a spirit of authentic solidarity. (Pope Benedict XVI, 25th Dec, 2008) This is a man in charge of the wealthiest city, representing ‘The Creator’, in the largest populated religion globally, consisting of just below550 million people. His statements were not only badly timed, but uneducated, unethical to say the least and unacceptable to come from a man with such powerful status and influence. He has labelled transgendered people as non-believing mavericks, who chose to change their sex to rebel and free themselves. From what exactly, is incomprehensible the way he puts it, just that they want to emancipate themselves.Not by getting a crazy haircut or wearing outrageous clothing. Not by not socially conforming and not following trends and not even by becoming Atheist. But by subjecting themselves to mul tiple, painful operations, enduring a hormonal rollercoaster, being socially unaccepted, ridiculed, disowned and being a target for violence. As he sees it, depending on where these self-freeing masters-of-their-own-destiny are from they are ‘choosing’ to throw away almost every basic human right, to instead live a life most likely filled with prostitution and drugs! That’s emancipation? Benedict XVI, 2008) This total misconception has no factual basis, and is obvious from the only reference being ancient theologians’ description on marriage, which resulted in not only offending the gender diverse, but homosexual people as well, who, through further research found he used the same ‘emancipation reason’ on two years earlier (Benedict XVI, 2006). He is basically saying that gay people are a threat to creation because if everyone ‘chose’ to be gay creation would cease to exist. Ironically enough the same could be said about the celib ate priesthood.This was an unnecessary personal attack, abusing his position and the media tools he has at his disposal to turn what should have been an inspirational and motivating speech to other power religious leaders into an excuse to breed a prejudice point of view that reached and is still reaching millions. On the very opposite, more positive end of the scale there thankfully exists an organisation called ‘the Gender Centre’ residing in Sydney, Australia. They are funded by Human Services and Community Services and provide a range of facilities not only for transgendered people, but to their loved ones and also organisations.Their pledge states â€Å"†¦The Gender Centre is†¦ committed to educating the public and service providers about the needs of people with gender issues. † (Polare, Jul-Sep, 2011) Their services include support and education, social and support groups, drug and alcohol counselling, HIV/AIDS information, condoms and lube distr ibution, needle exchange, accommodation, referrals to specialists, outreach programs, counselling and support groups for families of transgendered and the production of a quarter-yearly magazine called ‘Polare’. Polare, Jan-Mar, 2011) Polare is a free magazine and every edition is packed full of helpful information, personal entries and latest news stories all relating to gender issues and the local society. It reports the facts and allows people to send in unsolicited contributions and also has forums on their website for gender issue discussion and debate allowing for all opinions to be heard and responded to.Every page turned exposes more helpful companies and services, for example the Jan-March issue’s page 12 has an ad for a hair removal company, an ad encouraging under 25 year old transgendered to write into the magazine sharing their stories. Opposite on page 13, an article on how a male to female transgender named Lana, fought to be accepted into a profes sional women’s golf tournament in the US, which she won not only the right to play but the tournament itself.The story continues on with other transgendered sports players and the difficulties they have faced including Lana’s legal battle to be accepted in the US, Britain and European professional golfing tours. Her fight forced the review of the National Collegiate Athletic Association polices making it easier for other transgendered people to compete in sports and fit in in society, whilst also raising awareness (Cummings, 2011). In issue 88 July-Sep 2011, pages 8-12 covers in depth information on the Gender Centre and what they do.Unlike the Pope’s speech, they address transgendered people by name and highlight the social issues they face such as homelessness, social isolation, unemployment and family rejection and provides services to help each of these and more (Moore, 2011). Ironic to what he represents, there was no mention of any solution or help from Po pe Benectict XVI. Further in issue 88 are stories of new drug treatments for Hepatitis C and legal battles transgendered are fighting to have the right to be classified as they see themselves not on what their genitalia represents.At the very back of every edition, they have a ‘Directory Assistance’ section six pages long containing services and organisations. These contacts are aimed to help not only the transgendered but the homosexual community too. It covers all states over Australia and includes a few international contacts (Gender Centre, 2011). Online, the Gender Centre provides a 41 page fact sheet covering a wide variety of interrelated topics. From information on their training sessions they can provide for employers and organisations, to information on intersex and ambiguous genitalia.It also provides 10 pages of information on all the rights transgendered people have and highlights different circumstances. It also includes useful contact details of legal and other organisations that might be needed especially in an emergency. (Gender Centre, 2008) It is relieving to see such organisations exist, for such a special group of people living in a society so overpowered by greedy, power-hungry individuals. These people go through so much emotional trauma and psychological stress just trying to understand themselves and who they really are.To then go out into such a critical society and be able to hold their heads high with pride deserves recognition at the strength and resilience the human spirit is capable of. In conclusion, it would only be foolish to wait for a day and age where everyone is considered as worthy as the next, because as the time passes, the rich and powerful only seem to be getting richer and in more powerful positions, controlling more and more what the masses are lead to believe.The worst thing about this, especially when it comes to the leader of a religious group, is the loss of the basic human morals and consideration for other people in general, losing sight of what and who they are representing and influencing. Instead of helping out fellow human beings because they care and want to help, unfair and hypocritical judgements are passed. It just goes to show that even the Catholic Church makes huge mistakes, but as long as our community organisation groups exists, hope can still spread among the people.

6 Environmental Costs (and 3 Benefits) of Hydroelectricity

Hydroelectricity is a significant source of power in many regions of the globe, providing 24% of the global electricity needs. Brazil and Norway rely almost exclusively on hydropower. In the United States, 7 to 12% of all electricity is produced by hydropower; the states which depend the most on it are Washington, Oregon, California, and New York. Hydropower vs. Hydroelectricity Hydropower is when water is used to activate moving parts, which in turn may operate a mill, an irrigation system, or an electric turbine (in which case we can use the term hydroelectricity). Most commonly, hydroelectricity is produced when water is held back by a dam, led down a penstock through a turbine, and then released in the river below. The water is both pushed by pressure from the reservoir above and pulled by gravity, and that energy spins a turbine coupled to a generator producing electricity. The rarer run-of-the-river hydroelectric plants also have a dam, but no reservoir behind it; turbines are moved by the river water flowing past them at the natural flow rate. Ultimately, the generation of electricity relies on the natural water cycle to refill the reservoir, making it a renewable process with no input of fossil fuel needed. Our use of fossil fuels is associated with a multitude of environmental problems: for example, the extraction of oil from tar sands produces air pollution; fracking for natural gas is associated with water pollution; the burning of fossil fuels produces climate change-inducing greenhouse gas emissions. We, therefore, look to sources of renewable energy as clean alternatives to fossil fuels. However, like all sources of energy, renewable or not, there are environmental costs associated with hydroelectricity. Here is a review of some of those costs, along with some benefits. Costs Barrier to Fish. Many migratory fish species swim up and down rivers to complete their life cycle. Anadromous fish, like salmon, shad, or Atlantic sturgeon, go upriver to spawn, and young fish swim down river to reach the sea. Catadromous fish, like the American eel, live in the rivers until they swim out to the ocean to breed, and the young eels (elvers) come back to freshwater after they hatch. Dams obviously block the passage of these fish. Some dams are equipped with fish ladders or other devices to let them pass unharmed. The effectiveness of these structures is quite variable but improving.Changes in Flood Regime. Dams can buffer large, sudden volumes of water following spring melt of heavy rains. That can be a good thing for downstream communities (see Benefits below), but it also starves the river from a periodic influx of sediment and prevents the natural high flows from regular re-countering of the river bed, which renews habitat for aquatic life. To recreate these ecologic al processes, authorities periodically release large volumes of water down the Colorado River, with positive effects on the native vegetation alongside the river.Temperature and Oxygen Modulation. Depending on the design of the dam, water released downstream often comes from the deeper parts of the reservoir. That water is therefore much the same cold temperature throughout the year. This has negative impacts on aquatic life adapted to wide seasonal variations in water temperature. Similarly, low oxygen levels in released water can kill aquatic life downstream, but the problem can be mitigated by mixing air into the water at the outlet.  Evaporation. Reservoirs increase a river’s surface area, thus increasing the amount of water lost to evaporation. In hot, sunny regions the losses are staggering: more water is lost from reservoir evaporation than is used for domestic consumption. When water evaporates, dissolved salts are left behind, increasing salinity levels downstream and harming aquatic life.Mercury Pollution. Mercury is deposited on vegetation long distances downwind from coal-burning power plants. When new reservoirs are created, the mercury found in the now submerged vegetation is released and converted by bacteria into methyl-mercury. This methyl-mercury becomes increasingly concentrated as it moves up the food chain (a process called biomagnification). Consumers of predatory fish, including humans, are then exposed to dangerous concentrations of the toxic compound.Methane Emissions. Reservoirs often become saturated with nutrients coming from decomposing vegetation or nearby agricultural fields. These nutrients are consumed by algae and microorganisms which in turn release large amounts of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas. This problem has of yet not been studied enough to understand its true extent. Benefits Flood control. Reservoir levels can be lowered in anticipation of heavy rain or snowmelt, buffering the communities downstream from dangerous river levels.Recreation. Large reservoirs are often used for recreational activities like fishing and boating.Alternative to Fossil Fuels. Producing hydroelectricity releases a lower net amount of greenhouse gases than fossil fuels. As part of a portfolio of energy sources, hydroelectricity allows greater reliance on domestic energy, as opposed to fossil fuels mined overseas, in locations with less stringent environmental regulations. Some Solutions Because the economic benefits of older dams wane while the environmental costs mount, we have seen any increase in dam decommissioning and removal. These dam removals are spectacular, but most importantly they allow scientists to observe how natural processes are restored along the rivers.   Much of the environmental problems described here are associated with large-scale hydroelectric projects. There is a multitude of very small scale projects (often called â€Å"micro-hydro†) where judiciously placed small turbines use low-volume streams to produce electricity for a single home or a neighborhood. These projects have little environmental impact if properly designed. Sources and Further Reading Filho, Geraldo Lucio Tiago, Ivan Felipe Silva dos Santos, and Regina Mambeli Barros. Cost Estimate of Small Hydroelectric Power Plants Based on the Aspect Factor. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 77 (2017): 229–38. Print.Forsund, Finn R. Hydropower Economics. Springer, 2007.  Hancock, Kathleen J, and Benjamin K Sovacool. International Political Economy and Renewable Energy: Hydroelectric Power and the Resource Curse. International Studies Review 20.4 (2018): 615–32. Print.Johansson, Per-Olov, and Bengt Kristrà ¶m. Economics and Social Costs of Hydroelectric Power. Umeà ¥, Sweden: Department of Economics, Umeà ¥ University, 2018. Print.---, eds. Modern Cost-Benefit Analysis of Hydropower Conflicts. Cheltenham, UK: Edward Elgar, 2011.  ---, eds. The Economics of Evaluating Water Projects: Hydroelectricity Versus Other Uses. Springer, 2012.

The Effectiveness of Human Resource Management in Handling Employee Turnover Free Essay Example, 2000 words

Employees feel like having fun at their work. These strategic approaches have helped the organization to curb its employee turnover rate by reducing their stress level and making them satisfied with their jobs (ICMR, 2004). Activities that ascertain employee care and development also create a strong bond between the employees and employers. Such a cordial work environment also enhances the performance of the organization. Increased workload and stress has often led many employees to switch their employers voluntarily after they have failed to cope up with the tremendous workload and unsatisfactory work culture of the organizations. This has increased the employee turnover and attrition rate in the victim organization. It has become a major challenge for most of the organizations to retain their efficient workforce and control the rate of employee turnover. Irrespective of industry in which one is functioning, almost all organizations have realized the gravity of the accelerating emp loyee turnover. Though it varies with the industry, its presence is felt in almost all the sectors irrespective of their private or public affiliation. The private sector has found the issue more challenging because of the competitive business environment in which they operate. We will write a custom essay sample on The Effectiveness of Human Resource Management in Handling Employee Turnover or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/page Strategic approaches towards human resource have enabled organizations to identify various reasons responsible for the increasing rate of employee turnover. Optimization of the human resource strategies which will ensure the well being of work-life balance can support the organization in controlling the rate of employee turnover.