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Global Environment

Global Environment. Is Nuclear Power a Safe Alternative?. Energy Use. Between 1850 and 1970, the number of people living on Earth more than tripled—yet the energy they consumed rose 12-fold.

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Global Environment

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  1. Global Environment Is Nuclear Power a Safe Alternative?

  2. Energy Use • Between 1850 and 1970, the number of people living on Earth more than tripled—yet the energy they consumed rose 12-fold. • Energy consumption is rising fastest in the developing world, where petroleum use alone has quadrupled since 1970. China is already the world’s number one coal consumer and the third largest oil user, while Brazil is the sixth largest oil consumer. • Current trends in global energy use simply cannot be sustained: if the average Chinese consumer used as much oil as the average American uses, China would require 90 million barrels per day—11 million more than the entire world produced each day in 2001. Source WordWatch.org

  3. What causes climate change? • Climate change or global warming is caused by increased levels of carbon dioxide (C02) and other polluting gases in our atmosphere. • Heat from the Sun (a) is trapped by the gases in our atmosphere (b) • The gases trap heat by forming a blanket around the Earth - like the glass of a greenhouse. • Once released the greenhouse gases stay in the atmosphere for many years. As they build up, the planet's temperature rises. • Greenhouse gases are released by burning fossil fuels - coal, oil and gas - and by cutting down forests.

  4. UN • The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change  The Convention on Climate Change sets an overall framework for intergovernmental efforts to tackle the challenge posed by climate change.  It recognizes that the climate system is a shared resource whose stability can be affected by industrial and other emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.  The Convention enjoys near universal membership, with 189 countries having ratified.Under the Convention, governments: • gather and share information on greenhouse gas emissions, national policies and best practices • launch national strategies for addressing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to expected impacts, including the provision of financial and technological support to developing countries  • cooperate in preparing for adaptation to the impacts of climate change • The Convention entered into force on 21 March 1994. • Source UNFCC web site

  5. Kyoto Protocol • The 1997 Kyoto Protocol was a follow up to previous UNFCC meetings • It Commits member countries to individual, legally-binding targets to limit or reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Only Countries that formally adopt the Convention will be bound by the Protocol’s commitments. • 165 countries have ratified the Protocol to date. Of these, 35 countries and the EEC are required to reduce greenhouse gas emissions below levels specified for each of them in the treaty.  • So far countries have agreed to a total cut in greenhouse-gas emissions of at least 5% from 1990 levels in the commitment period 2008-2012.

  6. No Kyoto While 166 have signed on to Kyoto Protocol The E.U. and Japan have done the most to reduce emissions. Others have done nothing. Developing countries don’t want to limit economic growth by not building power plants and factories or burning wood. U.S. does not want to limit its economy.

  7. Bali 2007 • UNFCCC continues to meet every year. • 2007 meeting in Bali, Indonesia. United States agrees to join new Treaty to be negotiated within two years. (Dec 2008) • US Recognized need to reduce emissions and to work to Halving emissions by 2050 • http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/main.jhtml?xml=/earth/2007/12/14/eabali314.xml

  8. Nuclear Issues • Nuclear power has been safely used since the 1940s. Soviet Union had the worst disaster Cherynoble, soviet safety features were substandard. • Nuclear Fuel has other uses than power. • Once a country has a reactor its hard to limit what they do, ex: India and Pakistan • Spent Fuel storage is a significant problem

  9. Nuclear power plant Three Mile Island design Source US NRC.gov

  10. Worst Disaster- Chernobyl • 1986 Soviet Union (Modern Ukraine) Reactor Melt down and explosion Killed 33 , exposed 100,000s to radiation Increased cancer and birth defect rates Area still not fit for habitation (18 square miles)

  11. Realities • Cost to build Plant in USA $1.5 billion • IN USA 103 operating nuclear plants. • Given Fossil fuel Cost, Nuclear is still cheaper. • New Pebble bed reactors are safer and cheaper to build. • Limitless amount of Fuel. • Waste is hazardous for 10,000 years. • No Greenhouse gas emmisions

  12. Other sources • Geo thermal Utilizes underground heat requires proximity to geothermal source • Hydro electric No emissions, expensive build and often dislocates people and wildlife. • Wind turbines environmental • Solar photovoltaic or water heating methods useful in sunny areas. • Hydrogen currently expensive to refine

  13. Assignment • Research an alternative energy source • Wind, solar, geothermal, hydrogen, “clean Coal”, tidal, hydroelectric • Write a brief explanation of the method • Why is a good idea • Why is not so good • Where would it work • Cite sources no wikipedia • 2 pages

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