Friday Work April 19, 2013 – Due Thursday April 25, 2013
On the 43rd Anniversary of the Original Earth Day:
Predictions about Natural Resources and the Environment 43 Years from Now
Original Earth Day: Monday is the 43rd anniversary of the original Earth Day. It was an event created by Senator Gaylord Nelson and others to raise awareness of problems with the environment including pollution of land, air and water. I was 12 years old at the time and in 7th grade. I have a vague recollection of Earth Day although I did not participate in it. I do recall in 7th grade getting a chance to do a project on the environment in a social studies class. I also recall becoming interested in nature and environmental issues in seventh grade. For example, I remember getting a book in the school library on Alaska and sharing it with my Dad. That summer my dad and I took a four week long trip to Alaska driving up the Alaska Highway and coming back on fairies through the Alaska Inside Passage and through British Columbia. I retained my interest in the environment the rest of my life.
Steps Taken in 1960s and 1970s: Important steps were taken in the 1960s and 1970s to protect the environment. As a result our air and water are cleaner today. Vehicles get better mileage. Toxic substances are better controlled. Our appliances are more efficient. Alternative energy sources are becoming more common.
Areas of Concern: Despite progress, we face serious problems. For example, we know that carbon dioxide levels have increased since detailed records have been kept starting in 1957. We know that global temperatures on average are rising. While many dispute the significance and consequences of these events, many others are very concerned that climate change will have significant impacts on the environment. While per capita energy consumption in the United States is about the same today as it was in 1968[1], the population in the United States has increased during the same time from about 200 million to 314 million[2]. While great strides have been made in reducing global poverty, newly emerging nations such as China and India are understandably consuming more energy and other natural resources.
Your Predictions: 43 years from 2013 will be the year 2056. You will be around the age I am today, 55. I will be near 100 and almost certainly dead. You will have likely gotten married, raised children, and have been working for decades. Hopefully, you will be happy and successful in your life endeavors. Your job in this assignment is to predict what the state of the environment will be in 2056. Predication is always difficult, but can be a useful exercise in planning for the future. Be careful not to overly predict. Space craft have not replaced cars today like was predicted in the 1960s cartoon The Jetsons! You must address:
Name: ______Date: ______
1. What will the world population be? (Today it is a little over 7 billion. When I was born in 1957 it was less than 3 billion.)
2. Why will transportation be like? What kind of cars will be people be driving. Will they be electric? Will they use fossil fuels?
3. What will be the primary energy resources to generate electricity?
4. How plentiful will coal, oil and natural gas be?
5. What percentage of energy will be generated from solar power? Wind power? Hydroelectric power? Geothermal power? Biomass? Other technologies?
6. Will nuclear power still be used? Will new nuclear technologies be around? Will nuclear fusion be used?
7. What’s happened with climate change? Have temperatures increased? Have sea levels rose? What environmental impacts have there been? Consider that 43 years is actually a very short time for geologic or atmospheric change. What will the effects be in another 43 years – i.e. in 2099? Do you care? Why or why not? Should you care? Why or why not?
8. What have people done to protect the environment? Are people using less energy? Are they living in smaller houses? Do they drive more efficient cars? Are their homes more energy efficient? How? Are people consuming less “stuff?” Are people more or less happy than they are today?
9. What are people’s attitudes about nature, the environment and wilderness?
10. What specifically have you done in your life to protect the environment? Do you have solar energy at home? What kind of cars have you been driving? How much energy do you use? Why have you taken the actions you have either helpful or unhelpful to the environment?
11. What other issues do you think should be addressed? (Use additional paper as necessary.)
[1] https://www.google.com/publicdata/explore?ds=d5bncppjof8f9_&met_y=eg_use_pcap_kg_oe&idim=country:USA&dl=en&hl=en&q=energy%20consumption
[2] https://www.google.com/publicdata/explore?ds=kf7tgg1uo9ude_&met_y=population&idim=country:US&dl=en&hl=en&q=population%20united%20states