Environmental WSD Examples

A starter kit of environmental references for anecdotes and examples

Louisiana barring interference w/ natural gas utilities

TLDR: Fossil fuel companies were scared of regulations that would affect their business, so they manipulated legislatures into protecting them.

In 2021, Louisiana passed legislation prohibiting municipalities from interfering with the operations of natural gas utilities, ensuring continued service and infrastructure development.

One of the first laws of its type, and it inspired Oklahoma, Arizona, and Tennessee to enact similar legislation.

This law was made in response to Berkeley, California's ban on natural gas infrastructure in new buildings, which scared fossil fuel giants.

The Paris Climate Agreement

An international treaty aimed at combating climate change by limiting global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius.

It seeks to strengthen the global response to climate change through national commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance resilience to climate impacts.

The Kyoto Protocol

An international agreement that commits its parties to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, based on the premise that global warming exists and human-made CO2 emissions have caused it.

It failed because major countries like the US did not ratify it, and developing nations were not held to binding targets.

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

An international treaty that provides a framework for negotiating specific agreements aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and addressing climate change impacts.

Member countries include: all UN member states, along with the European Union.

The Conference of Parties (COP) (general)

The Conference of the Parties (COP) is an annual meeting of the member countries of the UNFCCC to assess progress in addressing climate change and to negotiate agreements to tackle its impacts.

Cuyahoga River Fire

In our hometown of Cleveland, OH…

The Cuyahoga River caught fire due to pollution from industrial discharges, spurring the modern environmental movement.

It led to the first Earth Day in 1970 and significant environmental legislation, including the Clean Water Act.

Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill

It was a catastrophic event in 2010 when an offshore drilling rig experienced a blowout, leading to one of the largest marine oil spills in history. It resulted in extensive environmental damage and prompted major regulatory changes in offshore drilling practices.

The spill released approximately 4.9 million barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico, impacting marine life and coastal ecosystems.

Desiccation of the Aral Sea

The desiccation of the Aral Sea refers to the dramatic shrinkage of this once large inland lake due to the diversion of rivers for irrigation projects in the Soviet Union, leading to severe ecological and socio-economic consequences for the surrounding communities.

In response, efforts have been made to restore the remaining water levels and improve the ecological balance, including the construction.

Collaborators: Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan.

The Dust Bowl

A period of severe dust storms in the 1930s that greatly damaged the ecology and agriculture of the US Great Plains. Caused by drought and poor farming practices, it led to significant economic hardship and prompted changes in agricultural techniques and soil conservation initiatives.

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch

A vast area of floating plastic debris and other waste located between Hawaii and California, primarily created by ocean currents.

It is comprised of approximately 1.8 trillion pieces of plastic, affecting marine organisms through ingestion and entanglement.

Contributing factors: increased plastic production and inadequate waste management practices.

Iraq Seed Grain Poisoning

A public health crisis in Iraq during the 1970s, where the consumption of wheat seeds treated with a toxic fungicide caused widespread illness, thousands of hospital admissions, and hundreds of deaths.

The event highlighted the dangers of chemical exposure in agriculture and led to stricter regulations on food safety and agricultural practices.

The UN investigated the crisis and implemented measures for food safety reforms.

Three Gorges Dam

A large hydroelectric dam on the Yangtze River in China, completed in 2012, designed to generate electricity, control flooding, and enhance river shipping. However, it has raised concerns over displacement, the flooding of cultural sites, and the increased risk of landslides.

People displaced: 1.3 million

The world’s largest dam based on hydroelectric power!