New Study Shows Zero Emissions by 2050 in the U.S is Possible, But We’ve Got a Long Way to Go
Many members of the Paris Climate Agreement have made pledges to reach zero emissions by the year 2060 in order to be on track to limit warming to 2.1 degrees C by 2100. Japan, South Korea, and China are all among countries promising to reach zero emissions by 2060.
Image Credit: Dan Riedlhuber | Reuters
The U.S is not currently part of the Paris Climate agreement but president-elect Joe Biden has plans to rejoin. Additionally, the Biden administration has rolled out plans for the promise of being net-zero by 2050.
Unfortunately, many countries are already behind schedule for their emissions promises. Many countries have plans to increase fossil fuel production by two percent annually.
That being said, a new study by Princeton University presents many different paths for the U.S to get to net emissions by 2050. The U.S has serious work to do before it reaches its 2050 zero-emissions goal.
One such path requires an investment in solar and wind manufacturing, which offers long-term domestic employment opportunities without incurring too many additional technology costs. The caveat? Manufacturing capacity for turbines and photovoltaics would have to increase drastically by 2050 — up to 45 times for wind and 120 times for solar.
Air Pollution Listed As Official Cause Of Death for the First Time
In the UK, A nine-year-old girl, Ella Kissi-Debrah, died in 2013 from an asthma attack that resulted in respiratory failure. It was later discovered by Stephen Holgate that the levels of pollution near her home were illegal.
Air pollution has officially been labeled as a cause of death with the coroner ruling that it “made a material contribution” to her death.
“Ella died of asthma contributed to by exposure to excessive air pollution. The whole of Ella’s life was lived in close proximity to highly polluting roads. I have no difficulty in concluding that her personal exposure to nitrogen dioxide and PM was very high.”
The World Health Organization has estimated that nearly 7 million people are killed by air pollution each year. Children who live in poorer areas are more susceptible to asthma.
The U.K has announced that it would end the sale of gas and diesel cars 10 years earlier than planned, by the year 2030. Boris Johnson, Prime Minister, plans to have the country reach zero emissions by 2035.
How Much Plastic Are You Actually Consuming?
A 2019 study conducted by WWF International showed that the average person could be ingesting as much plastic as the equivalent of a credit card every week. The study found that one of the main sources of plastic comes from the water we drink and they also mentioned certain food like shellfish, “…which tends to be eaten whole so the plastic in their digestive systems is also consumed.”
Reuters used the information from this study to illustrate how this plastic consumption adds up over time.
In a month, we ingest the weight of a 4×2 Lego brick in plastic, and in a year, the amount of plastic in a fireman’s helmet. This may not sound like much, but it can add up. At this rate of consumption, in a decade, we could be eating 2.5 kg (5.5 lb) in plastic, the equivalent of over two sizable pieces of plastic pipe.
Plastic production has drastically increased over the last 50 years. Plastic is not biodegradable and only breaks down into smaller microparticles over time. Plastics are known carcinogens. Microplastics are everywhere from our rain, to our food, and even the highest and lowest points of the Earth.
If you’re worried about plastic toxicity and the consequences of it, read this article to learn more about how to detox from plastics and other endocrine system disruptors.
Scientists Find Microplastics Near the Top of Mount Everest
Microplastics have now been discovered at the highest and lowest points of the Earth. In 2018, microplastics were discovered at the deepest point on Earth, the Mariana Trench. Now, after analyzing samples collected by national geographic in 2019, scientists have discovered microplastic particles have been discovered near the top of Mount Everest. Samples were collected from 11 locations on the mountain ranging from 5,300 meters to 8,440 meters high.
The fibers likely came from clothing, tents, and ropes worn by mountaineers. In 2019, around 880 people climbed Everest. The highest concentration of microplastics was found near Base Camp, where people spend most of their time.
“It really surprised me to find microplastics in every single snow sample I analysed,” said Imogen Napper, at the University of Plymouth, who led the new research. “Mount Everest is somewhere I have always considered remote and pristine. To know we are polluting near the top of the tallest mountain is a real eye-opener.”
Microplastics are tiny particles of plastic that come off plastic products. They can be carried by wind, they’re in the rain, the ocean, and pretty much every surface of the Earth. At this point, they’re making their way into our food and water supply, as well. We release millions of tonnes of microplastics each year. Plastics are toxic to us and the animals around us.
This study was released by the journal One Earth. Scientists found microplastics in every snow sample they analyzed, with the most contaminated sample containing 119 particles per liter. The average was 30 particles per liter.
Plastic is in everything, thus it’s everywhere. Our clothes are made of plastic, our furniture is made of plastic, and it’s seemingly impossible to get through life without it. The cut down on plastic waste, we recommend shopping for cotton clothing as much as possible. Eat at home and cook your own food as often as you can. Look for glass whenever it’s available, and be conscious of what you consume, and how.
Why are we showering so much?
Today’s concept of showering is relatively new. Only within the last 100 years have we become a society that showers on a near-daily basis. Around the world, some countries shower more than others, with Brazil reporting an average of 12 showers a week. On the lower end, in Europe, the average is between 3-5 showers a week. America is pretty average with around 6-7 showers a week. As it turns out, the average of seven showers a week is way more than is actually necessary, according to experts.
Prior to our daily showers, civilizations in ancient Rome used to set up bathhouses. Romans were notoriously clean. Rather than use soap, they would use essential oils to get rid of dirt, which then had to be scraped off with a tool known as a strigil. Romans had fairly advanced indoor plumbing systems for the time, not unlike the indoor plumbing systems we use today. This article goes into the history of showering before and after the rise of Christianity if you want to read more about that.
Showering has become a habit, and to many, a ritual. So, what are the effects of our showering rituals? When we shower, we essentially strip our body of the natural oils and bacteria that make up our body’s microbiome and then cover up the damage done with synthetic oils and fragrances. The natural oils and bacteria on our body can be beneficial to us, and when given the time to properly replenish, they create a beneficial ecosystem that functions without the use of soap and other products designed to cover up body odor.
The human microbiome takes around three weeks to replenish itself after its stripped. There is definitely an adjustment period within these three weeks. Your hair may get oily, you make be more acne-prone, and of course, you’ll probably smell funny for a little while! All of this can be made better by a healthy diet. The old saying “you are what you eat” reigns true more often than not, and showering (or rather, not showering) is no exception. If you live off of Big Macs and diet coke, you’ll look, smell, and feel disgusting if you don’t shower often (and even if you do, because Big Macs are gross). If you live off of salads and other whole foods and fresh produce, you’ll be able to tell a difference in your body. Good food creates a good gut microbiome and our gut microbiome carries bacteria all through our body.
After your body has time to adjust to your new no-shower regime, you’ll notice a few things. Your skin will likely look better than it ever has, and if you’re doing things right, your skin should be fine without any other products. It shouldn’t be too oily or too dry. Your hair won’t look greasy. If you stop using product and heat on it, along with no longer washing it, you should find yourself with the healthiest hair you’ve ever had. The texture of it may take a little getting used to. It’s not Pantene-like silky smooth and shiny in its natural state. It’s generally a little more coarse. Lastly, there’s the smell. People are often worried about smelling bad more than anything else, but when your body has the chance to balance out with healthy bacteria, this isn’t a concern. People all have an individual natural body odor based on their body’s bacteria and based on what they eat. If you eat very well, work out, and sweat a lot, you’ll likely smell strong, but very good.
If you’re very in tune with your body, you’ll notice changes in how you smell based on what you eat, and even the situations you’re in. You’ll find that in situations of stress or anxiety you might smell worse, and in situations where you’re comfortable with who you’re with, you’ll smell better, based on the pheromones you release. If you eat junk food, even what one might consider “healthy” junk food, you’ll smell worse the next morning. In that situation though, I find a hard workout and a good salad is enough to correct my microbiome. Depending on your job, you may notice a layer of dirt build-up pretty quickly. For that, I recommend wiping down with a warm rag. I often get dirt built up on my forearms, ankles, and sometimes around my neck. I do shower if I’m doing a particularly dirty job. Just a couple of weeks ago, I was working on my car and planted my head directly into a puddle of power steering fluid. Some situations just warrant shampoo. That being said, when I do shower, I use all-natural soaps that don’t strip my body of its natural oils the same way regular shampoos and soaps do.
Showering and bathing on such a regular basis can be quite a strain on the environment. A typical showerhead has a water flow rate of 2.5 gallons per minute. Data shows that showering is nearly 20% of total water usage in American homes, and the average American family uses 40 gallons of water on showers per day in the U.S. Using hot water to shower also uses an incredible amount of energy along with the water used.
I don’t recommend that everyone give up showering. The reality is, most people aren’t healthy enough to give up showering without becoming gross. Most people aren’t willing to change their lifestyle in order to be able to give up showering. I do, however, encourage everyone to spread their showers out a little more and see what happens! At the very least, you’ll be doing the environment some good!
Thousands of Pounds of Disposable Masks Are Ending up in Our Oceans
On September 16th, scuba divers found more than 3,000 pounds of trash at Rushikonda beach in India. Divers were on their first underwater clean-up since quarantine began when they found 3,300 pounds of N-95 masks, gloves, and other bio-medical waste floating in the seabed. The trash was removed over three rounds of ocean clean up ending on September 27th.
According to the World Health Organization, the world needs 89 million medical masks a month. Disposable masks take hundreds of years to break down and are now being used more than ever.
Before COVID-19, a government hospital bed would generate around half a kg of biomedical waste per day which has now gone up to 3-5 kg (per day).
The pandemic has done extensive damage to the environment in recent months. Disposable masks frequently get wrapped up in wildlife. The amount of PPE that we dispose of is adding to an ever-growing pile of plastic in our oceans and landfills. The world has made a quick shift away from reusable products back to disposable products, for the sake of human health. That being said, the health of the planet and its animals cannot be forgotten, as it is likely what got us into this pandemic in the first place.
If you have to wear a mask, please use a reusable one. If you ever find yourself with a disposable one, when it comes time to throw it away, cut the strings off the mask to prevent it from getting wrapped up in the legs and fins of wildlife. More people are ordering things online than ever before. Keep in mind how much waste your package from amazon is generating. In an attempt to return to normal, many people have begun eating out again or ordering take-out from restaurants. Remember that you, the environment, and your wallet, are better off with a meal cooked at home. Be conscious of what you consume, and how, in a time where staying safe from COVID-19 has become more of a priority than taking care of the environment.
DuPont and Chemours Still Discharging Forever Chemicals
PFAS, commonly known as “forever chemicals” are chemicals that have been linked to cancer and numerous other health problems including thyroid issues, reproductive and developmental issues, and high cholesterol. Forever chemicals are called such because they never break down in the environment.
So why are DuPont and other similar companies still discharging these chemicals from their facilities?
In 2001, it came became well known that a type of PFAS called PFOA, which is used to make Teflon, contaminated the drinking water of 70,000 people near a DuPont factory in West Virginia. Several lawsuits and lots of pressure from the EPA later, DuPont and other companies pledged to phase out PFOA and stop usage after 2015.
Earlier this month, California representative Harley Rouda, sent a letter to DuPont and Chemours questioning why PFAS were still being discharged at their factories. Despite the known toxicity, there are no federal enforcements on PFAS in drinking water, groundwater, or soils, and only five states have regulations on PFAS. There are also no requirements to clean up PFAS under the Federal Superfund Law.
The continued releases could be an indication that the two companies are still using PFOA, despite their assurances otherwise. If so, that would be a serious breach of public trust. But there are other possible explanations for these discharges. There could be PFOA in products or mixtures used at the facilities. Or “legacy” PFOA remaining in water used at the facilities could be showing up – an alarming reminder of the chemical’s persistence in the environment.
Both companies have publicly said they no longer use PFOA, yet, the EPA’s history shows ongoing discharge from two different facilities. One site in Parkersburg reported 323.5 pounds of PFOA released in 2019.
Forever chemicals produced by companies like DuPont and 3M have been contaminating our earth for decades. Information released has shown that these companies knew the dangers of these chemicals as early as the 1950s. If you have any interest in learning more about forever chemicals, I highly recommend the Mark Ruffalo film “Dark Waters”. Dark Waters follows the true story of a corporate defense attorney who took on an environmental lawsuit against DuPont, exposing the decades of pollution.