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Wildlife preservation and the negative effects of fossil fuels on the environment has long been publicised. The importance of wildlife conservation far outweighs the advantages of fossil fuel burning. The effects of unused oil and gas on the surrounding environment and most notably a region’s water supplies is well documented.
Voluntary Wildlife Preservation
Texas Parks & Wildlife mention four steps to implement voluntary wildlife preservation practices:
- Planning
- Operations
- Reclamation
- Monitoring
There is more guidance in minimizing impacts of fossil fuel to natural resources in a Texas Parks and Wildlife report.
Fossil Fuel extraction
Some of the highest profile fossil fuel extraction sites in the world are Iraq in the Middle East. Power plant and pipelines were installed deep in the ground. Companies like Shell invested millions to work with reputable oil and gas solutions to utilize local capabilities in the country.
The effects of Fossil Fuels on the Environment
I have written a lengthy article titled How serious is the threat of Man-made Pollution. For this shorter article I researched the effects of fossil fuels on the environment.
Decomposing plants and other organisms, buried beneath layers of sediment and rock, have taken millennia to become the carbon-rich deposits we now call fossil fuels. These non-renewable fuels, which include coal, oil, and natural gas, supply about 80 percent of the world’s energy. They provide electricity, heat, and transportation, while also feeding the processes that make a huge range of products, from steel to plastics.
When fossil fuels are burned, they release carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, which in turn trap heat in our atmosphere, making them the primary contributors to global warming and climate change.
Christina Nunez – Read full article at National Geographic here.
Pollution from Fossil-Fuel Combustion is the Leading Environmental Threat to Global Pediatric Health and Equity: Solutions Exist
This article belongs to the Special Issue Global Children’s Environmental Health
Fossil-fuel combustion by-products are the world’s most significant threat to children’s health and future and are major contributors to global inequality and environmental injustice. The emissions include a myriad of toxic air pollutants and carbon dioxide (CO2), which is the most important human-produced climate-altering greenhouse gas.
Synergies between air pollution and climate change can magnify the harm to children. Impacts include impairment of cognitive and behavioral development, respiratory illness, and other chronic diseases—all of which may be “seeded“ in utero and affect health and functioning immediately and over the life course. By impairing children’s health, ability to learn, and potential to contribute to society, pollution and climate change cause children to become less resilient and the communities they live in to become less equitable.
The developing fetus and young child are disproportionately affected by these exposures because of their immature defense mechanisms and rapid development, especially those in low- and middle-income countries where poverty and lack of resources compound the effects.
No country is spared, however: even high-income countries, especially low-income communities and communities of color within them, are experiencing impacts of fossil fuel-related pollution, climate change and resultant widening inequality and environmental injustice.
Global pediatric health is at a tipping point, with catastrophic consequences in the absence of bold action. Fortunately, technologies and interventions are at hand to reduce and prevent pollution and climate change, with large economic benefits documented or predicted.
All cultures and communities share a concern for the health and well-being of present and future children: this shared value provides a politically powerful lever for action.
The purpose of this commentary is to briefly review the data on the health impacts of fossil-fuel pollution, highlighting the neurodevelopmental impacts, and to briefly describe available means to achieve a low-carbon economy, and some examples of interventions that have benefited health and the economy.
Frederica Perera – Read the full article here.
Wildlife Preservation
The wildlife in Iraq has suffered significantly due to the operations that are now present in the country. The Asiatic Lion, Cheetahs as well as Caspian Tiger are now extinct in Iraq. And the depletion of a slew of species has endangered many animals in the region.
Like aspects of the environment and how nature must be in balance, we often ignore wildlife conservation. Short-term gain inevitably means long term pain and suffering for future generations.
How we have benefitted from fossil fuels
The advantages of Fossil Fuels
Coal, Crude Oil, and Natural Gas have been a relatively cheap source of energy for 250 years. They have been a major reason for industrial development and our march into the twenty-first century.
So, we cannot deny the advantages they have brought by driving power to houses, offices, factories and transport. And that power has helped the advance of science and modern technology.
Things have changed
Through scientific advances we have learned about pollution, climate change and the damage caused by fossil fuel burning.
Because of Fossil Fuel we now understand and are able to harness renewable and clean energy sources. So we have choices that were not available before.
There’s a lot of money to be made out of clean energy. Probably more than out of fossil fuels, as the global econmy reaps greater benefits from a cleaner climate.
New jobs will be created in new industries and future growth will be faster in a cleaner world.
The cost of ignorance and greed
Fossil fuel companies are solely to blame for the degeneration of the surrounding wildlife in Iraq.
Many feel it’s the lack of human understanding as well as poverty and loosely applied laws.
According to animal protection organizations, these things threaten the survival of rare wildlife in Iraq and Kurdistan.
“Several different ministries are involved with environmental matters. But there is no unification and people are not working together. We need one ministry to oversee all environmental matters,”
Dr. Sulaiman Tameer of Kurdistan Organization for Animal Rights Protection (KOARP).
Sulaimani activist Saravan said humans lack an understanding of the importance of their surrounding wildlife and its effect on them.
Saravan continued;
“People here say they love nature, but many have a poor understanding of all that nature encompasses. Wildlife is a part of our heritage too, but people have the wrong mentality towards wildlife and want to control it.”
Final Thoughts
The importance of Wildlife Conservation and the effects of Fossil Fuels on the environment
Preserving our surrounding environment and wildlife preservation, should be a major focus for governments. Unfortunately, in war-stricken countries like Iraq, making sure the economy regains a footing has taken precedence.
Only now is the region feeling the impact of its deteriorating species of animals and the toll it’s taken on its wildlife. Many felt that the government would impose stricter laws to improve standards around extraction sites. This would help restore some of the areas greatly impacted by the large corporations operating in the country, and the effects of Fossil Fuels on the environment
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Good to hear from you again Dennis. You hit the nail squarely on the head. Education! So what have the teachers around the world been telling the kids who are now adults and what are they telling the kids of today? Keep on hoping for the survival of future generations of all living beings. james
Totally agree with your submission. Here in Australia we have certain guidelines applicable to protection of native fauna and flora. Thankfully I have grown up and indoctrinated with this policy, and I shudder every time I travel, and view the pathetic and constant abuse of nature by people, who have never been instructed to provide for the future. The Middle East is obviously one of the spots that this applies, but bear in mind too, that China is another nation hell bent on destroying anything that breathes, walks, runs, swims or clings to a rock. They have this belief that death to an animal that has been provided, is a victory to the slayer. Education is the most important facet here, but try teaching Asians and Arabs the value of protecting the rights of animals….we are on a message of a fool’s errand. Greed, and omnipotent displays in front of others is the deciding factor for this disgraceful behaviour.