| Issues in retrospective | | | | capability and consequently slow down |
| The world has been looking for answers to the | | | | industrialization and economic growth. This problem |
| emerging and expectant environmental problems. | | | | is common in developing countries where the |
| Such blatant expectation has been towards the | | | | labor force capability has been enervated by |
| industrialized world including but not limited to the | | | | worker turnover due to upsurge in health |
| United States, Europe (EU) and emerging | | | | problems. Truly, in pursuits of economic growth |
| economies (China, India) in Asia. However, | | | | some countries have consciously and |
| problems pertaining to the environment are very | | | | unconsciously relegated to the background |
| widespread and so the onus of its remediation, | | | | environmental stability. The aftermath is |
| mitigation and sustainability cannot rest only with | | | | degenerative economic growth because of |
| the economic powers of the world. Candidly, | | | | weakened labor force strength stemming |
| these economies have contributed immensely to | | | | cumulatively from health issues and reduced life |
| the production of green house gases | | | | expectancy. It is in the light of these |
| (predominantly water vapor, carbon dioxide, | | | | developments that the author of this article is |
| methane, nitrous oxides, ozone, CFCs) leading to | | | | opting for change in the model from old to new. |
| global warming (rising temperatures on the | | | | The old model sees political stability as causation |
| surface of the earth) and depletion of the ozone | | | | to economic stability and sustainability whilst the |
| layer. Some concurrent problems include | | | | new commends environmental stability as |
| acidification of soil and water sources and climatic | | | | causation for sustainable economic stability. |
| disasters such as rising sea levels, ice melting at | | | | Some Reflections and Recommendations |
| the poles, floods and biological diversity life | | | | The world governing body (presumably United |
| destruction among others. Chemistry tells us that | | | | Nations) for the climatic changes summit should |
| ozone layer depletion and increased carbon dioxide | | | | come out with binding guidelines for all nations |
| is predominantly from two sources: first ozone | | | | involved. The binding guidelines shall be based on a |
| (unstable and strong oxidizer) reactions with | | | | new model of political stability, environmental |
| carbon and nitrous fumes released in the | | | | stability and economic stability as afore discussed. |
| atmosphere and secondly ozone's reactions with | | | | The binding guidelines shall also encompass annual |
| emissions of CFCs and similar chlorinated and | | | | report of environmental performance measures |
| brominated organic compounds. Other prominent | | | | by respective countries together with |
| sources of increased carbon dioxide are fossil | | | | environmental audits by the governing body |
| fuels and wood or deforestation. Unfortunately, | | | | (presumably United Nations) to ensure |
| human activities such as combustion of fossil fuels | | | | implementation and assess progress. For each |
| and deforestation are fast becoming primary | | | | participating country or region, environmental |
| contributors to atmospheric carbon dioxide | | | | performance measures in the form of |
| concentration increase. | | | | measurement and reporting shall includeo |
| Certainly, it can be deciphered that these | | | | Quantitative and qualitative measurement of |
| reactions and activities have dual effects. First, it | | | | emissions (including cost) by countryo Institutional |
| leads to increased carbon dioxide far beyond its | | | | framework involved in the measurementso |
| background levels (that is permissible levels) in the | | | | Models used and the measured impact of |
| atmosphere. Second, is the depletion of the ozone | | | | emissions (including terrestrial water and soil |
| layer which means the Ultraviolet (UV) rays from | | | | environment). This should be preceded by the |
| the Sun cannot be filtered efficiently to avoid its | | | | performance of impact assessment to establish a |
| harmful effects to life forms including humans on | | | | baseline for the respective country or region. |
| earth. Preposterously, there are some scientists | | | | The governing body (United Nations) shall then |
| who argue that the correlation between global | | | | perform annual environmental audits on these |
| warming and ozone depletion is not strong. That is | | | | countries and this shall includeo Assessing |
| to say, ozone depletion is not causation for global | | | | measurements and costso Verifying compliance |
| warming. Whatever, their theories are, the world | | | | with the laid guidelines agreed upon at the |
| is witnessing today increasing warming of the | | | | summito Assessing the effect of the models |
| surface of the earth, melting of ice at the poles | | | | used for the measurementso Identifying any |
| and concealed damage to life forms besides other | | | | problems or deficiencieso Making suggestions for |
| climatic disasters. Again, some environmental | | | | improvementso Feed back to countries. |
| activists do want to categorize climatic changes | | | | Currently, there is the agitation for treating of |
| as an isolated scenario of the world's | | | | carbon emissions as a tradable financial |
| environmental problems. Unfortunately, this is | | | | commodity and this is a very commendable cost |
| absurd and is contradictory to the proverbial | | | | effective measure which would augment the level |
| statement which says that "whatever goes up | | | | of sanity and accountability invariably changing the |
| must definitely come down". The question is: | | | | attitude of nations towards industrial activities. |
| Where do stack emissions from industrial plants | | | | Having to pay for the amount of carbon emitted |
| (point sources of greenhouse gases such as | | | | during production activities would rationalize ones |
| Carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous fumes, water | | | | level of consciousness towards the environment. |
| vapor and other gases such as sulphur dioxide) | | | | Next, there is the need for a magnitudinal shift in |
| go? These gases when released go up into the air | | | | harnessing of energy from non-renewable |
| undergo reactions or not and eventually fall back | | | | resources to renewable resources. That is to say |
| with a different chemistry onto the ground. Thus | | | | a shift from non-renewable energy (unsustainable |
| contaminating soil and water through their | | | | and unreplenishable) to renewable energy ( |
| acidification potential and sometimes fatally | | | | sustainable and naturally replenishable). Thus, |
| affecting biological diversity. A typical example is | | | | reducing the pressure on non-renewable resources |
| when sulphur dioxide, a waste product from coal | | | | and slowing down the climatic changes. Fossil fuels |
| plants, causes acid rain through its reactions with | | | | are non-trivial examples of non-renewable |
| water and falls back into soils and waters | | | | resources for energy production. A greater |
| acidifying them. There is a general school of | | | | percentage of the world's energy is obtained |
| thought that these emissions and their chemical | | | | from burning of fossil fuels which includes energy |
| reactions produce heat which is responsible for | | | | production from coal, natural gas, petroleum e.t.c. |
| rising temperatures and that floods and droughts | | | | With the world's population expected to grow, |
| are part of the natural climatic variations. In fact, | | | | dependence on fossil fuel energy is expected to |
| it must be accepted that human activities is | | | | grow as well and one wonders if energy |
| explicitly exacerbating the rising temperatures and | | | | production from fossil fuels is sustainable |
| natural climatic variations. Generally, the rising | | | | considering its impact (that is production of carbon |
| temperatures affect life in the air, in water and in | | | | and other toxic substances) on the environment. |
| the soil which are active players in climatic | | | | Additionally, overdependence on non-renewable |
| variations. Apparently, it is erroneous to isolate | | | | energy suggests dependence on oil aggravating |
| climatic changes as a separate entity in | | | | the situation when oil prices rise. Hence, there is |
| environmental degradation issues. For it's evident | | | | the need for a shift primarily to renewable energy |
| from the preceding texts that climatic changes | | | | production. As at 2006, renewable energy |
| brim over into water and soil media of the | | | | accounted for only 18% of world energy |
| terrestrial environment. Ultimately, it is expedient | | | | production which means there is still room for |
| that one assesses climatic changes from the | | | | improvement [Global Status Report, 2007]. Now, |
| perspective of environmental stability which stems | | | | renewable energy includes wind energy, solar |
| from air, soil and water management techniques | | | | energy, bio-energy, geothermal energy and tidal |
| based on holistic pollution control policies. Again, | | | | energy. They are better because they are |
| whatever the altercation is between scientist, | | | | pioneered by natural resources such as the wind, |
| activist and the rest of the world, something is | | | | sunlight, biomass, heat from the earth's crust and |
| wrong with the environment and remedial | | | | water tides. In addition, renewable energy |
| measures are needed. The pace of economic | | | | production tend to have moderate - high starting |
| growth by some developing and developed | | | | cost but lower operating cost. Unlike renewable |
| nations do suggest that world emissions are likely | | | | energy, non-renewable energy has higher starting |
| to increase and likewise the environmental | | | | cost as well as higher operating cost even in the |
| problems. Thus, world governments do not need | | | | absence of environmental issues cost. Now, |
| to drag their feet anymore as posterity is waiting | | | | following is some engineering economics of |
| to judge us if nothing is done. In fact, the current | | | | renewable energy production. |
| environmental issues must be categorized not | | | | Wind energy uses the power of airflows to run |
| only as a debauchery but also a social stigma or | | | | vanes and turbines converting wind power into |
| anathema. | | | | electrical energy. Solar energy uses solar panels or |
| Next, the redemption of the environment from | | | | thermal collectors that are installed to collect the |
| the perspective of declining climatic changes and | | | | Sun's energy (rays) and convert it into electrical |
| its corollary would require the collective effort of | | | | energy or heat energy respectively for homes |
| all people from every continent of the world. | | | | and offices. Geothermal energy uses harnessed |
| Accordingly, strategies and programs to be | | | | steam or heat from the earth's crust through |
| pursued should not be regionalized, politicized or | | | | heat pumps and some sophisticated accessories |
| polarized but rather based on a general consensus | | | | to produce heat and electrical energy and this |
| and objectivity. What's more, this is not the time | | | | makes it suitable for heating offices and homes. |
| to be judgmental tagging certain nations and | | | | One may argue that geothermal energy |
| continents as perpetuators of environmental | | | | generation may be suitable for cold regions of the |
| pollution and demanding accountability probably | | | | world and not the warm regions. However, its |
| because of their unscrupulous emissions and | | | | generation in warm regions can find other uses |
| inordinate waste disposal activities. We are in it | | | | reducing the pressure on non-renewable energy |
| together and united we stand divided we fall. | | | | resource. Truly, wind and geothermal energy |
| Now, in the context of the discussions so far, this | | | | technologies are currently being used pervasively |
| article would seek to address the problem of | | | | in Scandinavian countries like Denmark and Iceland. |
| climatic changes from the view point of | | | | Also, several places in the world are endowed |
| environmental stability. | | | | with suitable geologic units whose heat power can |
| The model must change | | | | be harnessed for geothermal energy production. |
| Many believe the world would be a better place if | | | | There are also abundant wind (airflow) and Sun in |
| there is political stability and economic stability and | | | | places like Africa and South America that would |
| this has created the tendency to relegate | | | | be suitable for production of wind and solar |
| environmental stability to the background. | | | | energy. Regarding bio-energy, chemical energy |
| However, experience portrays a high degree of | | | | from biomass (animal waste, landfill or plant |
| association between political stability, economic | | | | materials) or fermentable material is converted |
| stability and environmental stability. Also, this is an | | | | into heat or electrical energy. Bio-fuels energy is |
| indisputable fact which supports a paradigm of | | | | also obtained through ethanol fuel production from |
| mutual dependence between political stability, | | | | fermentable substances such as sweet sorghum, |
| economic stability and environmental stability in | | | | sugar cane, corn similarly converting chemical |
| the design of effective mitigative measures to | | | | energy into heat or electrical energy. In fact, |
| deal with the climatic changes. Surprisingly, in the | | | | there is abundance of these resource materials in |
| past, world economic powers have failed to back | | | | many places in the world today available for |
| their words or agenda with actions. They have | | | | conversion into energy. If the world governing |
| failed to actuate any pragmatic policies primarily | | | | body would want to support funding programs |
| due to financial constraints and also their | | | | which promotes mechanized or sustainable |
| propensity not to pursue the economics of social | | | | irrigation systems in the developing and |
| benefit against social cost. Clearly, social benefit | | | | under-developed world then it might as well as |
| which has long-term socio-economic beneficiation | | | | support massively production of renewable |
| outweighs social cost. However, financial capability | | | | energy so as to reduce dependence on energy |
| has been the central focus instead of social | | | | from non-renewable resources. Coincidentally, |
| benefit. Now is the time for change and prompt | | | | promotion of renewable energy would stimulate |
| action. It is the fervent wish of all that the | | | | economic growth through the creation of more |
| summit on climate change in Copenhagen would | | | | green jobs besides ensuring sustainable growth. |
| be unprecedented leading to the enacting of | | | | Next, countries would at this time be seeking for |
| holistic, pragmatic, dogmatic and sustainable | | | | funding for these programs that are pioneered |
| policies and not ad hoc policies which has been the | | | | towards mitigating threatening environmental |
| trend of the past. Rationally, policies should | | | | instability in their respective countries but this |
| encompass the integration extensively of | | | | should call for extra graveness, accountability and |
| economic growth, industrial development and | | | | probity by their governments and communities. If |
| potent environmental policies. Honestly, what the | | | | the rich nations are making pledges to the needy |
| world needs now is not agendas made up of the | | | | nations or developing nations at the summit to |
| setting of unattainable emission targets and cuts | | | | help curb the deteriorating climatic changes, it |
| by players of industrialization such as U.S (17% by | | | | should be conditional on graveness, accountability |
| 2020 - Washington Post Newspaper source) and | | | | and probity to avoid misappropriation of funds and |
| China (45% by 2020 - Washington Post | | | | a fiasco. Developing countries and under |
| Newspaper source) or smaller cuts by poorer | | | | developed countries instead of asking for funding |
| nations but sustainable policies that amalgamate | | | | should manage their business environment well to |
| political stability, economic stability and | | | | create favorable investment climate that would |
| environmental stability. Also, the rational for the | | | | attract Direct Foreign Investment into the |
| pursuit and success of this amalgamation is the | | | | renewable energy sector. Also, the world |
| designing of policy models that simulate the effect | | | | governing body should encourage developing and |
| of the environmental stability from the | | | | under-developed world to embark on tax-breaks |
| perspective of political and economic stability. | | | | and if possible government rebates for foreign |
| Hypothetically, in the policy model, environmental | | | | and local investors who invest in the renewable |
| stability should be seen as the mediation between | | | | energy sector in their economies. Likewise, |
| political stability and economic stability. To consider | | | | developed countries governments should |
| environmental stability as mediation is to count it | | | | encourage investments into the renewable energy |
| as part of the solution to the attainment of | | | | sector in their economies through tax breaks |
| economic stability. Anyway, this is paradoxical for | | | | incentives for this sector so as to stimulate |
| supporters of democracy who claim that political | | | | economic growth and promote environmental |
| stability provides good governance which is | | | | stability. Countries with budget surpluses can |
| antecedent to economic stability and prosperity | | | | embark on meticulous spending in the renewable |
| besides being a causal link between them. Sorry | | | | sector of their economies. Technically, these |
| to say, it is plausible that political stability provides | | | | action plans would stimulate job growth in the |
| the platform for economic stability but plausibility | | | | renewable energy sector which has a chain |
| is not a proof. Technically, the association of | | | | reaction of sustainable economic growth and |
| political stability and economic stability and | | | | environmental stability. |
| prosperity is not sustainable unless it is linked | | | | Finally, it is not what happens at the summit that |
| consciously with environmental stability and | | | | is important but what happens afterwards. |
| mitigation. As a matter of fact, the effect of | | | | Whether nations are reluctant to adhere to the |
| political stability on economic stability is confounded | | | | guidelines and agenda laid down and how the |
| with the effect that environmental stability has on | | | | world governing body is going to enforce that |
| economic stability. That is to say changes in | | | | without violating a country's sovereignty. |
| political stability can be associated with changes in | | | | Conclusion |
| economic stability but environmental stability can | | | | The world's climatic changes problems continues |
| be associated judiciously with economic stability, | | | | to be a matter of concern. Governments, |
| growth and sustainability. Obviously, it is right to | | | | research scientists are at the crossroads because |
| say that political stability effect on economic | | | | of the differences in perception of each with |
| stability and sustainability is confounded with the | | | | regards to the real causes of these problems. In |
| effect of environmental stability on economic | | | | spite of the diffuse perspectives, a consensus |
| stability and sustainability. Also, if the relationship | | | | may have been reached that emissions of carbon |
| between environmental stability and economic | | | | and other gases are primarily the driving force for |
| stability growth and sustainability is practically | | | | these climatic changes. Regrettably, past |
| significant then it is conclusive that environmental | | | | encounters on this issue were accompanied by |
| stability mediates to confound the effect of | | | | passive response from nations supposedly |
| political stability on economic stability and | | | | signaling nations indifferent attitude to climatic |
| sustainability. This does not mean that the | | | | changes. Nevertheless, there is a new sense of |
| association between political stability and economic | | | | awareness and urgency on this issue and new |
| stability, growth and sustainability does not exist. | | | | strategies are being drawn under the auspices of |
| Rather, this effect is confounded by the effect of | | | | the world governing body the United Nations. |
| environmental stability. So, there is the urgent | | | | Whatever the outcome, policies that is conducive |
| need to tie environmental stability to economic | | | | to attainment of environmental stability and |
| stability and sustainability when designing action | | | | sustainability is needed. Such policies must |
| plans for environmental problems mitigation. | | | | reconcile political stability, environmental stability |
| Realistically, economic growth is not sustainable in | | | | and economic stability. Additionally, the policies |
| the absence of articulate environmental policies. | | | | would call for new direction in the production of |
| Why? In simple terms, lack of articulate | | | | energy favoring renewable energy a candidate for |
| environmental policies would escalate diseases | | | | job growth, economic growth and sustainability. |
| which in turn would affect the labor force | | | | |