Can Trophy Hunting The Save Elephants? pg. 6 Forest Offsets in Emerald Western Mass. pg. 27 Beauty and the Review Waste pg. 38 @ Boston University 2017-2018

China’s Investment in Africa and its Natural Resources

Accuracy in Today’s Uncertain World of “SciComms” 1 CONTENTS Life Industry 6 Can Revenue From Trophy 34 Environmental Impacts of Hunters Save Zimbabwe’s Hollywood Elephants? 37 The Untapped Potential of 10 Increasing Anthropogenic Solar Microgrids Noise: Drowining out the Whales 39 Beauty and the Waste: The Environmental Impact of 13 The Green Gray Area: How Fashion Industry to Actually Save the Bees 30 Mixed Messages and Slick 16 The Past Present and Lobbying from Exxon Future of Animal Testing Executives Media 40 Accuracy in Uncertainty: The Challenges of Reporting on Climate Change 44 Is Climate Change Entertainment?

Impact 46 The Role of Female Education in the Fight A Closer Look at China’s 18 Against Climate Change Investment in Africa

23 The Trump Administration’s Efforts to Urban Cripple the EPA 48 A More Connected Massachusetts 25 Clean Water Rule Repeal: Carte Blanch to 52 Uncertain Outcomes: The Manufacters or Challenges of Environmental Protection Privately-Funded Transit

27 Forest Offsets Show 55 Cigarette Butt Litter: A Promise in Western Problem Left Unnoticed Massachusetts

2 3 STAFF THE EMERALD REVIEW CW SB 1 2 3 4 5 6

he past year for the review has been fast and transformative. We wel- 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Tcomed new faces, new articles, and new environmental challenges to over- come. After due consideration, the editorial staff endorsed The Emerald Review as the new name with the hopes of strengthen- 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 ing the position and brand of the review into the future. The name is an homage 1. Katie Wolgamuth 8. Michael Baker 15. Tova Levin Editor-in-Chief Advertising / Outreach Staff Writer to Boston University’s nestled location College of Arts & Sciences College of Arts & Sciences College of Arts & Sciences among the City of Boston’s Emerald Neck- Class of 2018 Class of 2020 Class of 2020 lace park system and the nature of our published content. 2. Cory Willingham 9. Emelia Chamberlain 16. Sara Mack Managing Editor Photo Editor Staff Writer The Emerald Necklace was designed College of Arts & Sciences College of Arts & Sciences College of Arts & Sciences by Frederick Law Olmsted, a revered Class of 2020 Class of 2018 College of Communication park-pioneer, to connect the Boston Com- Class of 2020 mon to Franklin Park in the early 1800s. 3. Aarti Arora 10. Ethan Brown 17. Ahalya Mahindra Copy Editor Staff Writer Staff Writer Though incomplete, the park connects College of Arts & Sciences College of Arts & Sciences College of Arts & Sciences the Common to the Public Garden, Com- Class of 2018 College of Communication Class of 2020 monwealth Avenue Mall, Fens, Riverway, Class of 2021 and more down to the Arboretum, and 4. Sara Brennan 11. Miranda Bryson 18. Oleksandra Torubara Editor Staff Writer Staff Writer also includes Franklin Park. College of Arts & Sciences College of Arts & Sciences College of Arts & Sciences Much like the parks, The Emerald Re- Class of 2018 Class of 2020 Class of 2020 view continues to grow despite being un- finished. We look forward to continued 5. Chance Rogala 12. Katie Camero 19. Emily Wexler support from our readers and writers as Editor Staff Writer Staff Writer College of Arts & Sciences College of Communication College of Arts & Sciences the review evolves. Class of 2020 Class of 2019 Class of 2021 Katie Wolgamuth, Editor-in-Chief 6. Andrew Kelbley 13. Rachel Gentile 20. Nicole Wheatman Editor Staff Writer Staff Writer College of Arts & Sciences College of Arts & Sciences College of Arts & Sciences Class of 2021 College of Communication Class of 2018 Class of 2020 7. Sacha de Jong 14. Frances Gould 21. Olivia Williams Website Editor / Publisher Staff Writer Staff Writer Sargent College College of Arts & Sciences College of Arts & Sciences Class of 2020 Class of 2020 Class of 2020

4 5 CAN REVENUE FROM TROPHY HUNTERS SAVE ZIMBABWE’S ELEPHANTS? For conservationists, trophy hunting is unethi- cal and risks biodiversity, but for the animals, trophy hunters may be the only reason they are still alive

ast November, President Trump an- nounced the reversal of a 2014 ban on Lelephant trophy imports from Zimba- bwe and Zambia. Following backlash from animal rights and conservation activists, Trump placed the reversal on hold two days later “until such time as I review all conserva- tion facts.” African elephants remain an en- dangered and dwindling species – the 2016 African Elephant Status Report estimated the African elephant population to be 415,428, a 104,000-114,000 drop since 2006. While a ban on elephant trophy hunting sounds like a compelling conservation strategy, elephant population declines have stemmed primarily from illegal poaching, and legal trophy hunt- ing can provide much-needed money for el- ephant conservation efforts. From a purely economic standpoint, le- galized and commercialized trophy hunting ensures the continued supply of elephants by giving them monetary value. While the ethics of treating animals as commodities

6 7 are debatable, economic lan- success with similar con- ing the conservation through guage proves extremely use- servation approaches, while trophy hunting strategy ful in describing the link be- most countries that have ne- prove difficult as both sides tween trophy hunting and glected to implement these are so morally flawed. Alter- conservation. Economists use conservation strategies, like nate policies, such as using the term “common resource” Tanzania and Mozambique, revenue from tourists and to describe commodities for have had their elephant pop- photographers, prove inef- which there is no way to pre- ulations destroyed. While it fective because tourists re- vent people from using the is counterintuitive to legalize fuse to pay the exorbitant commodity and for which one the killing of elephants in or- prices that trophy hunters person’s use of the commodity der to protect them, in reality, pay for their animals. Also, diminishes the quantity and/ it may be the most promising people hunt elephants not or quality of the commodity approach. just for trophies, but to har- for others. Wild elephants are In writing, Zimbabwe has vest ivory, which, while in- a common resource because embraced these conserva- ternationally illegal to trade, people cannot be prevented tion strategies as well. One is extremely valuable in Chi- from hunting them and ev- of Zimbabwe’s key elephant Zimbabwean army captured In light of this corruption, nese culture for its aesthetic ery person who kills an ele- conservation efforts is an or- their (former) president Rob- President Obama’s 2014 ban properties and toolmaking phant diminishes the quan- ganization called CAMPFIRE ert Mugabe and placed him on Zimbabwean elephant tro- utility. In contemplating the tity of elephants available for (Community Areas Manage- under house arrest, forcing phy imports served not as a ethics of hunting, one must future hunters. Policies such ment Programme for Indige- him to resign and allowing myopic undermining of tro- consider both the costs and as granting land owners own- nous Resources). CAMPFIRE Emmerson Mnangagwa to phy hunting as a conservation the benefits, including sub- ership of the elephants on directly pays a large portion of take over. Amid drastic and strategy but as a prompt for sistence, overpopulation their land and charging a fee their revenue (70% of which contentious changes to the Zimbabwe to reexamine their management, sport, or ob- to hunt said elephants would comes from elephant trophy Zimbabwean government, corruption. Economists and taining or selling valuable make elephants more exclud- “elephant hunting) back to rural com- people have doubted the func- politicians debate the idea of parts of the animal. able, result in less hunting, munities so they can afford tionality and integrity of Zim- using protection policies as During an interview in the and generate revenue for the conservation to manage their land. CAMP- babwe’s elephant conserva- a bargaining chip to prompt 2017 documentary Trophy, conservation of elephant pop- FIRE serves around 777,000 tion efforts. Many speculate other countries to change. John Hume, a South African ulations. through tro- rural and impoverished that corrupt government offi- Proponents argue that the oth- who owns the world’s largest These elephant monetiza- households, each with an av- cials steal the money from tro- er country would change, mo- rhinoceros farm, says, “Give tion policies work well when erage income of $1 per day. phy hunters for themselves, tivated to restore free trade. me one animal that has gone executed properly. In 1996, phy hunting Through CAMPFIRE’s work, denying rural communities Critics point out that if the oth- extinct while farmers were the government of Namibia rural communities improve the funding they need to con- er country does not change, as breeding it and making mon- began granting rural commu- only works if their relationships with ele- serve elephants. Based on is the case with Zimbabwe, the ey out of it. There’s not one.” nities the power to work with phants and are incentivized to Zimbabwe’s elephant popu- first country suffers: either Hume’s point, that humans private ecotourism compa- the revenue manage the elephant popula- lation trends in recent years, they keep the protection and will always conserve some- nies to create markets for el- tions. While many people see these speculations may have hurt their economy or they re- thing that generates profit, ephant trophy hunting. The elephants as a nuisance due merit. Zimbabwe suffered a move the protection and ap- demonstrates the potential program has generated mil- truly goes to their destructive behavior, 6% decrease in elephant pop- pear weak on the internation- for legalized trophy hunting. lions of dollars for rural con- CAMPFIRE shows these com- ulations across the board from al stage. In deciding whether As Zimbabwe recovers from servancies, providing $75 back into munities that elephants bring 2006 to 2014. Within the four to support or oppose the ban its recent political trauma, per month for one in seven immense value to their land. regions of the country where reversal, Americans must de- and the United States decides Namibians. According to the conservation Though Zimbabwe’s efforts elephants congregate, two re- cide whether the former ban is whether or not to reverse the Namibia Nature Foundation, sound exciting, their corrupt gions experienced growth and effective as a bargaining chip, 2014 ban, the future of Zim- Namibia’s total elephant pop- government has recently un- two experienced decline. El- and also whether there should babwe’s elephants remains ulation rose from 10,143 in efforts” dermined the credibility of ephant conservation through be greater value placed on the unclear. 1998 to 16,397 in 2004. Some their organizations. In re- trophy hunting only works if lives of individual elephants or ------other countries, like South Af- cent months, Zimbabwe has the revenue truly goes back on the survival of the species. Ethan Brown is a staff writer for rica and Kenya, have found endured political chaos: the into conservation efforts. Ethical questions surround- The Emerald Review.

8 9 nificantly, the number of large ar damage or other impact whale species are endan- cargo vessels has increased trauma such as hemorrhag- gered, so any negative impact 8-14% since 2000 and recre- es in the ear, brain, and kid- on breeding can be detrimen- ational vessels have also sig- neys as well. When exposed tal to the species as a whole. nificantly increased in - num to chronic noise many whales If they do stay, many show a ber. As a result, the ocean has experience an increase in disruption in foraging behav- been growing noisier at an stress hormones. An increase ior. Humpback Whales, for ex- average of three decibels per in stress hormones leads to ample will not dive for food as decade. With most of this new a depressed immune sys- often, or will make fewer at- sound being low-frequen- tem, stunted growth, and in- tempts to feed at depth when cy shipping noise, it travels creased metabolism. These there is a great deal of noise very far underwater, and can things make it hard for whales in an area. This of course can be heard clearly hundreds of to fight off diseases and pred- lead to malnutrition in whales kilometers from the source. ators, and to feed themselves. located in a noisy area if they Other noise sources are sonar, It is thought that the noise choose to stay. Many of the big usually from the navy but also in the North Atlantic is what whales, like Humpbacks and used in other navigation, seis- is preventing North Atlantic North Atlantic Right Whales, mic blasting for oil drilling, Right Whale populations from will modify their calls, trying pile driving, etc. recovering as well as the South to be louder than the outside When exposed to the loud Atlantic Right Whale popula- sound in the environment. noise of seismic blasting or tions have. The Southern At- They may also change the high-frequency sonar, whales lantic Ocean is much quieter, pitch to try to outcompete the show disoriented behavior. those whales have lower lev- noise in the frequency they This often leads to stranding els of stress hormones in their normally use. When this fails, or, in the case of deep diving bodies, and their population they often simply fall silent. whales like beaked whales, has recovered much faster This can cause them to lose INCREASING ANTHROPOGENIC erratic diving behavior which than the stress affected North contact with one another. If causes decompression sick- Atlantic Right Whales. these whales are travelling in NOISE: DROWNING OUT THE WHALES ness as bubbles form in the Many whales will leave an large, vocally-active pods, this An increase in human-made noise from economic and recreational activity is qui- blood when they ascend area if it becomes too noisy, is of particular concern. etly leading to the stranding, and death, of whales who are dependent on specific too rapidly. Many stranded even if it is a preferred feed- Due to the high-intensity frequencies for survival whales show signs of cochle- ing or breeding ground. Many and low-frequency sounds hales are very vo- sentially across ocean basins. far, but the animals are usu- cal creatures. From It is thought that these large ally in visual contact with one Wsinging Humpback whales do actually travel in another so it’s less important. Whales to chirping dolphins, nontraditional pods. They are All of these animals depend cetaceans are in constant, vo- not in sight of each other like on sound to navigate, find cal communication with each dolphins or Orcas would be, food, identify themselves and other and their surround- but they can hear each oth- other whales and to attract ings. Baleen Whales, like Blue er and are communicating. mates. With sound being so Whales, Humpback Whales, Toothed whales like dolphins, important to these animals, and Fin Whales, tend to use Orca, porpoises, etc., tend to increased noise in the oceans low-frequency sounds to com- use higher frequency sounds, can be extremely detrimental municate, usually less than usually between 1-10 kHz. to their survival. 1kHz. These low-frequency These whales also use echolo- In the last few decades, hu- sounds travel great distances cation, high-frequency buzz- man-made noise has drasti- under water without losing es, clicks, and whistles around cally increased in the oceans. intensity, which allows these 10kHz, to navigate and hunt. While the number of fishing animals to communicate es- These sounds don’t travel as vessels hasn’t increased sig-

10 11 to an economic food crisis if the ocean is allowed to get too loud. There are solutions to the noise problem in the ocean. Seismic blasting should be banned offshore, particular- ly in important feeding and breeding grounds. Turning more towards renewable en- ergy sources will eliminate the noise from drilling and seis- mic blasting as a result and we will see an increase in clean- er energy overall. Banning sonar testing in important caused by commercial traf- marine habitats, particular- fic, this should be the- pri ly in areas where deep diving mary noise concern. Baleen whales tend to live since they Whales have lost about 80% are the most likely to strand of their communication space or die of decompression sick- in coastal waters, meaning ness. Regarding shipping, a they have to be 80% closer to change in propeller design hear each other. In some plac- should be favored. Propellers es, it’s closer to 95%. Because that create less turbulence in Baleen Whales use these low the water will be quieter and, frequency sounds to com- coincidentally, more efficient. municate normally, they The noise level in the ocean are chronically affected by has to be lessened, and this is THE GREEN GRAY AREA: commercial shipping. While “the ocean a good place to start. toothed whales are affected ------by it as background noise, Sara Brennan is an editor for HOW TO ACTUALLY SAVE THE BEES they do not experience the has been The Emerald Review General Mills amplification of bee-saving marketing and solutions were likely more detrimental same inhibited communica- to the environment than helpful, which begs the question of how corporations and individuals can tion across long distances as growing help reduce the effects of colony collapse disorder the great whales do. Negative health impacts on noisier at an n an effort to neutral- anticipate the scope of their mission to save the bees came the whales due to sound are ize some of the effects of actions. As a result, it is sim- under fire. On a surface level, evident, but they are not the Ianthropogenic climate ply important for everyone to this initiative was based on only animals affected. Many average of change due to the intense try their best to remain edu- good intentions. In response species of commercial fish are guilt and fear many feel when cated and educate others re- to colony collapse disorder, also being found to use sound three reading articles with names garding the problematic na- which causes queen bees to to communicate, like Cod and like “If All The Bees In The ture of certain practices that be abandoned by worker bees, some types of shellfish. As a decibels per World Die, Humans Will Not may be widely viewed as envi- Honey Nut Cheerios launched result, increased ocean noise Survive,” people try to take ronmentally friendly. an environmentally based will not only affect import- matters into their own hands. Environmental missteps marketing campaign focused ant and charismatic cetacean decade” Although this is a valiant and also occur on a corporate on “bringing back the bees!” species, it is also being shown much needed effort, not ev- scale. One example of this oc- In order to spread their to inhibit human food sourc- eryone set on making a pos- cured in 2017, when a Cheer- message, General Mills re- es. This of course could lead itive change is able to fully io’s marketing initiative with a moved their mascot, Buzz, 12 13 from every cereal box on disorder has been declining grocery store shelves and dramatically in the last few replaced it with a blank out- years. Death rates associated line and the slogan “#Bring- with Colony Collapse Disor- BackTheBees.” This initia- der have declined, from caus- tive didn’t stop with a simple ing 60% of the total hive loss- packaging redesign. General es in 2008 to 31.1% in 2013, Mills took to the streets and and this number continues to used their website as a mech- drop. Although continuous- anism to distribute millions ly used as an environmental of “bee friendly wildflower scare tactic, Colony Collapse seeds” –all for free. They pro- Disorder is well past its hey- moted the dissemination of day. these seeds by claiming that This campaign, along with growing wildflowers across the majority of mainstream the United States would help media focused on the bee ca- to develop more bee-friendly lamity, centers around honey habitats and allow for more bees as the most important pollination to take place over- species of bee. This might all. not be the most effective per- Although this was a good spective; just because honey idea in theory, the wildflower bees are significant to human seeds were not customized “There are agriculture and food protec- to be sent to regions in which tion does not mean that they the flowers would be native over 20,000 are the most significant bee when planted. Over one bil- species overall. According to lion seeds were sent out, and species of Science magazine, there are many of the wildflowers (such over 20,000 species of bees as the California Poppy, which (in addition to butterflies, is native to California but bees that flies, and certain vertebrates) porations, such as General als (in addition to these cor- be avoided with a little bit of classified as an “invasive- ex that are able to perform the Mills, often come under fire porations) must make choices research performed by the otic pest plant” in Southeast- are able to same type of general pollina- for making environmentally that benefit the environment well-meaning animal lovers. ern U.S. states) had the poten- tion as the beloved honeybee. harmful decisions, individu- even when these decisions Whether standing in the gro- tial to be incredibly harmful if perform the Although there are numerous are not being judged under a cery aisle deciding whether planted in the wrong location. other pollinators able to aid microscope. Because of this, or not to support the latest Beyond this, it is possible the production of the 75% of it is incredibly important for Cheerios bee-awareness cam- that General Mills’ campaign same type of “globally important crops” each individual to evaluate paign or deciding how to best was primarily a marketing that require pollination, an and perform research regard- upcycle a pair of ripped blue campaign rather than an general polli- overwhelming focus has been ing their “environmentally jeans, investigating the long- environmental justice cam- placed on one species in par- friendly” acts in daily life. term impacts of each poten- paign. Although Cheerio’s has nation as the ticular: the western honey bee An attempt at an altruistic tial course of action in terms a strong history of successful (Apis mellifera). This focus is act as simple as putting out of its impact on wildlife and environmental philanthrop- concerning because research dryer lint for neighborhood the environment in general ic efforts, such as giving 4 beloved hon- has shown that “managed” birds to build nests can go is a great way to prevent any million dollars to the Xerces honey bees have the capacity awry when birds get sick from accidentally harmful ripple Society for Pollinator Protec- eybee” to harm and overwhelm wild dryer-derived chemicals. In effects. tion, the environmental bene- pollinator species, putting the same way that Gener------Sara Mack is a staff writer for The fit of their seed distribution is these more sensitive bees at al Mills could have avoided Emerald Review questionable at best. Accord- risk. their bee-related criticisms, ing to the EPA, colony collapse Even though large cor- this issue could have easily

14 15 dures and products include ty of animal testing; this has in evaluating chemicals.” As using fragments of tissue caused the number of animal of early March, the EPA plans from humans, using com- test subjects to drop about 50 to identify more advanced puter simulations, or using percent in the United States. methods of testing that don’t volunteers as test subjects. In another New York Times involve lab animals, eliminate Human tissue from the skin, article, animal researcher chemical testing on mam- eyes, and other body parts John Gluck recounts his ex- mals, birds, fish, and amphibi- can be donated and grown in perience with lab animals and ans, implement more “cutting test tubes, and is currently the research he conducted on edge science”, and reform the the most common replace- them. According to him, using Toxic Substances Control Act. ment for animals. This devel- the data from animal experi- Because of the Lautenberg oping field of human testing ments isn’t comparable to Chemical Safety Act, which technologies consists of many humans, there are too many went into effect in December different startup companies. differing conditions between 2016, the EPA “is required One of them, MatTek, grows humans and animals to make to develop a strategy to pro- and tests human tissues from accurate predictions about mote the development and donated cells. These tests can the true impacts of a drug, tox- implementation of alternative THE PAST, PRESENT, AND provide accurate results that in, or cosmetic. When asked test methods and strategies are comparable to how a pa- what he learned from his ex- to reduce, refine or replace FUTURE OF ANIMAL TESTING tient might respond to a drug perience with laboratory ani- vertebrate animal testing by or chemical. Another small mals, he responded, “Wheth- June 22, 2018.” These goals any of us consider not include the thousands of are safe for human use, that company, Entelos, has de- er it is called mother-infant are ambitious but also part of several factors while animals that are bred specif- it’s justifiable to use animals veloped computer programs separation, social deprivation a multi-year process. Fortu- purchasing goods and ically for scientific testing but in the name of science. Some M that can simulate testing with or the more pleasant sound- nately, there are many more services- such as the price, are killed if there is a surplus researchers contend that several variables regarding ing “nursery rearing,” these incentives to shift away from the quality, and the necessity of animals in a lab. Currently, the results of testing on an- diseases and ailments. There manipulations cause such animal testing by using new- of it- but there are other things the United Kingdom, Germa- imals is more reliable than are also larger companies in- drastic damage across many er technologies rather than to to consider that are just as im- ny, and France are the world using other methods. How- volved in this growing field, behavioral and physiological continue using lab animals, portant. leaders when it comes to an- ever, forcing animals into lab like cosmetic company L’Ore- systems that the work should and an upward trend of cru- Animal testing is the use of imal testing. Scientists who conditions may be unhealthy al, who have begun devoting not be repeated.” Since the cial regulation. chemicals, pharmaceuticals, conduct these experiments for them. Lab settings, which millions of dollars to non-an- 1970s, we have strictly reg- Even if you aren’t a scien- and cosmetics on live animals assert that using live subjects may involve cramped cages, imal product testing. ulated the standards for hu- tist creating new technologies to determine whether or not are absolutely necessary, but inadequate exposure to sun- There are also concerns man testing, but the same for product testing, there are they are safe for human use. there is much to be said about light and fresh air, and lack- about the cost and reliabili- standards for consent and still thing you can do to end Testing procedures can range the moral implications that ing social interaction and en- risk factors animal cruelty in scientific from exposure to hazardous animal research has. Some richment, contributes to the are not ap- experiments. Ensure that the materials, painful behavioral argue a utilitarian defense- declining psychological well- plied to ani- products you buy are from and physical exams, to starv- these experiments on ani- being of lab animals. mal testing. companies that don’t partic- ing, surgical operations, and mals help us develop lifesav- New technologies are being Accord- ipate in animal testing, peti- injections. The animal species ing technologies or test the developed that can open the ing to The tion your legislators to pass commonly used vary in size safety of necessary drugs that door to testing on human cells Hill, “[t]he more regulation on scientific and domesticity; they can be will benefit countless people. and DNA, rather than on a live Trump ad- procedures that involve an- as small as fish and amphib- Others assert that new tech- subject. This is made possible ministration imals, and educate others ians or as large as dogs and nologies need to be imple- by innovative computer and is proposing about lab animals and the in- primates. According to the In- mented to stop the inhumane biological technologies, which a strategy to humane tests they are forced ternational Humane Society, and unnecessarily painful continue to become more so- reduce and to endure. more than 115 million ani- procedures that lab animals phisticated as research pro- eventually ------mals across the globe are sub- are subjected to. gresses. According to the New eliminate Emily Wexler is a staff writer for ject to these abusive exper- Many believe that in order York Times, new methods of certain ani- The Emerald Review iments. However, that does to ensure that our products medical and cosmetic proce- mal testing

16 17 A CLOSER LOOK AT CHINA’S INVESTMENT IN AFRICA China’s rise has been an apparent trend in the last few decades. It has earned the position of a dom- inant world player– especially with regards to trade and economic ties. More recently however, China’s increased involvement in the African continent has garnered global attention.

lthough there are sig- Egypt, Senegal, Tanzania, interesting to note that the nificant benefits that Kenya, Ghana, South Africa increasing public concern Aarose out of the Chi- and Uganda. According to the about matters such as these nese presence in these Af- study, most African countries proves to be domestic chal- rican countries, Chinese in- had similar concerns of “dis- lenge for the Chinese gov- volvement is still the center ease, poverty, civil conflict, ernment. Shinn writes “The of criticism, with increased ethnic violence and religious situation has reached a point apprehension from environ- extremism.” These issues are where the environmental re- mental advocacy groups. It is more pressing to some coun- cord of government officials important to note that while tries than matters of the envi- has become an important much of the critiques are de- ronment. part of their evaluation by the served, if the investment does China, on the other hand, Communist Party; cadres are not have a noticeable negative ranked pollution and envi- held accountable for their ac- consequence on the environ- ronmental concerns as one of tions even after leaving their ment, it often goes unnoticed. the most important dangers potential.” David Shinn, an Interna- in the world. This result is As a result China has taken tional Relations scholar and puzzling to some, who believe several steps toward paying professor at George Washing- China to be rather compla- more attention to environ- ton University, has focused on cent and aloof when it comes mental issues. This applies to the relations between China to the environment. China’s domestic issues and overseas and Africa, publishing multi- rapid economic development investment. In 2004, an envi- ple books and articles on the the last few years has led to ronmental policy and impact matter. In an article published severe environmental pol- assessment model was devel- last year titled “The Environ- lution. Having the world’s oped to encourage Chinese mental Impact of China’s In- largest population, the coun- companies to comply with the vestment”, Shinn accounts for try has been the biggest con- policies of the host country many important aspects of sumer of energy since 2010 regarding sustainable devel- this relationship. He believes and subsequently the high- opment and the protection that it is useful identifying est emitter of carbon dioxide. of the environment. In 2006, the relative priority of envi- Some might be perplexed by the Forum on China-Africa ronmental problems to both the fact that although the Chi- Cooperation (FOCAC), which governments in Africa and nese view pollution and envi- previously was not great- in China. A study conducted ronmental degradation as a ly concerned about the en- by the Pew Research Center’s concern – why is it still such a vironment, shifted to a new Global Attitudes Project sur- widespread problem? approach by which leaders veyed people in 44 countries A separate study by the Pew agreed to “intensify cooper- regarding the five greatest group found that the Chinese ation in environment protec- ‘dangers’ in the world. The public is “increasingly con- tion, share experiences and survey included nine African cerned about the country’s boost sustainable develop- countries: Tunisia, Nigeria, air and water quality”. It is ment on both sides.” In 2009,

18 19 Company (CNPC) bought out pany was accused of pollut- such as logging, poses a huge Chevron’s concessions in the ing the national park by dy- threat to the environment. late 1970’s, becoming the namiting and constructing Therefore, management and main developers of oil wells new roads. The problems in ensuring the sustainability in the region. This was due to Gabon were not only caused of the forests in Mozambique the persisting civil war in Su- by SINOPEC – at this time the is a very critical issue. The dan, and the declining rela- China National Machinery common illegal activity in the tions between Sudan and the and Equipment Import and timber trade is harvesting be- US. Through various projects, Export Corporation (CMEC) yond the permissible licensed CNPC financed most of the oil caused major environmen- amount. In 2009 a Chinese sector developments in Su- tal damage. Their work had company named Kings Way dan, peaking at about 483,000 caused massive deforestation was caught in their attempt barrels per day in 2007. The as well as the Kongou falls to smuggle illegal timber into development of the oil fields on the Ivindo River. The level China, and ultimately fined. required intensive field re- of pollution was also said to In 2015, it was revealed in search, such as the seismic heavily impact the local fish- an open investigation by Mo- surveying of land. This led to ing industry. zambique, that the illegal tim- miles of bulldozed tracks, rav- Timber Trade and Invest- ber exports were still a very aging through farmland, pil- ment in Mozambique: In the prominent problem as they laging forests. Deforestation recent years, China has been identified about 70 containers was only one of the many con- one of the major importers of wood shipped from Beira at a FOCAC meeting, the dis- Arthur Mol, a professor at proving to be less constricting cerns. The construction of the of the hardwood timber from without any form of authori- course was focused on target- the Wageningen University, than their Western counter- roads disrupted water flows, Mozambique, receiving close zation. ing issues pertaining to the delves into the environment parts. Nevertheless, the Chi- which in turn disturbed irri- to 90% of their total exports. These are just few of the environment, namely climate ‘conditionalities’ in China’s na’s involvement has been gation systems in the vicini- The big concern arises from many examples of the nega- change. In 2013, China’s Min- operations overseas. He at- met with criticism on their ty, leading to the evacuation the fact that about 80% of all tive impact Chinese invest- istry of Commerce and Minis- tempts to decipher the log- environmental impact. of several communities. The the logging in the forests in ment has on some African try of Environmental Protec- ic of China-Africa relations; Shinn discusses a number contaminated pools of wa- illegal. Therefore a large per- countries. The West and many tion encouraged companies he points to China’s global of case studies that demon- ter filled with waste from the cent of the timber China im- independent media organiza- investing overseas to adhere search for resources, as well strate the negative impact oil reservoirs were the most ports is harvested illegally. tions in these countries more to their guidelines for envi- as the abundant availability of that Chinese investment has damaging to the environment Although they might not be or less have a negative view of ronmental analysis, including such resources in Africa. An- on the environment. As previ- spreading illnesses to the sur- directly extracting the mate- China. The fundamental issue issues such as waste manage- other equally important point ously mentioned, Shinn em- rounding community, as well rial themselves, funding an is that the tainted perception ment and minimizing impact being that African countries phasizes that the positive im- as killing a significant portion illegal trade, especially one of China exists, as the positive on local heritage. are opening up their doors to pact of their investment is not of livestock. With the abundance of ev- trade in this era of what Mol re- as widely documented, and as Oil and Iron Ore Invest- idence, China is making a fers to as “resource national- a result negatively taints the ments in Gabon: In 2002, the move towards being more ism”, protectionist measures image of China. This, howev- government of Gabon made environmentally conscious, which arose out of the credit er, does not mean that poor an effort towards protecting both domestically and in crunch of the 2008 financial practices should persist. The their environment by desig- overseas investments. It is crisis. Many African countries following paragraphs outline nating a quarter of its terri- also, according to Shinn, in have plenty of interest in the several case studies Shinn tory as a nature reserve, with the best interest for them po- Chinese investment. After a focuses on, showing the neg- the hopes of protecting the litically, to avoid exporting significant number of halted ative impact some Chinese in- abundance of wildlife present bad practices to other coun- infrastructure-for-resource vestment has had on both the in the region. Environmental tries. This begs the question deals with Western coun- the infrastructure and the en- concerns arose in the near – why does China now have a tries, China was welcomed vironment in these countries. future with the questionable reputation for ruining the en- as an alternative benefactor. Oil Sector Investment in practices of the Chinese com- vironment in various African Many appear to be interested Sudan and South Sudan : The pany SINOPEC, a Chinese oil countries? in China’s ‘no conditions’ aid, China National Petroleum and gas company. The com- 20 21 impact of their investment of- dance of hegemonic powers tirement packages. However, ten goes unreported. Despite today, such as the US, Japan, this unexpected boon comes the improvements that Chi- the Dutch Republic and the with a downside. These el- na has shows, as well as their British Empire, with environ- derly employees are not new, upward trajectory in terms of mentally unequal exchange, and many have been with the concern for the environment, and exploitation of these pe- agency for years; over 40% of these changes are slow. Shinn ripheral countries. Some current employees have been believes that in the more re- theorists foresee China as a there for 20 years or more. If cent years, the Chinese gov- dominant hegemonic power they go, it will be incredibly ernment “has become more in the near future, and with difficult to replace them with sensitive to criticism of over- the trends in their trade and equally qualified workers. seas investment”. The efforts investment, it can be under- First, the administration it- made include the implemen- stood why a parallel can be self is encouraging employees tation of the voluntary guide- drawn with the countries list- to leave voluntarily. Acting lines for companies investing ed above. These powers thrive deputy administrator Mike overseas. Shinn believes that off the peripheral nations Flynn issued a memo sev- unless these guidelines are through unfavorable terms eral months ago which said: made mandatory and imple- of trade, which subsequent- “The authority encourages mented with punishment, ly leads to the growth in their voluntary separations… with companies will be slow to economies. minimal disruption to the change their behavior, and The theory points to the workforce.” Administrative this environmental destruc- establishment of the hege- urging is not the only incen- tion will persist. monic status in the world sys- tive to leave—morale is low, It is also important to ex- tem believing it to be caused and people seem willing to amine this trade and these in- by the relentless destruction go of their own accord. Mike vestments in a political sense. and pollution in the periph- THE TRUMP Mikulka, the president of the In the last decade, an increas- “African eral economy and environ- American Federation of Gov- ing share of China’s natural ment. The evidence provided ADMINISTRATION’S ernment Employees council resource consumption and countries in Mol’s article relates very that represents EPA workers their questionable practices closely to the examples pro- EFFORTS TO in Chicago, reports that EPA often relate to peripheral re- vided by Shinn. China’s rise employees are getting “fed gions (as we can see with the are open- fits clearly what World-Sys- up” with the agency’s lack of aforementioned case studies). tems Theory identifies as the CRIPPLE THE EPA efficacy, and indeed with EPA Mol groups much of the Glob- ing up their establishment power, through The Environmental Protec- lem in the bud. head Scott Pruitt’s apparent al South into these peripheral excessive natural resource tion Agency is an administra- There are 15,000 total staff desire to dismantle the agen- regions, and stresses on the doors to procurement and incessant tive body which will be neces- positions in the EPA. Bill cy from the inside. Pruitt rep- countries in sub-Saharan Af- environmental degradation. sary for as long as pollutants Becker, the executive direc- resents the Trump adminis- rica. He argues in his paper trade in this Although China is making a exist. Unfortunately, Presi- tor of the National Associa- tration’s efforts to follow up that the rise of China that we conscious effort to improve dent Trump’s proposed bud- tion of Clean Air Agencies, on Trump’s promises to elim- can witness is in line with a their business practices and get for 2018 would include claims that they would have inate the EPA “in almost ev- popular theory in political era” control their impact on the a 2.6 billion dollar cut to the to cut their total workforce by ery form.” Employees of the science and international re- environment, the trajectory EPA’s discretionary spend- 20%, meaning that 3,000 em- agency, according to Mikul- lations as the World-Systems they have been on is a similar ing budget which amounts ployees will lose their jobs. All ka, are aware of this internal Theory. pattern to the rise of other he- to a 31.4% cut of the agen- of these employees will not sabotage, and are becoming This theory is based upon gemonic powers that we see cy’s overall funding. In an- have to be fired; fortuitously, tired of it. His statement ends the idea of ‘environmental- in the world today. ticipation of this budget cut, many of the EPA’s employ- on a pessimistic note: “You ly unequal exchange’. The ------the agency is taking steps to ees are nearing retirement can only be beat around the World-Systems Theory school Ahalya Mihandra is a staff writer reduce its overall spending. age. 57% of its employees head and the shoulders for so of thought, popular in the for The Emerald Review Massive staff cuts have begun are above the age of 50, and long before you say enough late 70’s attributed the ascen- in an attempt to nip the prob- they can be offered early re- is enough.” In early Septem- 22 23 ber, a group of employees said just that-- 400 employees throughout the agency either accepted buyouts or quit. By the end of 2017, the EPA plans to offer up to 1,227 buy- outs of employee contracts— meaning up to 1,227 employ- ees can expect a retirement package in exchange for ear- ly termination. While that does not guarantee that all of those buyouts will be ac- cepted, many likely will. Liz Bowman, the EPA’s official Michael Cox, a twenty-five- ever, it is up to them to pro- spokesperson, pointed out year EPA employee who re- vide aid for hurricane victims that this is not a novel con- signed earlier this year, are and help us become better cept. In 2014, the Obama ad- more pressing with every protected against them, and ministration offered buyouts passing day: The Trump ad- diminishing the EPA is detri- as well, although they only ministration is “working to mental to both of those goals. paid 456 employees to leave. dismantle EPA and its staff as Further, the administration That said, the Obama admin- quickly as possible.” supports the building of oil istration also supported var- These proposed cuts are pipelines, one of which—the ious environmental causes, particularly concerning be- controversial Keystone Pipe- with special focuses on clean cause of the context in which line—spilled 210,000 gallons water and carbon emission they exist. Unfortunately, the of oil into South Dakotan fields CLEAN WATER RULE REPEAL: CARTE caps. The Trump administra- current administration real- on November 16th. It also al- tion, on the other hand, seems ly does seem to be making a lowed mining wastes to be BLANCHE TO MANUFACTURERS to view these staff cuts as one concentrated effort to ignore dumped into streams, some- more step in what has been environmental issues. It is, thing the Obama adminis- OR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION described by Kyle Bennett, of course, not the adminis- tration prevented. It stopped a ten-year EPA employee, as tration’s fault that we faced a government-funded research The Trump Administration’s threats to the Clean Water Rule holds the potential to allow corpo- their “wholesale war on the particularly devastating hur- into oil and natural gas emis- rations further ability to control and pollute waters in the United States, as well as influence the environment.” The words of ricane season this year. How- sions. It has indicated its de- global position on water regulation sire to withdraw from the Par- is Climate Accords. Finally, he Environmental Pro- of streams and twenty mil- for his agency’s regulations, of course, it appointed Scott tection Agency, in col- lion acres of wetland. How- Scott Pruitt took a firm stance Pruitt, a man with a history Tlaboration with the ever, Trump’s administra- as the strongest critic of Clean of suing the EPA for enforcing United States Army Corps of tion proposed a repeal of the Water Rule regulation. This regulations, as its EPA chief. Engineers, published a reg- Clean Water Rule. Ironically, raised numerous doubts re- In short, the Trump adminis- ulation called the Clean Wa- the proposal became public garding Scott Pruitt’s compe- tration is creating a situation ter Rule in 2015. Known as on the day that Trump-nom- tence and honesty, especially in which the EPA is more nec- WOTUS (Waters of the United inated, EPA administrator, as he has had close ties with essary than ever, while simul- States), the Clean Water Rule Scott Pruitt promised before the fossil fuel industries and taneously gutting the agency’s is a clarification of water re- the Senate Appropriations his LinkedIn status claims he funding and manpower. source management under Committee to protect clean is “a leading advocate against ------the Clean Water Act (1972), air and water for the Ameri- the EPA’s activist agenda.” Cory Willingham is managing which identifies wetlands and can people. Contrary to logi- Regardless of clear eco- editor for The Emerald Review streams and expands on pro- cal assumption that EPA ad- nomic and public health ben- tection for two million miles ministrator would advocate efits of Clean Water rule, such

24 25 as drinking water quality dirty water” implies costs of er countries and consequent enhancement and fish spe- intensified drinking water lack of water protection else- cies protection, this regula- purification, water quality where. tion faced strong opposition related disease treatments, Today, the EPA is taking ma- FOREST OFFSETS HOLD PROMISE IN from manufacturers. Their higher prices of threatened jor steps back from Obama- backlash was so successful fish species, etc. In fact, finan- era regulations concerning WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS that WOTUS was never im- cially implementation of the restraining major polluting Large swaths of forest in Western Massachuetts may be a part of the solution for New England por- plemented in its entirety and Rule will cost taxpayers much companies’ leaders and man- wer companies seeking to offset carbon emissions from electricity generation obtained a status of pending less than alternative of busi- ufacturers. The Supreme litigation. Republicans, in- ness-as- usual scenario and Court is currently taking ac- cluding Donald Trump and its widespread, water-pollut- tions against such chaos and opulation density has goes unacknowledged due to Solutions Act, it is increasing- Scott Pruitt, opposed this reg- ing consequences. The “fish” presiding over the Clean Wa- become a growing prob- its sparse population; howev- ly important that the value of ulation as well, accusing Fed- argument is a particular con- ter Repeal dispute. Plem in Massachusetts. er, with development rapidly the state’s forest land is rec- eral Agency of jurisdictional cern as many small waters, This Clean Water Rule di- Although it is ranked the spreading further and further ognized under conservation overreach, in particular with which fall under the Clean lemma puts forward a big seventh smallest state in the away from the coast, the re- initiatives. regard to so-called “navigable Water Rule’s protection, pro- question: should policies United States, it houses the gion has become an appeal- A new opportunity within waters”. “Navigable waters” vide vital spawning and rear- lead science, or should sci- nation’s fourteenth largest ing new location for new con- the Regional Greenhouse Gas are of high economic value, ing habitat for trout and salm- ence lead policies? The Re- population-- a total of 6.86 struction. The region is also Initiative (RGGI) has emerged as they are widely used in on. Moreover, the Clean Water publicans may be influenced million people. While this facing an aging forest owner in the Northeast as a potential business and transportation. Rule ensures safe drinking against science-based poli- makes cosmopolitan areas population, leading to ques- solution to Massachusetts for- Yet, the law states that juris- water for more than one-third cies due to their economical like Boston and Worcester tions about whether the next est conservation efforts. RGGI diction over navigable waters of Americans and if enforced, ties, in fact none of the Repub- overwhelmingly dense, aver- generation will choose to de- is a cooperative initiative belongs to the federal gov- the regulation would also pro- lican reasons against Clean age acreage parcels signifi- velop or protect their land. As between nine northeastern ernment rather than states or vide flood control and prevent Water Rule concern environ- cantly increase moving from Massachusetts strives to meet states to reduce carbon emis- municipalities. Determining manufacturers from dump- ment. The vast majority of east to west across the state. its emission reduction goals sions from the power sector. particular bodies of water as ing directly into navigable Clean Water Rule’s criticisms Western Massachusetts often under the Global Warming Each state developed its own “navigable” was challenging rivers and streams, moving are purely legal, political or and consequently ruled con- dumping upstream (which is economical. Indeed, such troversial in the past, until the not ideal, but such a strategy concerns are important, yet U.S. Supreme Court created a does reduce coastal and oce- they should not be the pri- four stage test to determine anic pollution). mary concerns of arguably which bodies of water could Even if one was to embrace the most influential human be constituted as “naviga- Trump’s ideology with the as- health and environmental ble waters”. The created test sumption that “The concept protection agencies on Earth. identifies even small bodies of global warming was creat- Unfortunately, the Environ- of water like lakes and rivers, ed by and for the Chinese in mental Protection Agency or even streams traversable order to make U.S. manufac- seems to have neglected its only by canoes constitute as turing non-competitive,” an goals and agendas and is now “navigable waters”, which Re- alternative of providing carte in the Supreme Court fighting publicans do not like because blanche water use to manu- against enhancements in hu- such strict classification is an facturers is simply bizarre. It man well-being and sustain- obstacle for dirty manufac- is further bizarre to have vocal ability. turing practices. climate change sceptics ad------One of the Rule’s key criti- minister a global hegemon’s Oleksandra Torubara is a staff cisms is its cost to taxpayers. environmental policies. A key writer for The Emerald Review Upon examination however, concern is that setting such it is evident that dirty water a poor water protection stan- is more expensive than the dard in the global environ- clean water ensured by the mental arena would result in Clean Water rule; “expensive a chain reaction amongst oth-

26 27 CO2 Budget Trading Program bon credits are sold at a uni- proving harvest techniques Bear Hole Watershed, in what which issues allowances to form price to qualified par- under the Improved Forest is projected to generate $1.9 carbon dioxide emitters and ticipants. RGGI recognizes Management method. million over the next 10 years. helps regulate the carbon mar- three methods of forest offset It is important to note that no The money brought in from ket. While allowances have projects. Reforestation proj- northeast power plants have this program will be divided proven an effective means of ects, as the phrase suggests, yet bought offsets through an between the cities depending regulating CO2 from power restore tree cover in a bare RGGI conservation forestry on the percentage of carbon plants, RGGI has also begun or minimally covered area. program. This is due in part stock each city provides. to recognize carbon offsets as Improved Forest Manage- to the complexity of launch- What makes the Western a CO2-equivalent emissions ment projects include efforts ing a forestry project. While Massachusetts project par- reduction method. In other to increase carbon stock on selling forest offsets can offer ticularly promising is the im- words, electricity generating forested land by increasing an additional income to pri- plementation of aggregation. entities have the opportuni- a forest’s age or productivity. vate landowners, starting a This means that Holyoke, ty to meet emissions obliga- Finally, Avoided Conversion project is data- and time-in- West Springfield, and West- tions by investing in carbon projects prevent the conver- tensive. Verifying forest off- field successfully combined sequestration projects like sion of privately owned for- sets involves a complicated their forest land in order to conservation forestry. It has est land to non-forest land. registration process and cost- alleviate start-up costs and been promoted as a flexible, These projects offer a way of ly start-up fees. Depending on generate a greater profit. Ag- low-cost means of helping the ensuring perpetual, non-de- the size of the project, initial gregation is a difficult task energy sector adapt to climate pleting carbon sequestration. costs can reach $70,000 to because it involves quantify- mitigation efforts. It is the private forest owner’s $100,000 with periodic costs ing the carbon stock and then When power plants choose responsibility to choose an of $50,000 every decade. Ad- determining how income to supplement their emis- emissions sequestration or ditionally, RGGI awards CO2 should be divided amongst sions reductions through a reduction strategy that works offset allowances based on the different entities involved forest project, they buy CO2 best for their land. For exam- the net additional carbon se- in the noncontiguous proj- offset allowances through ple, if a landowner practices questered during the verifi- ect. Because the majority of the RGGI market. RGGI holds forestry, they may choose to cation period. Therefore, the the Northeast’s private for- quarterly auctions where car- increase carbon stock by im- first step to starting a project ests are parcels of less than is estimating the baseline car- Northeastern United States 5,000 acres, aggregation is a bon stocks within forest par- where forestland is fragmen- popular idea for kick-starting cel boundaries- a difficult and tary. RGGI’s forestry and afforesta- lengthy task. RGGI’s initial Regardless of the program’s tion program. Ultimately, the crediting period, the period hurdles, forest offsets still future of the Western Massa- in which a mitigation project hold a promising future for chusetts trial project could generates offsets, is ten years. the Northeast. Massachusetts determine the fate of RGGI’s Furthermore, landowners has about 3 million acres of forestry program. If Massa- who own small parcels of land privately owned forest land, chusetts can take the lead in will likely not generate enough making the state a promising initiating an effective proj- profit to make the challenging market for generating car- ect design for the Northeast, registration process worth it. bon credits. It is posed to be forestry offsets could take a Generally speaking, a forest the first state to sell carbon pivotal role in reducing emis- being considered for accredi- credits through a sequestra- sions and creating a clean en- tation should be around 5,000 tion program. A trial project ergy economy. acres before the administra- spanning three cities in Holy------tive costs make undergoing oke, West Springfield, and Samantha Morton is a contrib- utor to The Emerald Review and verification worthwhile. While Westfield, Massachusett is collaborates with the Massachu- this is not a major constraint already under way. The three setts Department of Energy & in the larger forested areas Western Massachusetts cities Environmental Affairs in con- like California and Canada, it have set aside around 1,400 servation presents a limitation for the acres for conservation in the 28 29 MIXED MESSAGES AND SLICK LOBBYING FROM EXXON EXECUTIVES ExxonMobil executives claim to incorporate cli- mate science and risks into future planning, but the company’s actual investments say otherwise

n May 2017, ExxonMobil shareholders, concerned for the prospective health of Ithe oil industry, voted in favor of analyz- ing the risks the company may face from pol- icies aiming to resist climate change. Exxon officially believes that “the risk of climate change is clear and the risk warrants action,” and has begun to support carbon pricing measures, but its historical spending pat- terns and satellite organizations reveal that these new efforts represent a continuation of the corporation’s traditional apathy towards environmental protection and that the its motivation is, as it has always been, to pre- serve the role of oil as a major world energy source.

30 31 The oil and gas indus- process. the state’s share of energy de- try, including Exxon, spent Exxon is also a top contrib- rived from renewable sources $119,129,657 on lobbying in utor to election campaigns, and increased building en- 2016, which is approximate- and its funding is targeted: in ergy efficiency. The WSPA, ly twice the amount spent by the past 5 years, over 80% of however, created another either the automotive indus- Exxon’s contributions went satellite organization with- try or the commercial bank- to Republicans, and the Re- in itself called the “California ing industry, two powerful publicans receiving the most Drivers’ Association” to pub- and crucial industries of the funding represent oil-pro- lish advertisements attacking U.S. economy. In 2016 alone, ducing states such as North the proposal. An act reducing Exxon was the 19th highest Dakota--where the Dakota Ac- and placing a cap on carbon spender out of all U.S. cor- cess Pipeline was being built. emissions would most likely porations. The Exxon share- Exxon’s spending patterns decrease demand for oil and holders who voted to ana- reveal a desire to elect rep- drive the price down, which lyze the negative effect that resentatives who will be less would benefit consumers. upcoming policy decisions progressive regarding the en- However, the “California Driv- would have on their business vironment, especially those ers’ Association,” spread con- were particularly concerned who come from states that are tent emphasizing that the act about measures like the Paris crucial to the health of the oil would raise gas prices. One Agreement that would restrict industry. year later, NAM funded and the amount of fossil fuels that While ExxonMobil’s direct won a Supreme Court case can be burned in the next few contributions to lobbyists and against the Clean Power Plan decades. Lobbying is certain- politicians are important, the of 2016, which would have set ly a large factor in federal activities of its board mem- targets for restrictions on car- corporations in the oil and gas The Exxon shareholders’ policymaking; if it wasn’t ef- bers are even more telling. bon emissions in each state. industries. decision to evaluate how pro- fective, then Exxon would not While Rex Tillerson was CEO The reason Exxon has been Historically, Exxon has used gressive environmental pol- be spending hundreds of mil- of ExxonMobil he was also on so adamantly opposed to in- its influence to block taxes icy might affect its value sig- lions of dollars lobbying every the executive committee of creased restrictions on car- on carbon emissions, but the nals that they are concerned year. In the wake of President the American Petroleum In- bon emissions is because recent decision by its share- about the viability of remain- Trump’s decision to withdraw stitute, which actively oppos- they sell carbon-based fuels. holders was accompanied ing in the oil and gas industry. from the Paris Agreement and “the oil and es progressive U.S. climate Exxon, like other oil and gas by growing support for these From this point, the corpora- to weaken the Environmental policy. Cynthia Bergman, an- companies, own immense re- taxes. While this change may tion has two choices, the first Protection Agency, it is im- gas indus- other senior Exxon executive, serves of fossil fuels that have seem to indicate a desire to being to continue to fight for portant to initiate a discus- is on the American Legislative yet to be exploited, and their become a more environmen- policies that will allow for the sion concerning the role that try spent Exchange Council, which dis- valuation is largely based on tally friendly corporation, burning of fossil fuels, and corporations, such as Exxon, seminates information deny- the worth of these reserves. Exxon’s motives are far from the second being to make a play in the American political ing the existence of climate The world’s developed car- selfless. In the short term, set- change and invest in more $119,129,657 change. bon reserves are capable of ting a price on carbon emis- sustainable energy sources. Historically, Exxon has emitting over 1,100 gigatons sions would increase sales of Considering the negative ef- on lobbying used its membership in trade of carbon dioxide, but to keep oil and gas because it would fects of fossil fuels on our en- organizations such as the the Earth’s average tempera- decrease sales of coal, which vironment, hopefully Exxon in 2016” Western States Petroleum In- ture increasing by only 1.5 is a more carbon-dense form chooses the second option. stitute (WSPI) and the Nation- degrees Celsius, we would of energy. In the long term, al Association of Manufactur- have to limit emissions to less a carbon tax--which will be ------ers (NAM)to exert much of its than 400 gigatons of carbon low, if Exxon’s lobbyists are Andrew Kelbley is an editor for influence on policy. In 2015, dioxide. As a result, long-term successful--will also serve as The Emerald Review the WSPA viciously opposed restrictions on total carbon an excuse not to institute to- California’s Clean Energy emissions would make much tal caps on carbon emissions, and Pollution Reduction Act, of these reserves unusable like the Paris Agreement which would have increased and decrease the net worth of would have done.

32 33 just from all the flights. Can- printed script pages are just a dustry event. Avid cinephiles ada is extremely popular for few of the many sources of in- are far more interested in a filming due to its proximity, a direct emissions. To quantify movie’s Rotten Tomatoes rat- favorable exchange rate and the individual environmen- ing than they are in its “green- qualitative perks such as set- tal footprints of film projects ness.” The emissions that tings that could stand in for is not a straightforward task. went into the production and many American cities or re- Movies are intentionally dis- distribution of a film are like- gions. While Canada is proba- tinct from one another and ly not included as criteria for bly one of the most convenient therefore the sources of their moviegoers in the same way places to film “on location,” emissions and waste are dis- that genre and critical recep- the environmental costs asso- tinct, as well. tion are. ciated with filming there and Hollywood’s efforts to re- However, the problem with elsewhere are high and often duce its carbon emissions and Hollywood’s sustainability is unavoidable depending on other components of its envi- not wholly a lack of account- the artistic needs of the proj- ronmental footprint are pres- ability on the consumer’s ect. ent, diluted, and sluggish. The part, the amount of people The film industry at home Environmental Media Associ- who work in Hollywood who emits even more carbon than ation is currently the foremost also happen to be passion- it does by traveling. A UCLA group that is addressing this ate about environmental is- study from 2006 compared industry’s level of environ- sues is more than enough to the greenhouse gas emissions mental stewardship at most tackle the industry’s sizable ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF from different industries in points in production. One of carbon footprint. These indi- the Los Angeles metro area their current programs is the viduals took the lead in 2007 HOLLYWOOD alone. The authors estimated Green Seal program, which during the writers’ strike, that the aerospace industry— recognizes production com- and are doing so again in the America’s movie and television creation hub is responsible for massive amounts of carbon emissions essentially all flights to and panies that meet certain cri- post-Weinstein flood of sex- and waste yearly, and trying to reduce or eliminate either is a task larger than Hollywood itself from LAX as well as the oper- teria, which include actions at ual harassment allegations. ations of airports—emits 8.5 almost every step of the mov- Those who actually under- e might be mistak- poration like Warner Brothers as a Zucchini made $5.6 mil- million metric tons of carbon ie making process. Projects stand the filmmaking process enly giving the film or Universal. Depending on lion. dioxide equivalents in a sin- that obtain at least 75 out of are much more equipped to Windustry more cred- the plot and budget, the pro- In 2016, 12 of the top 100 gle year. The film industry in 200 possible points get recog- rectify its ecological faults it than it actually deserves. duction of a single movie can American movies were pro- the same area was estimated nized on the EMA website and than an outside agent whose The astronomical celebrity span continents (Skyfall was duced in California. Over 40 to emit 8 million metric tons at their yearly award show. austere decisions could result status associated with partic- filmed in England, Scotland, were produced abroad. To of carbon dioxide equiva- The program also includes in, frankly, bad movies. Many ipation in Hollywood has giv- Japan, Turkey, and China), produce a feature film on lo- lents. This number has likely recommendations for “green- Hollywood players have the en companies and projects a years (James Cameron began cation, even on the East Coast increased as Hollywood’s out- ing plotlines and characters,” right combination of celebrity certain level of freedom over working on Avatar in 1994 of the U.S., requires almost put in the past ten years has some of which recommend status and willingness to ded- their own imaging. The faces and the film was released in the entire film cast and crew, increased, as well. The emis- that characters recycle or ride icate time to environmental of Gwyneth Paltrow, Leonardo 2009), and space (some shots often made up of hundreds of sions that come from a movie bicycles. In 2016, Green Seal causes. This could be a major DiCaprio, and Ellen Degeneres in Dunkirk involved about people, to travel by plane and set can be direct or indirect, recipients included Hidden impetus for environmental- are symbols of the so-called sixty real ships at the actual bring their equipment and lighting being the most direct Figures (Fox), the 22nd Annu- ly-responsible filmmaking if “greenness” of Hollywood. port of Dunkirk in France). props with them. Several par- source. While the actors may al Screen Actors Guild Awards it is used in a less passive way. Significant environmental While low-budget, foreign, ticipants will fly first class or use efficient LED light bulbs (SAG), and Bridget Jones’s ------activism is exuded by Holly- and short films are a highly on a private jet. A single film at home, they are not the Baby (NBC/Universal). Frances Gould is a staff writer wood, but Hollywood seldom valued sector of the film -in with a budget of $150 million ones in charge of what light The Green Seal program, for The Emerald Review holds itself accountable for its dustry, they are not nearly as (such as Suicide Squad) that bulbs they use on set, who which is currently Holly- own environmental footprint. valuable as “larger” projects— transports its cast and crew to turns them off after a day of wood’s only widely-accepted A feature length film is by no in the 2016-2017 film year La Vancouver could directly lead filming, or how they are- dis sustainability project, lacks means a small project, espe- La Land made $445.7 million to at least 250 metric tons of posed. Props, catering, sound a way of incentivizing certifi- cially if it is produced by a cor- at the box office while My Life carbon dioxide equivalents production, and thousands of cation for a film or a film- in

34 35 tacks against the energy sys- And because of their smaller displacement.” Refugees re- recognising energy as a core tems of military installations spatial domain, they are five main displaced for an average concern within humanitarian THE UNTAPPED already occur and are like- times less sensitive to weath- of 17 years, so assuming that relief efforts.” ly to increase in the future. er or military events in one these energy needs are tem- Supplying reliable energy POTENTIAL OF SOLAR Remaining connected to the location, making them more porary on a short time scale is for vulnerable consumers and grid leaves bases extremely dependable in difficult oper- cost inefficient and threaten- transitioning the global ener- MICROGRIDS vulnerable to such attacks, ating environments, such as ing to refugees’ ability to ac- gy mix to renewable power are whereas distributed gener- areas of conflict. cess energy. Countries often both vital, urgent goals. How- Solar microgrids sustainably decentralize the electrical grid while ation, managed by the DoD Solar microgrids are a more pretend refugee settlements ever, they are also dauntingly protecting the grid from cyber attacks and protecting vulnerable itself, would be much more sustainable and secure option are more impermanent than broad and challenging issues. populations secure. Making such a switch for vulnerable populations, they actually are and prevent Using distributed generation witching over the system crogrids powered with solar would also mean that black- as well as for development permanent structures for po- and small-scale energy pro- that powers our world is energy could provide clean, outs, which threaten sensi- projects in areas that are dif- litical reasons, as these gov- duction tackle these issues Sa daunting but necessary reliable energy at cost-com- tive operations conducted ficult to access. Much of rural ernments want to discourage one project at a time. Solar mi- task. We will eventually need petitive rates. increasingly with the use of Sub-Saharan Africa now re- refugees from staying. But in- crogrids offer a cost-effective, to move to 100 percent re- Microgrids are distributed technology and computers, ceives energy from local solar vesting in solar PV microgrids sustainable, secure method newable power, but attaining generation systems—mean- would be less frequent. Mar- microgrids, as it would be too can actually be cost effective of procuring energy; the im- that goal might be far in the ing that the power generation qusee writes, “the develop- costly and difficult to connect for host countries. “The wide- plementation of these micro- future. Today, influencing the is spread out beyond the major ment of on-site energy sup- to grids in geographically dis- spread introduction of im- grids would support environ- energy mix in the grid—the in- equipment connected to the plies and smart microgrids, tanced major cities. proved cookstoves and basic mental, humanitarian, and terconnected power pipeline grid, such as a coal burning which are part of a net zero Similarly, procuring clean, solar lanterns could save $303 defense goals. If governments from which nearly everyone plant—that can operate either energy solution, can reduce reliable energy is often impos- million a year in fuel costs af- and international organiza- and everything draws elec- independently or connected this risk [of blackouts and sys- sible for refugees. Around 26 ter an initial capital invest- tions invest in microgrids, the tricity—is a difficult process. to the grid. Currently, micro- tem failure], and may become million people had been dis- ment of $334 million. [Thus] payoff would be significant. Although the cost of most re- grids are often used as large- an increasingly important placed due to climate change there is a strong human, eco------newable energy sources, es- scale backup generators, and strategic concern.” Moreover, by 2009, and “as many as 500 nomic, and environmental Tova Levin is a staff writer for pecially wind and solar, have thus still stay connected to switching to renewable ener- to 600 million people—near- case to be made or improving The Emerald Review plummeted in recent years, the grid for non-emergency gy is in the best interest of the ly 10 percent of the world’s energy access for refugees most utilities are dissuaded use. However, the fact that mi- DoD, as the department rec- population—are at risk from and displaced people, and for from investing in renewables crogrids can be disconnected ognizes that climate change is due to the amount of initial from the grid decreases the one of the most serious mod- capital needed. A massive in- risk of shocks that might dis- ern security threats. frastructural overhaul would rupt power, meaning that mi- Structurally vulnerable be required to switch out old crogrids are a safer option for populations would also bene- fossil fuel burning technolo- vulnerable consumers. fit from access to microgrids. gies with clean power. Howev- The Department of Defense “Even the most basic services er, it is possible, and growing (DoD) should focus on cre- are reliant on energy.” Micro- increasingly feasible, to dis- ating an independent local grids can reduce the difficulty connect from the grid entire- energy supply, in which all of supplying energy to those ly. Among other benefits, this installation energy—energy most in need of it, especially allows energy consumers the used on permanent bases—is as part of disaster relief: ability to efficiently imple- produced and processed on Distributed systems are ment clean power projects. site, and operations energy less capital intensive and fast- Renewable energy need not is significantly reduced. With er to install than large-scale be at odds with reliability and an independent energy sup- centralized systems, and can reasonable pricing. For the ply, bases could disconnect be implemented in a mod- Department of Defense, de- from the grid. This would pro- ular and incremental fash- velopment aid projects, and vide a number of benefits for ion to scale up or down along refugee camps and other im- the DoD, especially in terms with needs or to focus on pri- permanent settlements, mi- of energy security. Cyber at- ority services or locations. 36 37 es purchased for weddings, killing more than 1,100 peo- proms and formal events are ple and injuring more. These often only worn to that specif- factories also use chemicals ic event before they are ban- that pollute nearby rivers and ished to the back of the clos- make many local people sick. et or worse, the trash. A UK By choosing alternatives study of 2,000 women showed to fast-fashion, consumers that most fashion purchases can do their part to curb un- are only worn seven times and necessary waste and pollu- that as many as 33% of wom- tion. To start, we can look for en consider a piece of cloth- eco-friendly fabrics like or- ing old after wearing it fewer ganic cotton which doesn’t than three times. Companies use pesticides and bamboo like New York-based Rent the or hemp-based fabrics which Runway are hoping to change are hardy, naturally anti-bac- this statistic by allowing wom- terial and biodegradable. We en to rent high-fashion pieces can also shop brands that for special events at a reason- utilize sustainable resources, able price. By renting special treat workers fairly and are event wear instead of buying transparent about their sup- BEAUTY AND THE WASTE: it, customers can avoid being ply chain. The problem is that seen twice in the same outfit many major retailers like Pri- while preventing a buildup of mark claim to be eco-friend- THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF barely-worn clothes in their ly even though they actually closet and preserving re- practice the destructive pro- THE FASHION INDUSTRY sources. cesses of fast fashion. Brands Emma Watson promotes sustainable fashion by wearing used and repaired garments in order to high- Formal wear is not the only “most fashion will often try to make them- light the importance of reusing and conserving materials cause of fashion pollution. In selves appear more sustain- the modern world, producers purchases are able on their websites, making ith the Oscars ap- of fabric, countless jeweled production of their garments, of “fast fashion” like Zara, For- it hard to determine their true proaching and award necklines and endless hours their environmental impact ever 21 and H&M dominate only worn sev- impact. Third party services Wseason well under- of labor go into making these and the moral reasons she the industry with their cheap like Good on You research a way, the internet is abuzz with outfits which are only used should wear their garments and trendy clothes. Though en times and as brand’s accreditations, sup- photos of the most glamor- for a few short hours. The use on the red carpet. Today the these products may not cost ply chain, use of resources ous suits and gowns of the of these resources has an en- instagram account is filled the consumer a great deal of many as 33% and other categories related past and predictions of what vironmental impact and very with photos of Watson all over money, they are introducing to ethical practices, making it this year’s stars will wear. few people in Hollywood rec- the world wearing vintage and potentially harmful chemicals of women con- easier to decide which brands Despite all the fun and ex- ognize this problem. repurposed garments with into their home, creating an to buy. citement surrounding these One actress attempting to low environmental impact. exorbitant amount of green- sider a piece Regardless of how sustain- events, there is a dark side to make a difference is Beauty Watson also maintains her house gas emissions, and able any clothing manufac- high-fashion: events like the and the Beast star Emma Wat- environmentally conscious funding unethical labor prac- of clothing old turer is, the best way to elimi- Oscars create an enormous son. In order to promote sus- attitude even at high-pro- tices in developing countries. nate fashion waste is to repair amount of waste. After the tainability in fashion, Watson file events; she wore a Calvin Materials for these clothes are after wearing damaged garments, repur- event, most Oscars dresses and her team created an Ins- Klein gown made out of recy- often sourced from one coun- pose old clothes and shop at are either given to the actress tagram account to share her cled water bottles to the 2016 try, shipped to another for it fewer than secondhand stores so that no who wore them or returned to various outfits from the film’s Met Gala. manufacturing where there excess waste needs to be pro- the designer to be kept in their press tour. Before starting out, It’s not just celebrities at is cheap labor and the sold three times” duced. archives, either way never to Watson and her stylist cre- high-profile events who wear in other countries at very low ------grace the red carpet again. ated a Powerpoint to send to an outfit just once and then prices. In 2013, a garment fac- Rachel Gentile is a staff writer Every year hundreds of yards designers inquiring about the discard it. Countless dress- tory in Bangladesh collapsed, for The Emerald Review

38 39 ACCURACY IN UNCERTAINTY: THE CHALLENGES OF REPORTING ON CLIMATE CHANGE Scientific communications are prolific in today’s tech- nological world yet it has never been harder to discern fact from fiction

cience communication (often abbreviated as “sci comm”) is the field which seeks to convey techni- Scal concepts and discoveries to the general pub- lic with clear, easily-digestible language. If you have ever watched a nature documentary, studied a science textbook, or read a news article that started with “A new study has found that,” you’ve been on the receiv- ing end of science communication—indeed, the Em- erald Review itself is a publication that deals almost exclusively in scientific journalism. Science commu- nicators may be teachers, journalists, filmmakers, au- thors, and even researchers, but their aim is the same: to serve as a buffer between the jargon-dense, often inaccessible primary scientific literature and the con- sumers, voters, and lawmakers who need to act on the findings within those papers. This means that communicators have a vital re- sponsibility to be accurate. However, in fields of re- search where uncertainty is the norm, “accuracy” is less a sharply-defined target and more a nebulous, ever-evolving understanding. A perfect case study of this is the issue of climate change. There are dozens of projections for the ways in which our climate may evolve over time, all of them potentially viable; not only are we uncertain of the precise ways in which some variables interact with the system as a whole, but long-term predictions are heavily dependent on the society-wide changes made in the coming years.

40 41 taste for such a serious issue. solution is to find the middle vidual perspectives and using It’s entirely possible—even ground: state exactly what them to create media that is likely—that people respond the most likely scenario will moving as well as informa- to frightening information in be, without exaggerating or tive. Most of all, communica- widely varied ways. downplaying. The problem tion means that discussions For decades, however, the with this strategy is that cli- about responsibility and ac- scientific community has mate change is not a game of curacy must continue as long been struggling with a dif- certainties, or even of specific as there are communicators. ferent issue altogether: argu- events—it deals in probabili------ments against the existence ties and gradual changes that Olivia Williams is a staff writ- of global warming, or at least cannot be predicted to a great er for The Emerald Review downplaying its anthropo- degree of specificity. This nec- genic causes. Some of these essarily means uncertainty. On July 9th, 2017, a contro- write about it professional- cation, at least in terms of narratives stem from a place Moreover, there isn’t neces- versial article by David Wal- ly.” Some scientists suggested the productive responses (or of genuine misunderstanding sarily anything wrong with us- lace-Wells was published on that Wallace-Wells was citing lack thereof) it may inspire. of a complex, systems-based ing emotional appeals to en- the New York magazine web- hyperbolic outlier studies If anything, this controversy issue with many contributing courage people to take action. site. The article, titled “The to make a point, giving esti- has highlighted the need for factors, but others have been It only becomes irresponsi- Uninhabitable Earth,” out- mates for rising temperatures better research into the long- put forward in a campaign of ble when those emotions are lined the absolute worst-case that were well above even the term impacts of climate com- deliberate misinformation by not reasonably backed by our climate change scenarios in commonly-accepted worst munication. business-interest lobbyists. best scientific understanding terms of warming and the ul- case; others, especially sci- Unfortunately, we simply The current divisive political of the situation. timate inhabitability of many ence communicators, focused don’t have the data to know climate has also contributed As tempting as it is to crit- regions of the planet. The first on the tone more than the whether a healthy dose of fear to the issue, making climate icize certain stories for their line effectively summed up content, arguing that it was can help to motivate people change a partisan topic rath- coverage of climate change, Wallace-Wells’ warning: “It “alarmist fearmongering” to action. One study showed er than one acknowledged as it’s equally difficult to find is, I promise, worse than you that would lead to despair, that, after seeing the half-doc- a significant problem on both one that could be held up as think.” paralysis, and inaction. How- umentary half-speculative sides of the political fence. a shining example. Humans Almost immediately, this ever, the vast majority of the climate fiction film Age of In their book Merchants of are, by nature, subjective, and widely-shared article was information presented in the Stupid, viewers did feel no- Doubt, Naomi Oreskes and even the most experienced, both lauded for its boldness article is factually correct—or ticeably more incentivized Erik Conway explore the tac- well-intentioned writer will and attacked for its “dooms- at least believed to be—even to get involved with environ- tics used by anti-regulation fail to achieve perfect objec- day” tone. “Scientists chal- if some of his more alarming mental issues. However, it’s industrial leaders to convince tivity. Rather than trying to lenge magazine story about statistics are above the gen- difficult to tell which aspect of the public that there was no sanitize each individual sto- ‘uninhabitable Earth’,” ran erally predicted numbers. the film’s rhetoric they were scientific consensus on -cli ry, a better (and more plau- one Washington Post head- (Climate scientist Michael responding to (and it’s inter- mate change. This process sible) solution would be to line. “Did that New York mag- Mann’s analysis of some of esting to note that these im- was eerily similar to the way encourage readers to be crit- azine climate story freak you the more “iffy” arguments is pacts didn’t last longer than a tobacco companies sowed ical about the sci comm they out? Good,” countered David a valuable read, though it, like few weeks). A study on audi- doubt about research re- consume and to read from Roberts, writing for Vox. Rob- “The Uninhabitable Earth” it- ence responses to a satirical vealing the negative health several different sources. Ad- inson Meyer, writing for The self, should not be considered play which tackled some of impacts of smoking. Under- ditionally, we as science com- Atlantic, posed a question for the final say on the issue.) The the issues surrounding cli- stating the dangers of global municators should examine which he admits he has no an- debate boils down to whether mate change shows just how climate change and the role and acknowledge our own swer: “Are We as Doomed as it was right for Wallace-Wells differently people can react to that humanity has played in biases, the better to strength- That New York Magazine Ar- to use the fear generated by the same message: some au- it lead to complacency and en our writing and reach our ticle Says?” He states frank- these numbers as a rhetorical dience members felt that the inaction, and even, in several audiences. Communication ly that “No one knows how device. There’s no definitive humor was necessary to light- cases, active resistance to pol- does not mean restricting to talk about climate change answer on whether “The Un- en an otherwise dense and icies that could help prevent ourselves to incontrovert- right now. I don’t have an idea inhabitable Earth” is “good” depressing topic, whereas or mitigate its effects. ible truths; communication about where to begin, and I or “bad” climate communi- others found the jokes in bad The seemingly-obvious means embracing our indi-

42 43 lack of nutrients. news coverage in June of 2017 The Blob isn’t the only film when Trump announced that to mirror these phenomena. the US would be abandoning The aforementioned toxic the Paris Climate agreement. blooms served as inspiration The last time climate change for Alfred Hitchcock’s The had received such coverage Birds. Hitchcock based this was in 2009, when President film on an incident occurring Obama participated in the Co- in California where, after in- penhagen climate talks. Jen- gesting toxic algae that pro- ni Monet, an environmental duces seizures and frenzy, journalist and documenta- thousands of birds flew into ry filmmaker, explains that, Monterey Bay and dropped “environmental journalism dead onto the streets. Hitch- [is] more about the drama of cock is not alone in his fasci- the players involved and less nation with mysterious events about the actual discussion of of nature. Recently, the genre the planet.” Instead of cover- of climate fiction, known as ing personal stories about the cli-fi, burst onto the scene as effects of climate change that many authors began using tasy and isolates the viewer can and/or will affect the gen- IS CLIMATE CHANGE the effects of climate change from its reality. Furthermore, eral public, the news media, as backdrops for their dysto- by scaling the effects of cli- much like the entertainment ENTERTAINMENT? pian worlds. While it is easy to mate change out of the realm industry, jettisons the reality view the mention of climate of human control, the audi- of climate change in exchange Climate fiction films have seemingly flooded the movie market in this era of height- change in popular entertain- ence does not feel empow- for sensationalism. ened climate science awareness, but is it really a new phenomenon? ment as a great medium to ered to take real action. Ed With the growing effects of Maibach, of the Center for Cli- n the 1958 science-fiction ered a large mass of abnor- likely to withstand this in- grant awareness, the depic- climate change, it will be hard mate Change Communication classic, The Blob, an alien mally warm water in the Pa- creasing demand. tion of climate change by the to discuss the issue with re- at George Mason University, from outer space terroriz- cific Ocean they appropriately However, it is not just cod media and entertainment in- gards to global political play- I dustry does not provide an argues that for these films to ers solely. The 2017 hurricane es the small Pennsylvanian named “the Blob.” The Blob that are being attacked by be effective in raising aware- community of Downingtown amassed through rising ocean this alien threat. The entire effective, appropriate or just season has proven that the ness, they should, “convince as it consumes and dissolves temperatures and disrupted ecosystem off the Western US representation. threat of climate change is not people they can make a dif- its residents and infrastruc- currents and has led to mass coast has been dramatically One of the most recent cli-fi exclusively a political point or ference, make them feel pow- ture by absorbing them into deaths of many aquatic spe- destabilized by the Blob. Tox- films to hit the silver screen is the background of a dystopi- erful.” Instead, however, most its amoeba-like form. After cies. The cod population in ic blooms of algae, persisting Geostorm. The movie tells the an film series. As the Earth films of the cli-fi genre contin- discovering the Blob can be the Alaskan Gulf has been hit months beyond their average story of a scientist challenged is rocked by the destabilizing ue to be plagued by outland- stopped by being frozen, the especially hard by this nutri- week-long span, shut down with saving the planet by fix- force of climate change, the ish fabrications that secure Air Force transports the Blob ent deficient mass. According the entire crab industry of ing satellites that control the media and entertainment in- climate change as fantasy. to the Arctic where it can be to Steve Barbeaux, a federal California for months. Over Earth’s climate. Katharina dustry will have to adapt to These flaws can be traced held prisoner in the icy envi- fisheries biologist, the -popu 20 Southern species have mi- Wecker of Deutsche Welle properly discussing the state back to the media industry ronment. The film ends with lation is not just being affect- grated north en masse. Over highlights two important is- of reality as the Earth’s popu- and its failure to properly main character, Steve An- ed by the reduced food supply 3,000 sea lion pups were sues with the film’s impact on lation will have to adapt to the cover the threat of climate drews, noting that the Blob in the area. Given these high- abandoned on the coast of Cal- environmental activism: sci- destruction of their ecosys- change. As the media focus- has been stopped, “as long as er temperatures, the cod have ifornia by mothers that could entific accuracy and the inten- tem. es on delivering what’s most the Arctic stays cold.” Unfor- been forced to expend more not find the proper nutrients tions of storytelling. Wecker ------popular and controversial, Miranda Bryson is a staff writer tunately, the Arctic has not re- energy for smaller physi- to take care of them. 100,000 notes that lack of scientific ac- much of its attention recently for The Emerald Review mained cold and the Blob has cal output. This is especially blue-footed Cassin’s auklet curacy jeopardizes credibili- has been devoted to President been unleashed. pertinent to the future of this carcasses washed ashore af- ty. This over-dramatization Trump and his administra- In 2013, scientists discov- species, as young cod are less ter they starved to death from places the very idea of climate change into the realm of fan- tion. Climate change gained

44 45 and extreme weather events.” highlights the importance of tion, declines in population Women given the opportunity increasing access to educa- growth cannot proceed if the to pursue higher levels of ed- tion. cultural norms of a country ucation, focused less on child- The World Bank suggests still put high value on large bearing, will also be able to both an economic and ide- families and emphasize the pursue higher wages, expand ation theory as potential rea- single role of women as child their career paths, and con- sons behind female education bearers. Although shifting tribute to economic growth. driving reductions to total fer- cultural norms remains a A study done by Lutz et al. tility rates. Its economic theo- daunting task, these proceed- examined the potential of in- ry revolves around incentives, ings recommend the use of creased funding for educa- arguing that women with media campaigns to reinforce tion on climate adaptation. Its more education have higher the importance of education. results found an increase in opportunity costs of bearing They also propose target- effectiveness from channel- children in the form of lost ing men through these cam- ing money towards educators income. Comparatively, the paigns to show the advantag- and education efforts, rather ideation theory suggests that es of smaller families. than engineers and changes educated women gain differ- As is the case for most cli- in infrastructure. It concludes ent ideals of family through mate change solutions, ef- that public investment in uni- schooling and exposure to forts to enhance education for versal education in poorer various networks. Along with women and girls is neither a countries could greatly en- these two theories remains straightforward nor simple hance our societies’ adaptive the case that educated wom- undertaking. Increasing fe- capacity for changes in our en possess more knowledge male education relies upon THE ROLE OF climate. about prenatal care and child numerous factors, including The World Bank reports health; consequently, they making school affordable, that studies in Ethiopia, Gha- will have fewer children, with and shifting cultural norms to FEMALE EDUCATION IN THE FIGHT na, and Kenya show a drop in an increased confidence in place a higher value on small approximately four children their survival. families and education. How- AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE for women who have attained However, cultural norms in ever, once given the oppor- a high school education, com- many developing countries tunity for higher education, hen one considers isting solutions to address cli- fate of our natural environ- pared to those with no edu- have created barriers for fe- women will likely pursue high- the measures most mate change.” ment. It shouldn’t come as cation. Supporting the causal male education and reduced er incomes, decrease their Wlikely to tackle cli- As the global population a surprise, then, that family role of female education driv- family size. The Nigerian Edu- family size, and help cultivate mate issues, increasing ed- continues to rise, the demand planning and increased ac- ing down total fertility rates, cational Research and Devel- a more informed, healthy, and ucation may seem trivial for natural resources puts cess to birth control can help the World Bank points to a opment Council stresses the equal global population. Ulti- compared to implementing increased stress on our en- keep population growth at case in Kenya where educa- the importance of addressing mately, the combination of offshore wind energy, switch- vironment. Population pres- bay, particularly in developing tion reform extended prima- these cultural norms, as well these impacts, specifically in ing over to electric cars, or sures create an increased countries with higher birth ry education one year. Follow- as improving curricula with- poorer, developing countries pursuing afforestation efforts. need for arable land, leading rates. The results from Proj- ing this reform, the country in schools around population will contribute to the global However, educating women to conversion of forestland for ect Drawdown, supported by saw an increase in overall fe- education. It proposes that in CO2 reductions necessary for and girls ranked number 6 of uses such as agriculture and various other research stud- male education attainment, Nigeria, as with many other the preservation of our envi- 100 solutions with the high- timber. Larger populations ies, suggest a broader solu- which delayed both marriage developing countries, efforts ronment. est potential for reducing also affect the assimilative ca- tion than just equipping girls and fertility. In another study, must be directed towards ------global CO2 emissions, as re- pacity of the environment to and women with reproductive the World Bank found that “propagating a new norm Nicole Wheatman is a staff writ- ported by Project Drawdown. handle stresses such as water care. It found that increased reducing the cost of school for small families among the er for The Emerald Review One of its kind, this project and air pollution put forth b female education could also uniforms in Kenya not only non-educated and reinforce utilizes measures, maps, and human activities. help lower rates of HIV/AIDS, brought down school drop- the tendency for small fam- the work of researchers from Measures to address glob- as well as equip women with out rates, but also reduced the ilies among the educated.” around the world “to model al population rise can have “greater capacity to cope with rates of teenage marriage and Regardless of efforts towards the 100 most substantive, ex- monumental impacts on the shocks from natural disasters childbearing. This research increased access to educa-

46 47 A MORE CONNECTED MASSACHUSETTS Massachusetts and New England, like the United States as a whole, suffer from chronic disinvestment in rail and public transporta- tion. While Boston is gifted with a legacy transit system, Massa- chusetts’ other cities are left in the dust with a crippled commuter rail system.

n the 1960s, the New Haven Railroad, New public transit agencies, like the MBTA, has York Central Railroad, and Boston and been lackluster. Commuter Rail ridership IMaine Railroad suffered financial woes at peaked in 2004, when count estimates aver- the hands of the automobile. The Federal-Aid aged weekday ridership at 143 thousand, and Highway Act of 1956 and cheap petroleum by most recent counts in 2013, ridership sits fuels advanced America’s rapid suburban- just below 130 thousand now – approximately ization and flight from dense, urban centers a 10% decrease in ridership over a decade – like Boston, leaving these private passenger and the reasons for this drop-off are clear. rail companies in shambles. Over the follow- Commuter Rail locomotives transport rid- ing decade, the Metropolitan Transit Author- ers to their destination slower than cars most ity subsidized and purchased the failing rail of the time. From North Station to Andover on companies, becoming the Massachusetts Bay the Haverhill line is 51 minutes, while driving Transportation Authority (MBTA). takes 29 minutes without traffic. Even with Today, the MBTA still operates trains on traffic, driving may save time, as those travel- these lines, now known as the Commuter Rail, ing need not adhere to infrequent and oft-de- servicing approximately 133 thousand daily layed trains. Inconvenient schedules, built for passengers and 33.7 million annual passen- a 20th century 9 a.m. to 5 p.m work day further gers in Greater Boston. Despite being Amer- disincentivize travel on trains that are already ica’s sixth-largest commuter rail service, the uncomfortable, lacking in adequate facilities, system fails to meet the 21st century needs for and are, let’s be honest, depressing. a comprehensive regional rail system as a re- TransitMatters, a transit advocacy group in sult of historical disinvestment. Boston, is advocating to change the Commut- As the American population migrates back er Rail’s vision. In their most recent white pa- into urban centers, demand for public trans- per, “Regional Rail for Metropolitan Boston,” portation has increased; however, the re- TransitMatters highlights desperately needed sponse by federal and state governments and investments to upgrade the Commuter Rail

48 49 with wide doors for improved MBTA, but there is more to suburbs and every 15 minutes 5 lines, RER manages to move boarding, similar to Met- be done. TransitMatters sug- in Boston’s core and denser 782.9 million passengers an- ro-North, the New York City gests “targeted, strategic in- outer towns. These frequen- nually. Successful models like Transit Authority’s commut- frastructure investments” for cies allow traditional com- RER are feasible for the MBTA, er rail service in Westches- the Commuter Rail that are muters the same service with but only with agency and gov- ter County and Southwestern high impact, meaning they additional flexibility, and high ernment leadership commit- Connecticut. aid in creating safe, fast re- frequency transit increases ted to investment. Free Transfers gional rail, while other im- demand for the service. Greater Boston is gifted The Commuter Rail’s pay- provements can be complet------with one of America’s few leg- ment system is operated sep- ed on a longer timeline. Transit advocacy elevat- acy transit systems, and the arately from the subway, so a The most important infra- ed these solutions to main- region should take it for grant- ride from Quincy Center on structure investment for the stream dialogue in the past ed. A re-envisioned commut- the Old Colony and Green- region is the North-South Rail several years, but they are er rail, one focused on serving bush Lines is $6.25, whereas Link (NSRL), which would far from new. Cities in other community diversity and eco- a ride on the Red line is $2.25 connect the stub-terminuses developed nations have been nomic strength, will renew for an identical distance. In of North and South Stations. operating effective region- gateway cities, increase re- TransitMatters’ vision, costs Currently, it is impossible for al rail systems for decades. gional access to housing and from outdated, white-collar, an additional environmental for the same distance will commuter trains from the Paris’ Réseau Express Régio- employment, and decrease suburb-centric commuting benefit by helping the - Com be the same across transit North to cross to the South, nale (RER) was constructed at carbon emissions. If the Com- to carbon-free, high frequen- monwealth meet long-term modes, and free transfers will and vice-versa, cutting the the same time as the United monwealth and the MBTA are cy regional rail for all people clean energy goals. allow cost-free transfers to region into two separate eco- States was dismantling rail dedicated to a strong, unified across New England commu- High Platforms other modes like bus or train nomic, employment entities. infrastructure for interstate Massachusetts, they must nities. The five tenets of Tran- The majority of Commuter if the cost is equal or less to Congressman Seth Moulton, a expansion. RER operates at also commit to a comprehen- sitMatters’ Regional Rail plan Rail platforms are ground-lev- the original payment. noted transit advocate in Con- high frequencies all day, as sive vision for regional rail. are system-wide electrifica- el, meaning to board or debark Fare integration is key to gress, enlisted Harvard Ken- frequent as 3-5 minutes, and ------tion, high boarding platforms, a train, passengers climb in or transit equity for “low- and nedy School students to com- every 15-30 minutes in Paris’ Michael Baker does outreach frequent all-day service, free out of passenger cars. It might moderate-income residents plete a new cost estimate on suburban regions. With only and writes for The Emerald Review transfers, and strategic infra- sound a little time consum- of the region” who cannot af- the NSRL. The students found structure investments. ing and inaccessible— it is. ford to choose transit other- that what would have been a Electrification High-level platforms are few wise. The goal is to maintain more than $10 billion project The MBTA operates an aging and far between, ultimately riders who choose to com- a decade ago is now closer to fleet of diesel locomotives to slowing locomotives, eschew- mute to work using the Com- $4 to $5 billion with new tun- move passengers on the Com- ing handicapped riders, and muter Rail while attracting nel boring technologies. NSRL muter Rail. Diesel locomo- increasing risk of injury. disadvantaged communities is the keystone infrastructure tives are largely inefficient in TransitMatters’ call for who would benefit from de- investment necessary for the the transport of passengers high-level platforms will de- creased travel costs and in- Commuter Rail to realize re- across multiple stops due crease boarding time and al- creased mobility. gional rail. to slow start-and-stop, and low system-wide handicap Strategic Infrastructure Frequent All-Day Service the locomotives, specifical- accessibility. Estimated costs Investments To ride the Commuter rail be- ly, fail approximately every per platform run between The T has been notorious- tween the morning and after- 5,000 to 6,000 miles. Electri- $1.5 million and $5 million ly mismanaged for decades. noon rush, passengers wait fication of the system would per platform. Staggered im- During the snowstorms of up to two hours for the next allow the MBTA to operate plementation of high-level 2014 and 2015, it was so over- train – in the suburbs and in electric trains referred to as platforms across the system burdened that the agency was downtown Boston. The an- electrical multiple units, or would provide noticeable at risk of crumbling in on it- tiquated schedule is no lon- EMUs, which would increase benefits to on-time perfor- self financially as well as- in ger compatible with diverse, train reliability up to 150,000 mance, and in decreasing frastructurally. regional demand at various to 200,000 miles per break- overall route travel length, A series of reforms by Gov- times of day. down. Investment in electrifi- as well as allow the MBTA to ernor Charlie Baker aided TransitMatters suggests a cation and EMUs will provide operate EMUs or locomotives in the restructuring of the train every 30 minutes in the

50 51 relation to energy creation following the build. These two and usage. plans will hopefully allow for A 2005 paper from the Dan- a sustainable construction ish International Develop- environment. The tracks will ment Agency (DANIDA) exam- be elevated, which will re- ines different public-private duce long-term impact on the partnerships in relation to ecosystems the train will run environmental services. In through. Along with this, the the introduction, the Agen- train, a Series N700-I “bullet cy outlines some common train” is considered one of the issues that arise from pri- quietest railways worldwide, vately-funded projects. Some creating less noise pollution. points, for example compa- As far as direct environmen- nies choosing to ignore public tal impact goes, Texas Central benefits in their cost analysis, has done its best to show how “Texas Cen- have been directly addressed they will work to reduce the by Texas Central. They have environmental impact of the tral has done already factored into their system. planning the fact that the The main concern, apart its best to burden of automobile travel from whether or not Texas will be greatly reduced. They Central can stick to its envi- have no hard numbers for the ronmental promises, is the show how reduction of cars on the road price of tickets. The same (and thus no definite estima- DANIDA study states that an- UNCERTAIN OUTCOMES: THE they will tion of how much less carbon other major issue of private will be emitted overall due to funding for environmental CHALLENGES OF PRIVATELY-FUNDED work to re- the rail system’s implementa- solutions is the ability to mo- tion), but the positives of the nopolize and artificially -in train itself are clearer. More crease prices. The paper states TRANSIT duce the en- importantly, the company has that monopolized industries, Texas Central, a private rail company, is attempting to construct one of the first high-speed rail also created an initial plan for because of their ability to con- links in the South from Houston to Dallas in Texas. The project faces many financial and commu- vironmental waste drainage as well as for trol prices in the market, are nity challenges, but Texas Central believes it is critical to the Texan economy. impact of the environment reconstruction able to provide “…too little n mid-2017, news broke a large project: how does the funding as a bonus. Part of the from Texas about a prom- company plan to offset the reason for this proud state- system” Iising new public trans- ecosystem devastation of- ment is Texas’ culture of hav- portation system: a company ten created by large builds, ing few market limitations. called Texas Central had the and how do they plan to keep However, with an estimated lofty goal of building a high- their transit line eco-friendly? price tag of $12 billion, the speed rail line between the Complicating things further is project will likely take on debt cities of Houston and Dallas. the fact that Texas Central has to fully provide for the re- Their aim is to begin con- chosen to keep their funding quirements. However, the fact struction later in 2018, creat- purely private, meaning the that Texas Central has chosen ing 10,000 new jobs annually scope of government control to take, in their own words, and “injecting” billions of dol- and regulation on the project a “market-led” approach in- lars into the Texas economy. is limited. vites a discussion about the Questions of environmental Interestingly, Texas Central relationship between the impact are inherent in such has cited their purely private public and private sector in

52 53 One of the main reasons the tickets so they aren’t bud- that some sort of public fund- get-breaking for the consum- ing is necessary for environ- er, the project will be a major mental projects is that private success story for advocates of companies don’t tend to fully private funding of environ- incorporate public externali- mentally-friendly services. ties (benefits or drawbacks of This could be a promising goods such as cleaner air that step in the direction of the aren’t shared by one person market moving towards green alone) into their cost analy- energy consumption and sus- CIGARETTE BUTT LITTER: A ses. A situation such as that tainable living, or it could be the proposed bullet train runs a strong indicator of the need PROBLEM LEFT UNNOTICED provision at too high a price.” in is complicated, as the net for government intervention Price gouging, of course, balance of reducing the car- in these markets. doesn’t have a direct impact bon emission of automobiles ------ow many times do you Beautiful research, 32 per- 25 percent stole the note from on the environment, but one on the road versus the car- Change Rogala is an editor for walk past a bench, a cent of litter at storm drains is the box in the littered area. The Emerald Review of Texas Central’s main “ben- bon emitted by the train isn’t Hlake, or even a play- tobacco products. Despite all of this, a survey efits” in terms of positive en- easy to determine. Texas Cen- ground and find a blanket of Cigarette butt litter also af- of 1000 people showed that 35 vironmental change is the tral marks the carbon output cigarette butts on the ground? fects community quality of percent of smokers toss five decrease in automobile use as approximately 1/12th the These toxic hazards are the life and can result in a decline or more cigarette butts per that will result from the tran- carbon dioxide produced by a most littered item on Earth, in a city’s foot traffic, tour- pack on the ground, overlook- sit system. If Texas Central Boeing B777-200 airplane – a leveling out to 4.5 trillion ism, business development ing the consequences of their chooses to keep prices higher nice thought, but that doesn’t cigarettes littered each year. and housing value − which litter because of their small than the cost of using a car to provide concrete information They contain harmful con- is decreased by a little over size. However, one butt goes commute between Houston on the exact carbon output. taminants that pose a threat seven percent with the pres- a long way and their small and Dallas, then less people Unless Texas Central specifi- to humans, wildlife and eco- ence of litter. The appeal of size does not determine the will switch from driving to cally calculates all of this into system health. Although the public places such as beach- large impact they have. Are riding the train. Currently, their cost equation, their total amount of people in the U.S. es, waterfronts, picnic areas there enough initiatives, laws the company says they plan costs and thus ticket pricing smoking has declined by 5.4 and hiking trails diminishes, and programs out there to on creating multiple tiers of will be skewed. percent from 2005 to 2016, as well as outside doorways help this butt plague? Some tickets, with first-class being As mentioned in the DANI- the amount of butts on the and bus shelters. A study states have taken the mat- comparable to a plane ticket DA paper, a common way to ground has not. Why? They are even revealed that increasing ter into their own hands and and economy-class compa- prevent price gouging is to non-biodegradable. Cigarette amounts of litter in a busi- implemented fines for such rable to the cost of a car trip. form public-private partner- butts are made of compressed ness district along riverfronts littering. Massachusetts may Specific ticket pricing hasn’t ships and for the government cellulose acetate, a plastic or recreation areas creates a charge residents with up to been produced yet. With the to impose stricter regulations that doesn’t decompose, and sense that no one cares, lead- 30 days of jail time for tossing high cost of construction, as and provide incentives to are wrapped in an external ing to more community dis- butts out of their car window. well as the operating costs companies for proper pricing. paper layer. The high degree order and crime, and hence However, no one wants the is- that will inevitably arise, it’s This won’t be the route that of acetate makes the cellu- more litter. The experiment sue to get that out of hand, so likely that the price will rise to Texas Central will take with lose inaccessible to microbes showed how people were cities have come up with fun meet the financial need of the their train line, which could for biological decomposition. prepared to steal in a condi- ways to encourage people to company. This isn’t an issue cause some anxiety about the Littered filters can take up to tion of disorder. A five dollar dispose their butts in ash re- for those who could afford the future of the project. Whether 10 years to decompose, leak- note was left sticking out of a ceptacles. or not the the train line will much faster trip on the bullet ing their toxic chemicals − post box, but one was placed In 2016, Boston started an succeed is still yet to be seen; train, but those who already hydrogen cyanide, ammonia, in a clean area and the other initiative called “Neat Streets” it’s certainly being created in have issues making the trek benzene, formaldehyde − into in an area covered with litter that installed five receptacles a location that has a demand by car will be almost certainly waterways and nearby plants like paper, empty cans and in the city’s high-foot-traffic for an effective public transit unable to take this new transit and animals, meanwhile at- cigarette butts. 13 percent areas, turning each recepta- system. If Texas Central builds option if the price is increased tracting harmful bacteria. of those passing by the clean cle into a ballot box. Residents past the standard car price. the line and is able to price According to Keep America area stole the note whereas 54 55 casted their vote for questions clean the environment. number of receptacles. For with two possible answers We know cigarette butt lit- every additional receptacle, like how much snow Boston ter is bad, and we know how the cigarette butt littering rate will receive that year or what it harms Earth’s ecosystems, decreases by nine percent, is their favorite superpower. but the real question here is yet 41.8 percent of smokers Boston got the idea from a suc- how do we reduce its footprint who work reported that they cessful, similar initiative with on both a local and federal do not have receptacles at ABOUT the same name in London. their work location. Despite level? For starters, city resi- The Emerald Review is an undergraduate, student-run publication at Boston University es- Other nations are also faced the lack of receptacles, peo- dents and leaders could edu- tablished in 2015. Published articles highlight the works of students in the field of earth and with the same litter issue and ple do not have to be “forced” cate the community and pro- environmental sciences. The publication offers viewpoints from a broad spectrum of opinions are trying to find ways to lift to throw their butts on the mote advertising about what and backgrounds in order to promote a greater understanding of the natural world and human some weight off of our eco- ground. Portable ashtrays cigarette butts actually do to impacts on it. The review is composed of a dedicated staff of undergraduate volunteers from systems’ shoulders. Last year exist and they can be useful humanity’s and the Earth’s across Boston University’s schools and colleges. a team of Dutch men started wellbeing. School lessons when a receptacle is nowhere a project that involves train- to be found. On the state and should include information The Emerald Review is funded by the Boston University Department of Earth & Environment. ing crows to pick up cigarette about this problem in their federal level, increasing fines butts and discard them in a curriculum so children can and penalties for littering specially-designed “Crowbar” understand the issue and be butts could help people real- bin. A camera and comput- encouraged to help clean the ize that what they are doing is er system within the bin will planet. Increasing the avail- wrong and will not only cost confirm if the dropped item ability of receptacles could them, but the environment as really is a butt and if so, will also decrease pollution, and well. reward them with food. Stud- has proven to correlate with ------ies revealed that crows are lower rates of cigarette butt Katie Camero is a staff writer for among the smartest animals littering. A study revealed that The Emerald Review on the planet, making them 38 percent of butt littering is CREDITS PRODUCTION easy to train and thus could associated with the physical Front Cover by Robert Linsdell at Flickr, https:// Adobe Creative Cloud was used to create The do a good job in helping us environment, including the flic.kr/p/hrzwaE, photo cropped. Emerald Review print edition for the 2017- 2018 academic year. Emelia Chamberlain, CAS 2018 Michael Baker, CAS 2020 The Emerald Review is printed by The Ink Spot using IBM Plex Serif font variations and CMYK All additional photo credits may be found on- colors once exported as an Adobe PDF. line at emeraldreview.com/print-edition. An editor-in-chief, managing editor, copy edi- tor, section editors, staff writers, and contribu- tors produce and edit content.

56 57 The Emerald Review @ Boston University 2017-2018

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