Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
depend more and more on fossil fuels—coal, natural gas and petroleum—which
were buried under the ground and took millions of years to accumulate. In USA in
1850, 90 % of the energy depended on wood burning, but 80 years later, by 1930,
90 % of the energy came from the combustion of fossil fuel. Fossil fuels also pro-
vided energy and feed stock needed for the production of various new materials,
such as plastics, fertilizer, synthetic fibers, steel and cement, and regrettably man
had drastically changed the intimate relation between man and the nature. Harmo-
nious relations between man and the biosphere was disrupted, and the important
role played by the sun in the development of mankind, or the philosophical view of
Confucius: “Man and Nature are but one”, somehow seemed to have been forgotten.
As we entered the twenty-first century, we began to realize that the current
development patterns of human society are not sustainable. Problems related to
population explosion, natural resource depletion and the damage done to the living
environment have become quite serious. In a sense, the earth was once regarded as
“infinite” or “unlimited” for mankind, not only because of the resources available,
but also due to the ability of the earth to digest all the waste produced by mankind.
However, from the point of view of the damage done to the ecosystem or the living
environment, the earth as a whole should be considered “limited” and “overdeveloped”
at present. For example, carbon dioxide produced by human activities is far
exceeding the capacity of the earth to absorb through the growth of the forest or
coral reefs and other mechanism, and the global warming trend is threatening the
very existence of human beings on earth. It is quite ironic that during the twenti-
eth century, not only are the “developed” countries overdeveloped, the so-called
“developing” countries are also overdeveloped. It is unfortunate that the so-called
“developing” countries are following in the footsteps of the “developed” countries,
and marching along the unsustainable path established by “developed countries” in
the past, when the earth was still “unlimited”.
It is extremely important for mankind to wake up immediately and accede to
the fact that human society as a whole is living beyond its means. We must learn
to work together as a community to find new, sustainable ways to re-establish an
intimate relation with the biosphere, live in harmony with nature, and to return to a
more direct relationship with the mighty power of the sun. After all, it was the sun
that brought us altogether here on the surface of the earth.
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Issues on Energy and Environment
One of the most urgent problems man faces today is the problem related to the
relationship between energy and the environment, especially the global warming
trends caused by the emission of greenhouse gases, and the energy crises caused
by the widening gap between the limited supply and rapidly growing demand for
petroleum and other fossil fuels. The other problem, which menaces to wipe out
large portions of humanity in a short time, is the spread of infectious diseases, like
those caused by virus H
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