Tag: ENVIRONMENT

Rainforest in Ruin: Bolsonaro and the Amazon

Published on by prospectjournalucsdLeave a comment

Photo by Felipe Wernicke

By Isana Raja
Staff Writer

The Amazon rainforest, home to over 3 million plant and animal species and over 120 Indigenous groups, has been and continues to be under threat. Deforestation by means of illegal logging, mining, and land clearance fires have surged at a rate of 55% since 2019. Not only do these practices endanger thousands of species and put Indigenous communities at risk, but they are also one of the greatest contributors to climate change. Much of these rapid changes to the world’s largest rainforest lies within the hands of Brazil’s government. 

Continue reading “Rainforest in Ruin: Bolsonaro and the Amazon” →

From Trade-Off To Transition: The Power Dynamics of a Green Industrial Revolution & COVID-19

Published on by prospectjournalucsdLeave a comment

Featured image by Michal Klodner

By Rebeca Camacho
Managing Editor

From an array of sectors and institutions going remote, to entire countries enforcing strict stay-at-home orders worldwide, it appears as though the coronavirus pandemic has, by and large, completely reshaped society’s energy consumption. According to the International Energy Agency, global greenhouse gas emissions will fall nearly eight percent this year, the largest drop recorded in modern history. The significance of this figure, however, goes beyond the observation of a temporary halt to the population’s general behavioral patterns. Examining governmental responses to the free fall of power usage provides us with a glimpse into how the energy trade-offs of today could pave the way into the transition to a greener future tomorrow.

Continue reading “From Trade-Off To Transition: The Power Dynamics of a Green Industrial Revolution & COVID-19” →

China’s Paradox: Economic Stimulation vs. Climate Catastrophe Aversion

Published on by prospectjournalucsd1 Comment

Environmental inspectors in northern China have found that seventy percent of the businesses they examined failed to meet environmental standards for controlling air pollution. (Photo by Ella Ivanescu)

by Rachel Chiang
Staff Writer

This is a familiar story: China is to blame for climate change, with twenty-seven percent of global greenhouse gases emanating from within its borders. Operating under the desire to generate capital, the “authoritarian” Chinese state condones crippling levels of pollution, to the point at which face masks are daily necessities embraced by residents of Beijing. Any efforts to be environmentally conscious in the United States are futile since China will continue the reckless expansion of its carbon footprint.

Continue reading “China’s Paradox: Economic Stimulation vs. Climate Catastrophe Aversion” →