Environmental Impacts of Global Flows (DP IB Geography)
Revision Note
Written by: Jacque Cartwright
Reviewed by: Bridgette Barrett
Localised Pollution
Localised pollution is confined to one particular area and is usually due to specific activities or processes
Trade and the transportation of goods between countries have increased due to globalisation
This flow of goods has led some countries to experience localised pollution in the form of:
Point-source pollution arising from a specific, identifiable origin, such as
A manufacturer releases waste into nearby waters or pollutants into the air
Non-point source pollution is from scattered or diffused pollution sources, making it challenging to trace to a specific origin
For example, runoff from agricultural land sprayed with pesticides
Urban centres suffer:
Air pollution due to transport congestion and industrial emissions
Poor water quality from untreated sewage, industrial discharges, and storm water runoffs in overpopulated cities (particularly developing ones) is common
Overpopulated cities, along with high consumption patterns, generate high levels of waste, which are often disposed of unsustainably
Shipping Pollution
The shipping industry is an important economic sector that has contributed to more than 80% of global trade throughout history
Shipping is the most energy-efficient way to move large volumes of cargo
Billions of containers of solid, liquid and dry bulk cargo are moved annually across the world's oceans
This improves the economy and availability of food, raw materials, etc. for many countries
But the shipping industry accounts for between 2 and 3% of global CO2 emissions and could be as much as 17% by 2050 if left unregulated
Forms of shipping pollution
Air pollution
Like all forms of transport, ships burn fossil fuels and create air pollution
Globally, the shipping industry’s total share of emissions per year is:
Greenhouse gases: 2.9%
Nitrogen oxides (NOx): 19%
Sulphur oxides (SOx): 9%
In comparison to Canada's total annual emissions of just 1.5%
Noise pollution
The large propellers of ships create underwater noise that can travel long distances
Marine species that rely on sound for their communication, feeding and orientation can be harmed
Continuous on-board noise is harmful to human health
Discharge
Shipping contributes significantly to global CO2 emissions
Although individual ships are an efficient form of transport, the large numbers of vessels operating globally counteract this
Accidental oil leaks from tanker accidents
Chemical pollution from deliberate discharge of waste into the sea
Dumping of waste water and materials into the sea decreases water quality, negatively impacts marine environments
Black water contains urine and faeces, and oily bilge water
Bilge water is usually treated to meet international regulations for release into the environment; however, not every ship does this
Grey water comes from ships’ accommodation areas, including the sink, shower, laundry, and galley
Pollution in ports
Ships arriving in port may not be able to berth and have to wait at anchor
Ships will continue to run engines and generators, emitting pollution into the atmosphere and water and contributing to acidification of coastal waters
Invasive species
The discharge of water into the oceans can introduce non-native marine species to an area
Cargo can carry non-native species and transport them around the world
The impact of global flows
The overall effect of pollution is increased along major shipping routes and concentrated locally in ports
This has led to concentrated ocean acidification, which has consequences on marine life in general
The Carbon Footprint of Flows
A carbon footprint is simply the total amount of greenhouse gases produced by individuals, organisations or countries
It is usually measured in terms of the amount of CO2 produced
The flow of goods, people and food around the world has implications on the global carbon footprint
Flows of food
Modern food systems have long supply chains that bring huge environmental impacts with them
The transport of food over long-distances increases fuel consumption and the food's carbon footprint
Maintaining perishable items in chilled storage for extended periods consumes significant energy
Methods like canning or freeze-drying, although they prolong shelf life, are energy-intensive
Mechanised farming, high fertiliser use, and large-scale monocultures increase emissions
Farming, especially cattle and rice, contributes large amounts of methane emissions, a potent greenhouse gas
Flows of goods
From raw materials to finished products, the flow of goods usually spans continents
Each stage of the process adds to the carbon footprint
The stages are:
Manufacturing
Factories, particularly heavy industries, produce large amounts of CO2
Extracting and processing raw materials, such as metals, contributes to emissions
Packaging
Plastic is light and durable, but it is a petroleum product with a high carbon footprint
Excessive packaging (particularly non-recyclable plastics) end up in landfills, contributing to environmental pollution
Transport
Transporting goods by air has the largest carbon footprint, followed by road travel, and finally sea travel
The longer goods travel, the larger the carbon footprint
Flows of people
Globalisation has contributed to the movement of people, either as economic migrants or tourists
This movement has increases global CO2 emissions
Movement usually involves transport and the greater the distance, the larger the footprint
Tourist hotspots suffer a rise in transport emissions
Tourists consume more resources, from water to energy, compared to local users
Legal migrants have higher carbon footprints than illegal migrants, as they move all their possessions from one place to another, whereas illegal migrants move or own very little
Flows of people to urban areas increases the demand on resources and, therefore, the carbon footprint increases
Expanding cities need more energy-intensive infrastructure, increasing carbon emissions
Densely populated areas strain local resources, which can lead to unsustainable extraction elsewhere
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