The increased global production of biofuels such as ethanol has become a subject of controversy, as land formerly dedicated to the growing of food crops is repurposed to meet energy needs. Each year, more crops such as sugar, palm oil, corn and cassava are diverted for these purposes.
Hydropower accounts for two-thirds of all renewable electricity production in the United States. A 2008 paper by the University of Missouri at Saint Louis, “The Potential of Water Power in the Fight Against Global Warming,” discusses the potential for hydropower in reducing U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.
Phytoplankton are microscopic, free-floating plants that form the basis of the aquatic food chain. They also account for half of all photosynthetic activity, and thus produce much of the atmosphere’s oxygen. Changes in the level of phytoplankton activity would have important implications on the health of the entire ecosystem, including human life.
Sustainable water management refers to managing resources in a way that the water needs of present and future generations as well as the broader ecology are met. While the concept of sustainability has received considerable attention, actual efforts have been limited as population growth has continued.
At the 2000 United Nations Summit a plan was developed to combat problems facing the world’s most impoverished populations. The plan was based on eight major objectives, known as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs); the World Health Organization (WHO), part of the U.N., was responsible for coordinating efforts on the health-related objectives.
