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10 Sustainability
mining is a temporary activity that ceases once the desired material has been fully
extracted, by restoring the disturbed land to an acceptable state for re-use by the
environment, this can also increase their long-term sustainability and limit their
environmental impact.
Explain how mining is among the major contributors to environmental
degradation in developing countries. Land dereliction is among the negatives
associated with mining. Explain this concept and describe how it leads to
environmental degradation. How can mining be made sustainable in Africa?
10.4.2.8 Transportation
We do not need an expert to tell us the world’s current transport systems are highly
unsustainable. With examples of recent 60-mile long traffic jams in parts of China
and traffic congestion costing the Texas Transportation Institute an estimated USD
$87.2 billion every year, these “traffic snarls” illustrate that we must develop more
sustainable alternatives (Schuman and Glancy 2015). The environmental costs of
our inefficient transportation methods are very sobering, with the transport sector
estimated to account for over one third of the US’s CO 2 emissions every year. It is
the fastest-growing source of GHGs and accounts for half of the net increase in total
US emissions since 1990.
Given the extent of these figures, it is imperative that we find new and
innovative ways to make auto travel more efficient and more sustainable.
One of the most promising solutions to this problem is through the development
of better rail transport. While this mode of transport has been around for over 150
years, today’s trains are faster, cleaner, and more efficient than ever. Traveling by
train produces between three to ten times less CO 2 emissions, when compared
to road or air transport. By developing and installing better rail links, our overall
GHG emissions will decrease substantially and ease the pressure on road usage, all
without sacrificing our ability to travel easily and efficiently.
There has already been some action taken to make a transition to greener
transportation services. The US congress has recently authorized USD $13 billion
to kick start 13 new high-speed rail links across the USA, and the new trains are
expected to reach speeds of up to 170 mph (Perl and Goetz 2015). If rail links like
this were incorporated on a wider scale across the world, it would also take the
emphasis off other means of long-distance transport, such as aviation.
10 Sustainability
mining is a temporary activity that ceases once the desired material has been fully
extracted, by restoring the disturbed land to an acceptable state for re-use by the
environment, this can also increase their long-term sustainability and limit their
environmental impact.
Explain how mining is among the major contributors to environmental
degradation in developing countries. Land dereliction is among the negatives
associated with mining. Explain this concept and describe how it leads to
environmental degradation. How can mining be made sustainable in Africa?
10.4.2.8 Transportation
We do not need an expert to tell us the world’s current transport systems are highly
unsustainable. With examples of recent 60-mile long traffic jams in parts of China
and traffic congestion costing the Texas Transportation Institute an estimated USD
$87.2 billion every year, these “traffic snarls” illustrate that we must develop more
sustainable alternatives (Schuman and Glancy 2015). The environmental costs of
our inefficient transportation methods are very sobering, with the transport sector
estimated to account for over one third of the US’s CO 2 emissions every year. It is
the fastest-growing source of GHGs and accounts for half of the net increase in total
US emissions since 1990.
Given the extent of these figures, it is imperative that we find new and
innovative ways to make auto travel more efficient and more sustainable.
One of the most promising solutions to this problem is through the development
of better rail transport. While this mode of transport has been around for over 150
years, today’s trains are faster, cleaner, and more efficient than ever. Traveling by
train produces between three to ten times less CO 2 emissions, when compared
to road or air transport. By developing and installing better rail links, our overall
GHG emissions will decrease substantially and ease the pressure on road usage, all
without sacrificing our ability to travel easily and efficiently.
There has already been some action taken to make a transition to greener
transportation services. The US congress has recently authorized USD $13 billion
to kick start 13 new high-speed rail links across the USA, and the new trains are
expected to reach speeds of up to 170 mph (Perl and Goetz 2015). If rail links like
this were incorporated on a wider scale across the world, it would also take the
emphasis off other means of long-distance transport, such as aviation.