Blog - Terra's Liege - Earth's Defender

COVID-19 VS THE ENVIRONMENT

July 31, 2020 Cindy Wanjiku 14 Comments

As I sit here in my living room binge watching shows on Netflix, in the midst of social distancing due to COVID-19, I can’t help but wonder if it has an effect on the environment for it’s evident that it has had a MAJOR effect on the global economy. At this point COVID-19 needs no introduction in terms of what it is and the havoc it has wreaked on humanity. With that being said let us take a closer look at the effects of COVID-19 on the environment.

BENEFITS OF COVID-19 ON THE ENVIRONMENT

Due to directives put in place to curb the spread of the virus; social distancing and travel bans have momentarily crippled the tourism sector and as a result nature has benefited. There are clean beaches and crystal-clear oceans. Animals are now frolicking in formerly populated areas and sea creatures are exploring marine routes that were regularly traversed by ship.

In addition, reduced driving and air transport has dampened the global demand for oil and fuel. Industrial production and manufacturing have also slowed down resulting in fewer emissions. Air pollution brought about by particulate matter has fallen, the particles are either dispersed or absorbed; therefore, many areas are experiencing clean air. It is predicted that greenhouse gas emissions could drop to levels not previously witnessed before World War 2 due to social distancing. However, some countries have opened their airports and various social hubs so the levels are likely to rise.

On the other hand, if COVID-19 continues until the end of the year, consumer demand may not pick up because of lost wages. Product output and fossil fuel use may not recover quickly even though the capacity to do so is there.

WILL THE OUTBREAK NECESSITATE THE END OF CHINESE MARKETS SELLING LIVE ANIMALS?

Since the outbreak was discovered to originate from one of China’s food markets, selling live animals, there have been calls for an international ban on the sale of live animals. The calls for the ban stem from the fact that these markets are considered a threat to public health. China did temporarily ban the sale of live animals in all food markets in Wuhan (China’s epicenter for COVID-19) in January 2020 but they are being reopened. The reasoning behind their reopening is the fact that these markets are a source of income for low-income households in the country.

NEGATIVE IMPACTS OF COVID-19

Climate action

The coronavirus outbreak has stopped meetings and public protests that advocate for climate action that were to be held this year. However significant the reductions in pollution are, it is only temporary because there is likely to be a rebound effect. Once countries reopen and restart their economies there will be a race to make up for lost time and this could lead to a surge in emissions. This is referred to as ‘revenge pollution’.

The coronavirus is also a serious threat to long-term climate action. The diversion of global investments and efforts towards combating the disease and keeping economies afloat have inadvertently weakened environmental goals to reduce emissions. Furthermore, the focus of governments and corporations will shift from long-term clean technology to short-term economic stimulus.

Medical waste

Medical waste produced in hospitals and by the general population will be a major issue. Especially single-use personal protective equipment such as masks and latex gloves.

Evidence of these masks making their way into our oceans, although minimal, presents a new type of pollution exclusive to COVID-19.

Single use masks are made from polypropylene, a form of plastic that is non-biodegradable.

Disposing of these PPEs incorrectly also presents a risk of cross-contamination, thus increasing the number of infections.

Wildlife and Deforestation

Since the pandemic begun, there has been an increase in poaching and logging in Southeast Asia and South America. This is linked to the reduced monitoring activity as well as suspension of economic activities forcing many to turn to these activities for food and income.

Increased agricultural activities and mining, which are both illegal, have been observed in Brazil, Cambodia and Colombia thus contributing heavily to tropical deforestation. This is further exacerbating the loss of rainforests in Asia, Africa and South America. The reduction in monitoring activity and conservation efforts is due to the shift of government funding to vaccine research and acquisition of ventilators and PPEs to battle the pandemic. Governments have also enforced strict lockdowns in efforts to protect their citizens and indigenous communities, thereby inhibiting patrols of tropical forests in Indonesia, Brazil, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

This disturbing trend has also been observed in Kenya and Cambodia. There has been an increase in bush meat poaching in rural communities that relied heavily on tourism revenue and have made no income since the ban on international travel. This increased consumption of bush meat also puts these communities at risk of future pandemics. The disruption of ecosystems is linked to the rise of infectious diseases with over 70% of these diseases coming from wild animals such as Ebola.

Conclusion

60% of all wildlife has been decimated in the last 50 years while the number of new infectious diseases has quadrupled in the last 60 years. It is no coincidence that the destruction of ecosystems has coincided with a sharp increase in such diseases. Therefore, we need to do more to conserve and protect nature and in doing so protect ourselves!

Climate Change

Climate Change and Human Health

June 8, 2020 Cindy Wanjiku 12 Comments

‘Climate change is the greatest threat to human health in history’ – is a profound statement to make at a time like this with COVID-19 infections rising and racial discrimination protests all over the world. However, climate change still commands our attention due to all its looming and adverse impacts on our health.

Our health is often accredited to heredity, local environment, personal tendencies, occupation, and access to health facilities. In order to be in perfect health, we require the services of a thriving ecosystem. Climate stability and regulation, an ecosystem service, confers – moderate weather, food, water, a habitat, and limited infectious diseases – which all life depends on. However, over the last century human activities have brought about disruptions in our global climate which has inadvertently led to climate change.

Climate change is a change in regional and global weather patterns due to an increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide because of human activities. The main activities are the combustion of fossil fuels for energy and deforestation through burning forests to clear land for agriculture.

Interestingly, the climate change we experience today is due to emissions from the last century and not from carbon dioxide emissions from today, last year or the previous decade. This means the emissions we emit today will not affect us but our children and their children and so on.

HOW DOES CLIMATE CHANGE AFFECT OUR HEALTH?

Theoretically, climate change can affect human health in two ways:

By aggravating health problems that are caused by climate or weather.
By creating unanticipated or unprecedented health problems in places or seasons in which they have not previously occurred.

Climate change impacts include changes in precipitation, warming temperatures, increase in intensity and frequency of weather events and rising sea level. Warm places will become warmer and wet places, wetter. Warm air has a greater capacity to hold water vapour and high temperatures cause more surface evaporation; when these two factors are coupled, they drastically increase the number and severity of rain events. This can be alluded to the situation in Kenya with ravaging floods destroying homes and causing deaths in certain parts of the country.

HEALTH IMPACTS

High temperatures will cause heat waves, heat stroke, and severe dehydration which damage the brain and nervous system and can lead to fatalities.
Increase in wildfires as seen in Australia, Indonesia and California led to the release of smoke and particulate matter. Particulate matter consists of small particles and liquid droplets that are suspended in the atmosphere. These particles are emitted directly into the atmosphere from fossil fuel combustion and wildfires. Inhaling particulate matter can cause chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and cardiovascular disease.
Periods of unhealthy amounts of ground level ozone can be increased by warmer temperatures this kind of pollution can cause respiratory diseases and consequently millions of premature deaths according to WHO. It will lead to damaged lung tissue, inflamed airways and reduced lung function. Furthermore, it can aggravate lung diseases and asthma.
Vector borne diseases such as malaria, Lyme disease and Dengue fever will be on the rise; they are transmitted by disease vectors such as mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas. These vectors can carry infectious pathogens like viruses, bacteria, and protozoa from animals to humans. Changes in local climate and weather patterns in different parts of the world can see the spread of vector diseases that were limited to one geographic region. Examples include the increase of malaria cases in Kenya’s highland regions and the increase in distribution of the Anopheles mosquito in Mount Kilimanjaro.
Contaminated water from heavy rains and runoff plus flooding brought about by rising sea level will contaminate inland water sources and give rise to waterborne diseases such as typhoid and cholera. Water quality and supply will also be affected. Ingestion of polluted water causes gastrointestinal illness like diarrhea, liver and kidney damage and nervous and respiratory system complications.
It is worth noting that high levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere stimulate carbohydrate production and starch. It also favours the growth of barley, potatoes, wheat and rice. On the downside it lowers the production of plant protein and absorption of essential minerals like iron and zinc because high CO2 concentration reduces water uptake from the soil. In addition, floods and droughts can affect food production which will compromise food security and lead to malnutrition.
Rise in sea levels is another threat to human health, this is brought about by the melting and thawing of Greenland and West Antarctic ice sheets when combined, and if both melt completely, it will add 20 ft (from Greenland) and 10ft (from Antarctic) to the water. This will displace hundreds of millions of people seeing that more than half of the global population live within 60km of the sea.
It is also important to understand that mental health will also be affected due to the perceived threat of climate change to life. It can trigger stress responses, depression, anxiety, hopelessness, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

VULNERABLE PARTIES

No one will be left untouched by the wrath of climate change. However, some are more vulnerable to its effects than others. This depends on access to health care and safety response systems in a country to prepare for the threats as well as the health condition, age, gender, and financial capability of individuals.

The effects vary depending on exposure to impacts, occurrence of pre-existing conditions and adaptability of the area.

People living on small islands, coastal regions and mega cities are also highly likely to be affected.

CONCLUSION

Climate change cannot be ignored. It affects every aspect of our lives; the water we drink, food we consume, weather we enjoy and air we breathe. However, COVID-19 has postponed pivotal climate action conferences such as the COP26 (Conference of Parties – 26^th session) UN climate change conference that was set to be held in Glasgow in November 2020. With experts and leaders unable to meet to discuss climate issues and the world’s focus shifted on restoring world economies post-COVID-19, what will this mean for the climate crisis?

Sources

https://unfccc.int/news/climate-change-impacts-human-health

https://health2016.globalchange.gov/

https://www.who.int/en/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/climate-change-and-health

Waste Management

E-waste: When Electronics Become Waste.

April 17, 2020 Cindy Wanjiku 10 Comments

Electronic devices

Did you know there are more mobile phones than people in the world? It is estimated that on average an individual owns up to two mobile phones. Cell phones have become such important tools in our daily lives that it’s no surprise that some act like it is an appendage in the human body. In this article, we will be looking at the impact of waste generated from our love of electronics on the environment.

Electronic waste is defined as electrical or electronic gadgets that are no longer useful or have reached the end of life and are destined for either re-use, refurbishment, recycling or disposal. Half of e-waste includes personal devices like phones, laptops and tablets whilst the rest are household appliances such as televisions, computers and printers.

Just like fast fashion, people tend to give up semi-new products in exchange for newer, slicker and better devices which have created a major e-waste problem. Further complications are created because many electronic devices are hibernating in people’s drawers and garages.

It should also be noted that the negative impact of the electronics manufacturing industry is not only felt in e-waste. Coltan is a metal used in the production of tantalum capacitors that is incorporated in many electronics. Its main function is to store electricity.

80% of the world’s coltan is found in the Democratic Republic of Congo which has become an epicenter of conflicts and illegal mining that has affected millions of Congolese. Labourers, including children, are forced at gun point to mine the metal in horrible conditions for the retrieval and sale of the metal to electronic giants across the world.

In addition, the mining for coltan has endangered the Grauer’s gorilla through habitat destruction and poaching and remains the primary reason the population of the Grauer’s gorilla has declined by 77 %.

**A Grauer’s gorilla and its baby** (*Carlos Drews / WWF*)

What Happens to The Electronics We Dump?

According to a UN report, approximately, 50 million tons of e-waste is produced annually and only 20% is recycled formally. The remaining 80% is either recycled informally or accumulates in landfills.

A large percentage of e-waste in Western countries is transported illegally to developing countries where they are then recycled informally. The workers mainly separate the waste by hand and burn the non-metal components in order to retrieve the metals inside. This exposes the workers to cadmium, lead and mercury which can cause grave health conditions such as damage to the nervous and immune system, anaemia, kidney and skeletal problems.

What Can Be Done?

E-waste produced yearly has an estimated worth of $62.5 big ones ( lol.. billions) thus electronic recycling is quickly becoming an emergent, fast growing part of the recycling industry.

7% of the gold in the world is found in e-waste and surprisingly, there is less gold in a ton of gold ore than in a ton of e-waste. (Here’s an incentive to venture into electronic recycling hehe!)

Manufacturers need to be held responsible for the disposal of old devices by consumers and develop sustainable recovery strategies. Apple has trade ins in place whereby old iPhones still in mint condition are refurbished and resold. Old phones ruined beyond repair, are recycled and the materials recovered.

It is feared that improper management of e-waste is depleting valuable and raw materials from the Earth’s reserve and a circular economy could be the remedy.

A circular economy is one in which raw materials are not extracted, used and discarded but are recovered and reused in order to minimize environmental impacts and create sustainable jobs. This could be done by implementing durable product designs and buy-back & return systems for used devices.

Cell phones have a short lifespan but are of high value when compared to other electronics. There is 0.034g of gold and 0.35g of silver in each cell phone; their main purpose is conductivity of signals through the phone. If 1 million cell phones were recycled 35,200 lbs of copper, 770 lbs of silver, 75 lbs of gold and 30lbs of palladium would be recovered.

What is Kenya Doing?

According to a UNEP report, 44,000 tons of e-waste is produced in Kenya annually. The national government has drafted the National E-waste Management Strategy which is a 5-year plan that hopes to achieve a sustainable e-waste management system in the country.

It is said to start in 2022/2023 and it will include e-waste management infrastructure and the required tools for collection, transportation and disposal. The strategy also proposes cash incentives for consumers and will waive tax constraints for companies that collect and manage e-waste.

IMPACTS OF E-WASTE ON THE ENVIRONMENT AND HUMAN HEALTH

It causes air pollution due to the burning of discarded e-waste parts that are not recyclable, like plastic. This releases greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
Water pollution – toxic chemicals such as mercury, lead, barium and lithium (carcinogens) from e-waste discarded in landfills or that has been buried underground, infiltrate through the soil and contaminate underground water sources and surface water bodies.
Soil pollution – as e-waste breaks down it releases heavy metals (lead, arsenic and cadmium) into the soil which are absorbed by plants leading to biomagnification through the food chain.
In addition, lead poisoning can occur when humans are exposed to e-waste this causes damage to the central & peripheral nervous system and kidney failure.
Hexavalent chromium affects the eyes, skin, liver, kidneys and respiratory system and phthalates affect the reproductive system, lungs, kidneys and liver both of which are found in e-waste.

TIPS AND TRICKS

Donate old electronics.
Rent electronics instead of buying new ones if you plan to use them for a limited period.
Take care and properly maintain your electronics, i.e., keep your phone and laptop clean, utilize covers and screen protectors, do not store too much data on your gadget to ensure that it runs smoothly, do not overcharge the battery to lengthen its life span.
Recycle old electronics.
Re-purpose and re-evaluate, i.e., determine if the new device is more of a want or a need.
Repair your electronics instead of replacing if repairable.

Closing remarks

E-waste is a growing problem with dire repercussions. Therefore, we need to be more conscious of the choices we make when it comes to acquiring electronics that may not be a necessity.

Sustainable Living

Sustainability and the Jewelry Industry

March 9, 2020 Cindy Wanjiku 13 Comments

Have you ever wondered how your favorite earrings, new Rolex watch or solitaire engagement ring has impacted the environment? Well in this article we take a closer look at the cost jewelry has on the environment. Personally, I love earrings. I will go out and buy a couple retailing at $2 and in no time have to get rid of them because they changed colour. I know I am not alone, but what does this mean for the environment?

The jewelry industry is a whopping 300-billion-dollar industry. According to National Retail Federation, Americans spent $3.9 billion on jewelry for Valentine’s Day alone in 2019. Wow, I know!!!!!

Nonetheless it has been known to have adverse impacts on the environment and society, due to unsustainable mining processes and unethical working conditions for miners.

Can this luxurious and opulent industry be sustainable?

Sustainable jewelry is the concept of producing jewelry in a way that achieves social, environmental and economic sustainability in the localities where the raw materials are mined, processed and manufactured into the final product.It involves transparency in the acquisition of jewelry; from the traceability of materials, supply chains, and fair trade between miners, middle mean and conglomerates. It also includes transparency on how waste and environmental pollution is managed.

Developing countries are hotspots for mining, especially in conflict prone areas that lack laws and enforcement capabilities to protect local miners. Contamination of land and water resources further strains communities in these areas already grappled with poverty as it negatively affects the surroundings. In Kenya, these negative effects from the jewelry industry are seen in Lake Victoria. Gold mines in Migori County are considered the major perpetrators of these pollution as they use cyanide (a known toxic chemical) to process the gold thus contaminating Rivers Kuja and Migori which discharge into L. Victoria.

TYPES OF JEWELRY

Costume Jewelry

This is inexpensive jewelry made of non-precious metals and imitation gemstones that have little to no value. It is also made of glass beads, plastic, wood and shells. The metal bases used to make them include brass, copper, stainless steel or non precious alloys coated with silver or gold tones.

Majority of the metals used are collected as scrap metal and recycled. The other components will probably end up in landfills.

Fine Jewelry

This comprises of jewelry that is made from solid gold, sterling silver, platinum and precious gemstones which are diamonds, sapphires, emeralds, and rubies.

Gold mining is described as “one of the most destructive industries in the world.” Although it’s pretty high up on the list of precious metals, gold requires large amounts of water during mining. Cyanide, mercury and sulphuric acid are toxic compounds used during its extraction. For every ounce of gold, 20 tons of waste is produced.

Diamonds are the most resource heavy and time consuming gemstones to mine.

However, approximately 80% of gold and 90% of silver is obtained through recycling. Recycling of precious metals and the use of cubic zirconia, a lab synthesized crystal, can reduce environmental pollution. In addition to this, old gemstones can be recut or polished to give it a new look.

Not all gemstones are extracted from the earth. Pearls are considered to be a renewable source of semi-precious gemstones as they are created inside living creatures. When an irritant, such as a parasite (not a grain of sand as popularly thought), gets into a clam, oyster or mussel, a defense mechanism is triggered. The sea creature secretes a substance known as nacre that coats the parasite, layer by layer, until a pearl is formed.

Pearls are mainly comprised of calcium carbonate and it takes several years for just a single one of them to be formed. However, there is a bone of contention surrounding the method in which pearls are extracted. One method is by killing the oysters and clams while another is by skillfully removing the pearls surgically with no harm caused to the sea creatures.

EFFECTS ON MINING ON THE ENVIRONMENT

It causes air pollution through the emission of dust, gases and suspended particles.
Harmful trace elements like cadmium and lead are released into the environment and pollute surface water.
Aquifers are contaminated due to seepage and percolation of leached compounds.
Deforestation and loss of biodiversity.
Wastage of land which is rendered unsuitable for other activities.
Degradation of soil quality and fertility.
Loss of landscape and aesthetics.

RECYCLING

Metals can be recycled multiple times without degrading their properties. Recycling allows for preservation of natural resources, reduction of carbon dioxide emissions and saves energy.
Gold, silver or platinum can me smelted and turned into new jewelry or used in a computer circuit board or other items.
Steel is the most recycled material on the planet.
Sorting, shredding and melting occur during the recycling process, therefore, the energy required to recycle metals is much less than the energy and resources needed to extract virgin raw materials.
Worldwide, 400 million tons of metal are recycled every year.

TIPS AND TRICKS

Consumers

Buy eco-friendly jewelry.
Make your own cute jewelry.
Repair and repurpose fine jewelry into new pieces.
Support local jewelry brands i.e. Kipato Unbranded, Adele Dejak.
Sell old jewelry to recycling stores and antique stores.
Donate jewelry to charity.

Brands should:

Have an ethics and sustainability policy in place.
Observe the Kimberley Process.
Practice recycling and repurposing of old jewelry.
Be aware of where their metals and stones originate from.
Get a Fairmined assurance label.

Do you purchase jewelry from local brands? Let me know in the comment section below.

Sustainable Living

Sustainable Fashion

February 6, 2020 Cindy Wanjiku 26 Comments

Forms of sustainable fashion

Sustainable fashion is a topic I realized a lot of people may not be fully aware of, especially the cost that fast fashion has on the environment. In this blog, I will discuss fashion choices and its effects on the environment.

Sustainable fashion is an initiative of fostering change towards fashion products and systems in order to obtain more ecological integrity and social justice. It focuses on environmental consideration during the whole life cycle of a product. This means our fashion choices have the ability to negatively affect the environment; especially due to the fact that the fashion industry is one of the biggest polluters in the world.

Each year 100 billion articles of clothing are produced globally in the name of fast fashion and consumers go crazy in order to purchase new trends and maximize on sales. Surprisingly, with each shopping spree or impulse buy indulged, 3 out of 5 items bought end up in landfills.

Fast fashion is the main culprit because trends are here today and gone tomorrow. These are inexpensive designs that go from the runway to closets and soon after into the garbage. In the United Kingdom, around 350,000 tonnes of used clothing go into landfills every year while in Nairobi-Kenya, 40.16 tonnes of textile waste are produced per day which translates to 1204.8 tonnes per month.

Main sources of textiles

Plant based – cotton, bamboo, flax and jute
Animal based – wool and silk
Mineral – asbestos and glass fibre
Synthetic – nylon, polyester, acrylic and rayon.

Cotton remains the undisputed king of textiles it being the most widely used fabric. Many retailers advertise that old clothes can be recycled into new ones, but this depends on the fabric.

Unblended materials are more likely to be recycled more efficiently because there is no need to disentangle the materials (polyester and cotton). Therefore, it is advisable to purchase sustainable apparel which is 100% of the given fabric for it can be easily recycled.

Clothes that are made up of different materials are difficult to recycle and therefore are shredded and used for insulation. The clothes that do not make the cut wind up in landfills.

Effects of textiles on the environment

Microfibres in clothes are washed out and end up in water sources.
Over 1000 different chemicals are used in the textile industry; these too get washed out and end up in rivers and lakes. These chemicals include dyes, enzymes, bleaching agents, whitening agents, detergents and basic chemicals.

Statistics: DID YOU KNOW?

The fashion industry is considered the second largest polluter (after oil & gas) because of the large quantities of water and chemicals used in growing textile crops (such as cotton) and manufacture of textiles. The shedding of plastic microfibres from synthetic fabrics and release of methane when clothes break down also contribute to pollution.
According to a report by the U.N, the fashion industry is responsible for 10% of all carbon emissions globally. This is more than maritime shipping and international flights combined.
In addition, the fashion industry generates 20% of wastewater in the world.
It takes 2000 gallons (7,570.824 litres) of water to make a pair of jeans.
The garments that produce the most carbon during manufacture are jeans, dresses and jackets.
Kenya buys 22 million dollars annually in secondhand clothes (mitumba) from developed nations.

Fun Facts

The average consumer buys 60% more articles of clothing than they did 15 years ago and keeps the clothing for half as long.
By extending the use of clothing approximately 10 million articles of clothing can be saved from landfills prematurely.
By wearing clothes for an extra 3 months this would reduce carbon and water footprint by up to 10%
Decomposition rates of the most commonly used textile: Polyester, spandex, nylon take 20 – 200 years to decompose whereas organic compounds such as cotton take 5 months, linen; 2 weeks, wool and bamboo; 1 year if they are unblended with other materials.
Shopping online lowers the carbon impact by 60% when compared to shopping in stores due to the emission of carbon dioxide during transportation.
Buying second-hand clothes reduces your carbon footprint by 60-70%.

Tips and Tricks

If you do not love it, DO NOT BUY IT.
Swap clothes with your friends and family.
Recycle and re-purpose your clothes to keep them longer.
Buy good quality and timeless products.
Do not submit to social pressure.
Donate to a reputable charity or children’s home.
Shop from sustainable clothing brands.

Closing remarks

On an individual level we find it hard to believe our fashion choices can impact the environment. However, accumulatively it adds up and leads to major environmental pollution. Brands also have a role to play by making more environmental conscious decisions during the production of their garments.

If you are up for the challenge, try the ThredUP Fashion Footprint Calculator at https://www.thredup.com/fashionfootprint to estimate your carbon footprint and share your answers in the comment section below.

Additional Sources:

Is Fashion Destroying the Planet? – Ethical Fashion Documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfoENTF8Lh0

Can Fashion Be Sustainable? | BBC Earth: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZoiU8sprXpQ

How fast fashion adds to the world’s clothing waste problem (Marketplace): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elU32XNj8PM

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COVID-19 VS THE ENVIRONMENT

Climate Change and Human Health

E-waste: When Electronics Become Waste.

Sustainability and the Jewelry Industry

Sustainable Fashion

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