The Emerald Review
Oil spills have always been an explicit display of mankind’s negative impact on the environment. Some of the most notable oil spills include BP’s 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill of 132 million gallons and Pemex’s Ixtoc I oil spill of 140 million gallons. While both afformented spills were accidental, the largest oil spill to date […]
Eight people trapped in a man-made terrarium surviving only on what they can produce inside, oxygen depletion, group infighting, a multi-million-dollar experiment gone awry—it sounds like the plot of an 80s science fiction movie. But, the Biosphere 2 experiment was very much real, and its controversies and legacy are still debated today. Conducted between 1991-1994, […]
On June 27th, 2019, the UK became the first major world economy to pass legislation to reduce the UK’s net emissions of greenhouse gases by 100% relative to 1990 levels by 2050. In recent years oil giants have battled with the growing pressure to abandon oil and gas, given their history of significant contributions to climate […]
White-tailed deer are overpopulating regions across Michigan. As their population grows, they can cause decreases in biodiversity. Deer consume large amounts of resources, reducing the availability of grass and foliage not only for their own species, but also for the other animals that depend on these plants for survival. Additionally, white-tailed deer have recently been […]
As awareness of the climate crisis spreads, consumers are acting with more environmental consciousness. The movement towards conscious consumption can be seen in the movement away from fast fashion, the advent of zero-waste replacements for everyday products like plastic wrap, and growing support for local businesses. The movement is visible in several industries, one of […]
The Woolly mammoth, an iconic species ingrained in both Earth’s geological history and modern popular culture, went completely extinct 4,000 years ago, having survived so long due to a small population of mammoths that was separated from the others and left stranded on a remote Arctic island. This island, known as Wrangel Island, was home […]
As the list of global environmental concerns continues to grow and many people make changes to their lifestyles, some people have taken it a step further by living in sustainable communities called ecovillages. Ecovillages are live-in communities meticulously designed to uphold the social, ecological, economical, and cultural dimensions of sustainability. There are several kinds of […]
In early November, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy signed into law the strongest measure against single use-plastics in the nation. Starting in May 2022, the law will prohibit all stores and food-service businesses statewide from using single-use plastic and paper bags, as well as disposable food containers and cups made out of polystyrene foam. Some […]
Prefabricated homes, or “prefabs”, are houses fabricated in a factory and shipped in segments to their final destination. They are adored by design magazines, environmental activists, and movie stars alike. Prefabs rose to fame as a quick, cheap way to build houses. Today, prefabs are lauded for their “sustainable” nature, especially in comparison to traditional, […]
From increased medical waste to surges in single-use plastic to the widespread collapse of waste management practices, COVID-19 has increased the amount of waste across the globe. Science Magazine reports that “If the global population adheres to a standard of one disposable face mask per day after lockdowns end, the pandemic could result in a […]