How Climate Change Increases the Risk of Toxic Contamination

In areas that have already suffered rampant deforestation and hurricane damage, such as the island nation of Haiti, is is apparent why one shouldn't assume that things once buried will stay that way. In that nation, the amount of erosion has caused major loss of life and property. And this is even with the relatively small tropical storms that were already common. The island has also already seen a sharp rise in the number and intensity of named storms over the 150 years or so that records have been kept.

Here, erosion has caused items that were once thought buried for good, such as decades old trash, to reappear on the surface and cause major pollution concerns. Of even more concern are the toxins, thought safe in a by-gone era are now escaping into the tropical environment. By way of comparison, neighboring Dominican Republic has far fewer trees standing and has a much easier time weathering storms. Part of sustainable development to protect areas from toxic releases is the planting and tending of trees to protect against future disasters.

Biodiversity is Important for Preserving Human Life and Health

The term biodiversity is one that gets a lot of talk, but is not well understood by many outside of ecology classrooms. Nor can it be understood without having some sort of feel for how intricately all life is connected in very real ways. There are countless examples of how very specific mechanisms to carry out the very important business of reproduction is accomplished in unique ecosystems, but suffice it to say that when one piece in even a single chain is destroyed, the whole thing is in danger of falling apart.

Moreover, biodiversity is the great treasure of Earth. There are many things that can be replicated, but re-creating an extinct creature is not one of them, regardless of what one might see at the cinema. It is found no where else in the Galaxy that we know of, so every creature that is unique here is unique in a very extended everywhere.

The biodiversity of crop plants is maintained at germplasm repositories throughout the world, allowing plant breeders to have access to the diversity of the whole plant kingdom when breeding to meet the challenges of a changing climate.

Major Players in Sustainable Development

Sustainable development requires the input of all the major stakeholders in the climate change solution phase. That means that governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and other concerned parties cannot set about on a sustainable course of action until some sort of agreement is reached with any party that might raise an objection that could put the project in danger.

Sometimes public input on policy changes can keep the bill that is politically expedient from becoming a law that appeases everyone and fixes nothing. Major stakeholders in the climate debate include just about everyone, but some special groups that have been very active include native and indigenous peoples, residents of island nations, commerce and business groups, environmental activists and human rights campaigners, to name just a few. It is very important that these groups have a chance to sit down on a regular business and state their concerns or compliments about how climate change mitigation is being handled.