Project Green

C O N T E N T S

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AIR POLLUTION

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05

DEFORESTATION; THE DOWNFALL OF A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE

HUMANS: NATURE'S CANCER

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ALL ABOUT WATER POLLUTION

C O N T E N T S

10 11 13 CLOUDING OUR SOCIETY

THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT

TEAM PAGE

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TEAM PAGE

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P O L L U T I O N BY: SANSITA SINGH

What is Air Pollution?

Air pollution includes substances in the air that can cause harm to both humans and the environment. Usually, these pollutants are a result of the smoke from wildfires, factory emissions, waste in landfills, gases from cars and trucks, burning fossil fuels, and pollen. Air pollution can be further divided into two main groups: visible air and invisible air pollution. Usually, visible air includes smoke from factories or wildfires. They are not as deadly and toxic as the pollutants released from factories and cars. Invisible air pollution is usually a combination of elements such as carbon monoxide. These pollutants are detrimental to the health of both humans and the environment.

Pollutants from landfills are also deadly, as they release methane into the air. This is horrible for the environment as methane’s chemical properties allow the compound to suck the carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The methane remains in the atmosphere for around eight years, which is detrimental to the atmosphere and contributes to climate change.

Impacts on Humans and Environment? For humans, air pollution has a harmful effect on their health. For people who live in areas generally more prone to wildfires look at the AQI (air quality index) to determine how many pollutants are in the air. It is usually recommended to stay inside in cases of wildfires since the pollutants can worsen asthma and other conditions relating to the lungs. In these cases, people are able to take

precautions. However, people are unable to stay safe from the pollutants that are invisible. Invisible pollutants can have even worse effects on health, long term and short term. Just like the particles from smoke, invisible pollutants can worsen asthma, emphysema, and are related to some cases of cancer. For pregnant people, pollutants can affect the baby and can even cause miscarriages. There have also been studies that a lack of brain development is connected with the exposure of these pollutants. Symptoms of ADHD can also be worsened by these pollutants as well. Overall, such compounds play a big part in triggering a certain response in people, without even knowing it. Air pollution has a huge impact on the environment as well. Many sea animals and animals in other habitats are forced to move due to the excessive presence of air pollutants. The migration of these animals don’t match up with the normal seasonal migration patterns. This causes a huge shift in the ecosystem, which causes a domino effect upon other animals as well. The loss of predator or prey in the ecosystem changes eating patterns and leads to the overgrowth of one population and the extinction of the other. These also have significant impacts on the environment, for example any grazer animal in surplus can cause the loss of grass in the region. This grass could be important for farms or decomposers under the soil, so the loss of grass affects their eating patterns as well. Toxic chemicals from air pollutants do have the ability to make species extinct and have played a hand in making populations die off.

The air pollutants also play a huge part in eutrophication and acid rain. Acid rain is basically like normal rain, however it has a surplus of hydrogen ions in it (thus making it acidic). Sulfate and nitrate pollutants have horrible effects on both the environment and pollutants when present in the acid rain. The rain has the ability to worsen chronic diseases relating to the lungs and asthma in humans. The particles in the rain also can cause permanent damage in the lungs. In the environment, the acidic rain released aluminum. Aluminum’s binding and chemical properties allow it to prevent trees from taking up water. Acid rain also has the ability to dissolve calcium in the ground. Nutrients in the ground, like calcium, are extremely important for plants to live. By the prevention of water and calcium, many plants that have experienced acidic rain die off. As a result, even the soil isn’t healthy to replant anything. Eutrophication has a major effect on sea animals and develops as a result of the accumulation of nitrogen in the sea. This also changes migration patterns and disrupts the food chain inClimate ChangeAs a result of more and more invisible pollutants being used, it causes a horrible consequence for the atmosphere. The ozone layer gets thinner and thinner as a result of the pollutants sucking up the elements there. The ozone layer helps in blocking the harmful effects of the sun (UV radiation). Pollutants like methane (a result of the landfills) generate heat in the atmosphere. This heat is part of the reason for the melting of icebergs worldwide. Not only is there a loss of habitats from this, there are also effects on the weather. These pollutants are linked to causing worse hurricanes, heat waves, and droughts. Hurricanes have also increased in frequency as a result of the warming of the atmosphere. The melting of icebergs also causes the sea level to rise, which if this continues , can possibly flood the eastern side of North and South America. re

What can we do to reduce air pollution risks?

When AQI are high, try to stay inside the house. Exercise inside the house and do not go outside because when running outside people are more likely to inhale more of the pollutants. Wear sunscreen to prevent any pollutants from affecting the skin. This is because the UV radiation from the sun and the pollutants in the atmosphere can damage the skin.Try to reduce the consumption of energy in your household/workplace. Try to use public transportation and reduce the amount of cars in the street to reduce the car emissions.Turn off all unnecessary things at home. Turn off all things related to electricity when not using them to save energy and the burning of fossil fuels.Always reduce, reuse, and recycle to prevent landfills from piling up and releasing methane.

Why I wrote this: I wrote this piece in light of the California wildfires. I’ve been hearing a lot about air pollution in the news lately and how it affects the health of people there, so it inspired me to do more.

March 11, 2016 Amanda MacMillan. “Global Warming 101.” NRDC, 10 Aug. 2020, www.nrdc.org/stories/global-warming101. RinkeshA true environmentalist by heart ❤. Founded Conserve Energy Future with the sole motto of providing helpful information related to our rapidly depleting environment. Unless you strongly believe in Elon Musk‘s idea of making Mars as another habitab . “Causes, Effects and Impressive Solutions to Air Pollution.”

Conserve Energy Future, 17 June 2020, www.conserve-energy-future.com/causeseffects-solutions-of-air-pollution.php.

EPA, Environmental Protection Agency, www3.epa.gov/acidrain/education/site_stu dents/whyharmful.html.

November 01, 2016 Jillian Mackenzie. “Air Pollution: Everything You Need to Know.”

NRDC, 10 Aug. 2020, www.nrdc.org/stories/air-pollutioneverything-you-need-know.

D E F O R E S T A T I O N ; T H E D O W N F A L L O F A S U S T A I N A B L E F U T U R E EIMAAN SHAHID

“The environment and the economy are really 2 sides of the same coin.

If we cannot sustain the environment, we cannot sustain ourselves.”

- Wangari Maathai

Trees are one of the most valuable resources on planet Earth. Acting as a natural filter for human-induced pollution and toxic chemicals, trees absorb CO2 and release oxygen to purify the air we breathe. Trees also serve as a home for millions of species across the globe. Lumber is one of the world’s largest industries, and trees are continuously providing humans with resources to continue growth and agriculture. Trees are both valuable resources humans can use to increase development; however, they are even more valuable when kept intact as they are a staple part of every single ecosystem. Deforestation is the process of removing trees for human use. As the population continues to grow and the demand for certain industries increases, deforestation is inevitable to a certain extent. However, the rate at which trees are being cut down right now is a recipe for disaster. Data from 2016 shows that on average, we have lost 28 million hectares of forest every single year. To put this into perspective, that’s equal to one football field of forest lost every second.

If we continue this deforestation trend long term, we will lose all of our Earth’s rainforests in just under 79 years.

Deforestation may not seem harmful to us at the moment. You may think, cutting a few trees down is necessary to support our growing population.

What you may not realize is how significant trees are to our communities and the planet as a whole. Trees have an endless amount of benefits for the natural and human environments around us. Trees store dust and pollutants from our air, protect us from dangerous solar rays, and reduce noise in cities. By absorbing stormwater, forests also protect communities from floods and the risk of soil erosion.From birds to insects, bats, and squirrels, trees act as a complex neighborhood for millions of species across the globe. On average, up to 500 species can live in one adult oak tree! Most importantly, trees assist in the mitigation of greenhouse gases in our environment, which is crucial for a sustainable future as air pollution is on the rise.

Large corporations who work in the lumber, extraction, agriculture, and even oil industries likely understand the impacts that come with deforestation. These corporations know the harmful effects that come with removing millions of hectares worth of forests, but there is one thing that’s stopping them from taking proactive action, and that is profit. In 2019, the lumber industry was estimated to be worth 509.8 billion dollars. Blinded by wealth, corporations only think about their short term goals, which is making as much money as possible. They are successful as deforestation and commercial development bring in billions of dollars. Many of us fail to acknowledge what is truly important, and that is the future of our planet and maintaining long term sustainability. What is the purpose of having a billion-dollar industry if it won’t even be able to continue production after 100 years when the earth’s environmental state is in shambles?

As individuals, there is little we can do to prevent the choppings of hundreds of trees globally, but that does not mean we cannot try to make an effort. To fight deforestation you can plant a tree in your yard, limit paper usage, only support corporations that are against deforestation, and spread the word! .

Sources D. (2016, October 11). Five of the world's biggest environmental problems: DW: 11.10.2016. Retrieved September 15, 2020, from https://www.dw.com/en/five-of-the-worldsbiggest-environmental-problems/a35915705Derouin, S. (2019, November 06).

Deforestation: Facts, Causes & Effects.

Retrieved September 15, 2020, from https://www.livescience.com/27692deforestation.htmlHow can we stop Deforestation? (2020). Retrieved September 15, 2020, from https://www.theworldcounts.com/stories/howcan-we-stop-deforestation

A short message about why you chose to write this piece: I chose to write this piece because there is a prevalent issue and the world right now and that is the lack of care and leadership in regards to climate change, the environment, and the future home of generations to come.

Awareness needs to be spread about the effects of deforestation, and we all must collectively work towards a sustainable future before it’s too late.

H U M A N S : N A T U R E ' S C A N C E R M E E N A K S H I

P I L L A I

"POPULATION GROWTH IS THE PRIMARY SOURCE OF ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE" - JACQUES YVES COUSTEAU

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Humans are one of the most intelligent species that reside on Earth. We make up the largest majority of mammals on earth and with this comes a responsibility to ensure that our environment is taken care of. Our rising population has impacted Earth negatively and will eventually come back to harm us. The welfare of all species cannot be achieved if the rapid population growth of humans continues.A growing population can heavily harm many aspects of this world including the overexploitation of natural resources, environmental destruction, and unsustainable demand for land, food, water, and energy. Moreover, it can also threaten and trap the globe’s poorest residents in poverty. According to the UN’s 2020 Sustainable Development Progress Report, only three out of the 21 Sustainable Development Goals have been achieved in 2020 and the report also points out that the increase in the human population plays a large part in not being able to achieve these goals.Consumption of resources such as land, food, water, air, fossil fuels and minerals will increase alongside population growth. Our world only has a finite number of resources and as our population continues to grow these resources will be depleted at a faster rate.

The greater threat is the uneven distribution of consumption and population. This puts people living in vulnerable societies at risk.

Moreover, the increase in the population of humans also means waste products as a result of consumption such as air and water pollutants, toxic materials and greenhouse gases. A growing population hurts the environment as well as our current society.Population increase in humans is an issue that cannot be ignored and therefore we must look at the solutions to solve this imminent issue.

Hitting the Targets demonstrates ways in which the human population can achieve a sustainable world by implementing ethical and empowering population policies that will improve the trajectory toward the goals and accelerate the pace of change.

S O L U T I O N S T O A S U S T A I N A B L E F U T U R E DEMOCRACY CANNOT SURVIVE OVERPOPULATION - ISSAC ASIMOV

ETHICAL SOLUTIONS INCLUDE:

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HEAVY RELIANCE ON TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATIONS This solution presents the way in which humans will be heavily reliant on technology to improve the quality of life for each individual. This includes advances in food production technologies, water purification and genetic engineering and using renewable resources.

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QUALITY EDUCATION FOR ALL This solution helps solve population growth using education and empowerment of individuals all around the world. This solution works by the fact that when a certain population is given access to proper education regarding sexual and reproductive health the birth rate of that certain population decreases and will therefore contribute to ethically reducing the human population. In addition to providing education regarding sexual and reproductive health, this solution also relies on changing education policies in certain countries to provide proper basic education to low-income families to decrease birth rates.

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SUSTAINABLE CONSUMPTION This solution helps educate people on proper consumption and the consequences of improper consumption. This solution is mainly targeted towards individuals living in a developed country, as this is where products are more accessible.

Using this solution we will be able to cut down on the number of resources being used and eventually make a positive impact on the environment.

The increase in the human population is an issue that affects people globally. The continuation of rapid population growth will act as a primary threat to ecological and societal aspects of this world. This is an issue that should be tackled with the combined efforts of individuals, communities and governments.

Sources BlueRose. “Can the Earth Support the Increasing Human Population?” Blue378, 26 Nov. 2012, blue378.wordpress.com/2012/11/26/can-the-earth-support-the-increasing-human-population/.

Accessed 17 Sept. 2020.

Dovers, Stephen, and Colin Butler. “Population and Environment: A Global Challenge.” Curious, 18 June 2015, www.science.org.au/curious/earth-environment/populationenvironment#:~:text=The%20impact%20of%20so%20many. Accessed 16 Sept. 2020.

Jatana, Nina, and Alistair Currie. Hitting the Targets. 2020.Project, Overpopulation Research.

“Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals Depends on Reducing Birth Rates Faster.” The Overpopulation Project, 7 Sept. 2020, overpopulation-project.com/achieving-the-sustainabledevelopment-goals-depends-on-reducing-birth-rates-faster/. Accessed 17 Sept. 2020

A L L A B O U T W A T E R P O L L U T I O N AMULYA

What is water pollution?

Water pollution takes place when harmful substances enter and contaminate bodies of water, making it dangerous to not only those consuming but also the surrounding environment.

2. Causes?

Water is known as a universal solvent, meaning that most substances can dissolve since they are hydrophilic (water-loving) substances. Therefore, it is reasonably effortless to contaminate water with toxic substances from other places such as factories and companies. For example, discharge from industrial companies can end up in bodies of waters such as rivers, eventually resulting in harmful effects on organisms already living there. Furthermore, because of the vulnerability of water, it can immensely cause water pollution.

3. Common types?

Agricultural: Environment factors such as rain caused all of the fertilizer and chemicals to get washed down to our water sources.

Wastewater: More than 80% flow back to the environment.

Oil Pollution: Annually, more than one million tons of oil make their way into marine environments.

4. Effects?

On human beings : Contaminated water harms over 1 billion people annually. Many diseases spread by water such as cholera, typhoid, and giardia.

On the environment: Ripple effects on food webs and their ecosystems impact all of the animals involved and result in irreversible effects

MADUGULA

5. What can we do?

Actions you can take right now: The three R'S: Reduce, Recycle, Reuse Properly dispose of non-biodegradable items Maintain care to avoid leaking.

Avoid the application of herbicides and pesticides in yards.

Pick up after a pet!

Ways you can use your voice: Speak out to local officials and governments about your support in the Clean Water Rule: protects drinking water for one in three Americans.

Learn and contact with those around you in getting involved with the policymaking process.

Sources: Water Pollution: Everything You Need to Know.

(2020). Retrieved 14 September 2020, from https://www.nrdc.org/stories/waterpollution-everything-you-needknow#categories A short message about why you chose to write this piece: I wanted to write about this piece because I go walking and biking often around my neighborhood and see trash at the ends of our ponds that breaks my heart. As much as I clean and do my part, I hope that with more awareness everyone can learn and start taking responsibility for their actions.

C L O U D I N G O U R S O C I E T Y BY: SOWMYA KUMAR I chose to write this piece because I believe the fact that companies are responsible for much of the carbon emissions and greenhouse gases released is important information that more people need to know. Additionally, understanding the impacts of air pollution is critical because I feel like we as a society frequently look towards chronic diseases being prevalent causes of death but not seeing what are their causes other than eating habits and genetics but rather environmental reasons such as air pollution.

"AIR POLLUTION IS SEEN TO BE ONE OF THE WORLD’S LEADING CAUSES OF DEATH, CLAIMING UP TO 5 MILLION DEATHS ANNUALLY" When thinking about the causes of death in society today, most people think of cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and diabetes to be the leading sources of death. Though, air pollution is seen to be one of the world’s leading causes of death, claiming up to 5 million deaths annually (Our World In Data). Air pollution is developed by a mixture of liquid and solid particles suspended in the air. These particles can come from a variety of areas, including factories, environmental disasters (wildfires), vehicle emissions, dust, etc. In the world today, 9 out of 10 people live in areas that do not meet the WHO air quality guidelines (Zhang), which is a serious problem.

Air pollution can develop in both indoor and outdoor areas. Indoor air pollution occurs when solid fuel sources (firewood or coal) are burned for different uses such as cooking or heating. Breathing in these chemicals that become suspended in the air can cause severe respiratory diseases, which can ultimately result in death. On the other hand, outdoor air pollution is caused by both ozone and particulate matter (Our World in Data). Ozone frequently refers to the troposphere ozone that lies close to the surface, causing respiratory damage.

Particulate matter is the liquid and solid particles suspended in the air, known to be the more common causes of air pollution. Both of these types of air pollution are known to be a risk factor of disease like heart disease, lung cancer, respiratory diseases, and strokes. As seen on the figure on the left, air pollution was the fourth leading cause of death globally in 2017.

What exactly can people do to stop this?

The generic response would be to decrease one’s carbon footprint. This would mean using more efficient transportation methods such as carpool, public transport, or even biking. Though, it is crucial to be aware that big companies are largely responsible for contributing a great number of pollutants in the air. From a 2017 report, it was seen that a mere 100 companies are accountable for 71% of global emissions (Carbon Majors Report).

Ultimately, yes, it is extremely important that normal citizens take steps in lowering their carbon footprints, but it is also vital to recognize the fact that companies do much of the damage. It is essential that awareness of information like this is increased, so companies can be held accountable.

Sources: Faria, P. (2017). CDP Carbon Majors Report 2017. https://b8f65cb373b1b7b15febc70d8ead6ced550b4d987d7c03fcdd1d.ssl.cf3.rackcdn.com/cms/reports/ documents/000/002/327/original/Carbon-Majors-Report-2017.pdf?

1499691240.

November 01, 2016 J. M. (2020, August 10). Air Pollution: Everything You Need to Know. https://www.nrdc.org/stories/air-pollution-everythingyou-need-know.

Ritchie, H., & Roser, M. (2019, November 12). Outdoor Air Pollution. https://ourworldindata.org/outdoor-air-pollution.

Sierra-Vargas, M. P., & Teran, L. M. (2012, October). Air pollution: impact and prevention. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3532603/.

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G R E E N H O U S E E F F E C T BY: SONAL GUPTA

Many people don’t understand the extent of the greenhouse effect’s importance. People know about climate change and global warming, but it's the solutions to these problems that matter the most. Studies show that without proper understanding of a global issue, a person is more likely to choose a radical stance without an explanation rather than a moderate one. Having a better understanding of the causes of climate rather than just its effects will lead the world to finding beneficial solutions.

The greenhouse effect is a natural process that is responsible for global warming. The Sun’s radiation and heat directly hits Earth at all times, and while some of this is reflected back to space, much of it is absorbed by greenhouse gases In the atmosphere (Greenhouse effect). This absorbed radiation energy warms the atmosphere to unnaturally high levels.

Global warming is increasing at a rapid rate. The year 2016 is recorded to have been the warmest year since 1880 (Observed changes in our climate system), Since the 1800s, temperatures have increased by 1.1 degrees Celsius worldwide. Now a single degree may not seem like much, but it can drastically affect communities andecojystems around the world.

With atmospheric temperatures rising, so are ocean and water temperatures. This increase is killing many aquatic species as they cannot adapt to the temperature rise. As species go extinct in the ocean, other species are losing their sources of food, and aquatic food chains and food webs are crumbling. The risen temperatures in oceans create a more acidic pH in the ocean water, killing off even more marine life in a positive feedback loop.

Organisms living in shells, which are made of calcium carbonate, are unable to produce the minerals they need to grow and develop. (Observed changes in our climate system).

`Overall, the greenhouse effect has become a disadvantage and threatens life on Earth impacting marine life, atmospheric conditions, marine life, and more, yet even today, this effect is progressing at high rates due to human activity. Radiation and heat from the Sun that is absorbed by the Earth is enhanced by greenhouse gases that exist in the planet’s atmosphere such as carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, and methane. The gases amplify global warming conditions through re-radiation and re-heating the Sun’s energy. Human activity such as the burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas is the dominant cause of the humanintensified greenhouse effect resulting in escalations of carbon dioxide levels and greenhouse gases in the Earth’s atmosphere (Human Influence on the Greenhouse Effect). An increase in greenhouse gases directly results in more absorption of heat and radiation from the sun, causing higher rates of global warming. Technological advances have furthered the greenhouse effect by emitting pollution into the atmosphere, disrupting the chances of stabling climatic temperatures (Zillman, Sherwood). With no ability to repair itself, the world’s atmosphere has become a hot zone for radiation, which can lead to terrible and apocalyptic effects if life is not given the time to adapt.

In a span of a short time, the percentage of greenhouse gases on Earth have increased rapidly, and human activity has added an amplified rate to this increase in the last 10,000 years. This increase in rate may be too much for the world to adapt to. Under normal circumstances, increased radiation and heat would take place over a long period of time - millions of years - yet since the arrival of humans, this period has been contracted to only a few thousand years (Zillman, Sherwood). As the future requires more use of technology and energy to carry out human actions, it also brings more radiation and danger with it. At least together, the world is attempting to tackle this global issue, in hopes of a longer and healthier future.

Why I wrote this piece: I chose to write this piece because I already had an understanding of how greenhouse gases impact the Earth in a negative way. Many people don’t understand how global warming is actually caused, and that human activity has increased temperatures on Earth drastically. I believe with proper understanding of this climate change issue, people will be more willing to preserve the Earth’s atmosphere.

Sources: Greenhouse effect. https://www.environment.gov.au/climatechange/climate-science-data/climatescience/greenhouse-effect. Human Influence on the Greenhouse Effect. https://www.globalchange.gov/browse/mu ltimedia/human-influence-greenhouseeffect. Observed changes in our climate system. https://www.environment.gov.au/climatechange/climate-science-data/climatescience/understanding-climatechange/indicators. Zillman, J., & Sherwood, S. (2017, November 7). The enhanced greenhouse effect. https://www.science.org.au/curious/earthenvironment/enhanced-greenhouse-effect.

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M A G A Z I N E

T E A M

Am4teens is a virtual organization anticipating to get high school students involved in skill based projects while encompassing global issues at a macro and micro level, which allows the organization to work towards a solution, and improve our societies as a whole. With a virtual platform we are able to not only targeting highschool students, but schools, parents, foundations, corporations, and world-wide topics.

SANDRA CHEAH CO-FOUNDER

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THANK YOU FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND COMMITMENT! -Annie Mokatsyan CEO+FOUNDER OF AM4TEENS

ALLYSON WINOKER CO-CHIEF OF SOCIAL MEDIA AND HEAD OF AM4TEENS PROJECT GREEN

Allyson, a high school student from New York, has an immense fervor for environmental advocacy and sustainability. While being involved in her school’s Environmental and Endangered Species club, she got inspired to create Project Green to raise awareness for worldwide environmental issues, their significance, and ways to get involved. Since then, she aspires to provide teens around the world an opportunity to be a part of this solution and have a better understanding of their impact on Earth and its ecosystems.