TAMUN 2016 CHAIR REPORT
Forum: Health and Environmental Committee (GA4)
Position: Deputy Chair
Name: Bora Arda Zeytinoglu
Issue: Climate Change: The issue of Petrochemicals causing
Marine Pollution
Definition of Key Terms
Petrochemicals: Petrochemistry is a branch of chemistry that studies the
transformation of crude oil (petroleum) and natural gas into useful products or raw
materials. These petrochemicals have become an essential part of the chemical
industry today.
Climate: Climate is the statistics (usually, mean or variability) of weather, usually
over a 30-year interval. It is measured by assessing the patterns of variation
in temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, wind, precipitation, atmospheric
particle count and other meteorological variables in a given region over long periods of
time. Climate differs from weather, in that weather only describes the short-term
conditions of these variables in a given region.
Marine pollution: Marine pollution occurs when harmful, or potentially harmful,
effects result from the entry into the ocean of chemicals, particles, industrial,
agricultural and residential waste, noise, or the spread of invasive organisms. Eighty
percent of marine pollution comes from land. Air pollution is also a contributing factor
by carrying off pesticides or dirt into the ocean. Land and air pollution have proven to
be harmful to marine life and its habitats.
Greenpeace: Greenpeace is a non-governmental environmental organization with
offices in over forty countries and with an international coordinating body
in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Introduction
Today, the world’s climate is changing extremely fast. One of the reasons of global
warming is marine pollution caused by petrochemicals. Most of the petrochemicals
are coming from the leaks on the ships and factories which are bumping their wastes
into the seas and oceans. Also, climate is so important for all natural life. If we
continue to pollute the seas, air etc., if we don’t do anything, the life in our world will
end. So, there are so many NGO’s are striving for this issue, too many effort are being
made by the governments for reducing the marine pollution. Marine pollution gives
rise to so many problems like:
- Effect of Toxic Wastes on Marine Animals: Oil spill is dangerous to marine life in
several ways. The oil spilled in the ocean could get on to the gills and feathers of
marine animals, which makes it difficult for them to move or fly properly or feed their
children. The long term effect on marine life can include cancer, failure in the
reproductive system, behavioral changes, and even death.
- Disruption to the Cycle of Coral Reefs: Oil spill floats on the surface of water and
prevents sunlight from reaching to marine plants and affects in the process of
photosynthesis. Skin irritation, eye irritation, lung and liver problems can impact
marine life over long period of time.
- Depletes Oxygen Content in Water: Most of the debris in the ocean does not
decompose and remain in the ocean for years. It uses oxygen as it degrades. As a
result of this, oxygen levels go down. When oxygen levels go down, the chances of
survival of marine animals like whales, turtles, sharks, dolphins, penguins for long time
also goes down.
- Failure in the Reproductive System of Sea Animals: Industrial and agricultural
wastes include various poisonous chemicals that are considered hazardous for marine
life. Chemicals from pesticides can accumulate in the fatty tissue of animals, leading to
failure in their reproductive system.
- Effect on Food Chain: Chemicals used in industries and agriculture get washed
into the rivers and from there are carried into the oceans. These chemicals do not get
dissolved and sink at the bottom of the ocean. Small animals ingest these chemicals
and are later eaten by large animals, which then affects the whole food chain.
- Affects Human Health: Animals from impacted food chain are then eaten by
humans which affects their health as toxins from these contaminated animals gets
deposited in the tissues of people and can lead to cancer, birth defects or long term
health problems.
General Overview
About Greenpeace
Greenpeace is a non-governmental environmental organization with offices in over
forty countries and with an international coordinating body in Amsterdam,
the Netherlands. Founded by Canadian environmental activists in 1971, Greenpeace
states its goal is to "ensure the ability of the Earth to nurture life in all its diversity" and
focuses its campaigning on worldwide issues such as climate
change, deforestation, overfishing,commercial whaling, genetic engineering, and antinuclear issues. It uses direct action, lobbying, and research to achieve its goals. The
global organization does not accept funding from governments, corporations, or
political parties, relying on 2.9 million individual supporters and foundation
grants. Greenpeace has a general consultative status with the United Nations
Economic and Social Council and is a founding member of the INGO Accountability
Charter; an international non-governmental organization that intends to foster
accountability and transparency of non-governmental organizations.
Greenpeace is known for its direct actions and has been described as the most visible
environmental organization in the world. Greenpeace has raised environmental issues
to public knowledge, and influenced both the private and the public
sector. Greenpeace has also been a source of controversy; its motives and methods
(some of the latter being illegal) have received criticism and the organization's direct
actions have sparked legal actions against Greenpeace activists, such as fines and
suspended sentences for destroying a test plot of GMO wheat and damaging
the Nazca Lines, a UN World Heritage site in Peru.
Recent Disasters
12 December 1999- Erica Tragedy: In 12 December 1999, Erica Oil Tanker that had a
Maltese flag and Indian crew had broken by the impact of the storm and 20.000 tons
of heavy oil has spread and damaged the Biscay Gulf and the coasts of France. 150.000
seabirds died, marine animals had affected and the spread’s effect on the ecosystem is
continuing and it is named that ‘’the worst/biggest oil pollution of France’’. Recently,
the case about this issue was sentenced. Total Company had a fine about 375.000 €
and they will pay 200.000.000 € to share the damage of marine pollution.
8 September 2007- Hebei Spirit: In 8 September 2007, a crane barge and M/V Hebei
Spirit bumped into each other at South Korea coasts. 2.8 million gallons of crude
petrol has poured from the holes on the M/V Hebei Spirit. A high pollution came into
existence at the west of Taen town that affected 160 km of the coastline.
12 October 2007- Volganeft-139: In 12 October 2007, an environmental disaster has
occured in the south of Russia. With a petrol tanker, 11 ships sank or took damage. At
the Kerch Pass, which is between Black Sea and Azor Sea, because of the rough storm,
the ships were sunk and 20 sailors have lost and a lot of sailors died because of
hypothermia. 30.000 birds had been oil-slicked and died. Heavy oil was poured into
the sea and accumulated at the bottom of the sea and harmed the marine life.
1.300 tons of heavy oil (about 560.000 gallons) flew into the sea. It damaged the
natural life and its affect will be continue for years.
Major Parties Involved
Russia
Russia has such long coasts that many ships bring their goods to Russia’s ports. So,
petrochemical disasters are occured mostly in this area. As we see recently, there
were so many tragedies which are close to the Russian coasts about petroleum and
petrochemicals. Russia have so many coasts on the seas. Arctic Ocean, Azor Sea, The
Caspian Sea, The Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean etc. So, most of the tragedies are
happened in Russia’s coasts while the oil tankers are coming to and going from
Russia’s harbors. Russia exports natural gas with ships so they liquify the natural gas
and place in to the ships. So, the factors of tanker accidents is not only the ships
coming to Russia, Russia’s tankers are also a factor.
Qatar
Qatar has so many petroleum sources so they have a big income because of oil
exporting but Qatar is a LEDC so their oversea transportation is really weak. Their ships
are not steady. Into the stormy seas, the ships couldn’t endure to the storms and
break, then sink into the sea with their load, petroleum/oil. And the ships’ load is so
heavy that this is a reason why the ships break and sink into the sea. And their marines
are not suitable for ships. They need some assistance about ships and marine
technology.
Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia has the highest petroleum reserves in the world. They have about 264.52
billion barrels of petroleum. The petroleum is used so many different ways but it
requires technology and Saudi Arabia doesn’t have the most of this technologies. So,
they sell it to the different countries who lacks of petroleum like the European
countries and they export the petroleum with the oil tankers. So, like Qatar, they lack
on ship and marine technology and many accidents occured into their coasts.
Venezuela
Not like Russia, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, Venezuela is a South American country. They
are second on the petroleum reserves with about 211.17 billion barrels of petroleum.
Venezuela is a LEDC like Qatar and Saudi Arabia so they haven’t got enough
technology for processing petroleum so they sell crude oil to MEDC countries. They
are lack of steady, modern ships, ship technology, marine technology. Venezuela is
struggling on the petroleum trade because of their location and their lack of marine
technology.
WWF
On 29 April 1961, in the small town of Morges in Switzerland, a group of eminent
people made a commitment to the natural world. They called for urgent worldwide
action to stop vast numbers of wild animals being hunted out of existence and habitats
destroyed.
The 'Morges Manifesto' became the blueprint for the first global green organisation –
the World Wildlife Fund (now called simply WWF). The far-sighted founders included
the respected biologist Julian Huxley and renowned ornithologist and painter Peter
Scott, who also designed the original and now world-famous WWF panda logo. Others
signatories came from Belgium, France, Germany, Poland, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland
and the US.
The organisation's international secretariat was established in Switzerland in
September, and national WWF offices were gradually set up across the world, starting
with the UK in November 1961.
By the end of the 1970s, the focus of WWF's work had broadened to encompass not
only the conservation of wildlife and habitats, but also the wider implications of man's
activities on the environment.
In 1980 WWF's World Conservation Strategy warned that humanity had no future
unless nature and the world's natural resources were conserved. It also introduced the
concept of sustainable development - living within the limits of the natural
environment without compromising the needs of future generations - which has been
central to WWF's thinking ever since.
The damage of water pollution
The effects of water pollution are varied and depend on what chemicals are dumped
and in which locations.
Many water bodies near urban areas (cities and towns) are highly polluted. This is the
result of both garbage dumped by individuals and dangerous chemicals legally or
illegally dumped by manufacturing industries, health centers, schools and market
places.
a)Death of aquatic(water)animals
The main problem caused by water pollution is that it kills life that depends on these
water bodies. Dead fish, crabs, birds and sea gulls, dolphins, and many other animals
often wind up on beaches, killed by pollutants in their habitat (living environment).
b)Disruption of food-chains
Pollution disrupts the natural food chain as well. Pollutants such as lead and cadmium
are eaten by tiny animals. Later, these animals are consumed by fish and shellfish, and
the food chain continues to be disrupted at all higher levels.
c)Diseases
Eventually, humans are affected by this process as well. People can get diseases such
as hepatitis by eating seafood that has been poisoned. In many poor nations, there is
always outbreak of cholera and diseases as a result of poor drinking water treatment
from contaminated waters.
d)Destruction of ecosystems
Ecosystems (the interaction of living things in a place, depending on each other for
life) can be severely changed or destroyed by water pollution. Many areas are now
being affected by careless human pollution, and this pollution is coming back to hurt
humans in many ways.
Conclusion
There are so many waste and pollution water, especially oceans. All of the waste is
going there, so, oceans are used like a garbage patch of the world.
Human activity is destroying our oceans and the life that they contain. While some
pollution occurs directly in or at the edge of the ocean from ships and coastal
communities, a majority of it comes from land and air pollution that may occur miles
and miles away. The biggest causes of ocean pollution include:
•
Oil spills and leaks
•
Agricultural runoff and pesticides
•
Industrial waste
•
Trash dumping, espeically plastic
•
Air pollution and acid rain
•
Sewage and sludge
It's hard to clean up pollution once it has occurred, so the best way in short term is
prevention. Several big-picture changes must take place to keep industry in check and
encourage sustainable practices, not only in the US but across the globe:
•
Stricter government regulations on industry and manufacturing
•
Renewable energy sources so off-shore drilling no longer needed
•
Limit agricultural pesticides
•
Proper sewage treatment
•
Cut down on waste and contain landfills
Bibliography
http://www.wwf.org.uk/about_wwf/history/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenpeace
http://eschooltoday.com/pollution/water-pollution/effects-of-waterpollution.html
http://greenliving.lovetoknow.com/Solutions_for_Ocean_Pollution
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_Russia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venezuela
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qatar
https://en .wikipedia.org/wiki/Saudi Arabia