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INVITATION TO COMMENT ON TOPICS FOR FUTURE STUDY
Background to shortlisted topics
Following the successful publication of its widely acclaimed report on the Urban Environment, and pending the release in 2008 of its next major report on Novel Materials and Nanotechnology, the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution is seeking to identify the topic for its next study.
A shortlist has been drawn up, on which the Commission would welcome your views. The shortlist has been prepared from a long list of topics suggested by members of the public, organisations and members of the Commission. The Commission now aims to select the final topic following in-depth discussion in September.
The shortlist in alphabetical order is:
Climate adaptation in the UK
Environment and human wellbeing
Geoengineering for climate change
Noise pollution
Phosphate management
Plastics and the environment
The electromagnetic environment
Water management
Climate Change Adaptation in the UK
To date, much of the focus on climate change has been on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, with considerable political effort focussed on what the targets and mechanisms for reductions should be. However, as the effects of climate change seem to be increasingly inevitable, adaptation of the way society lives and consumes seems increasingly important. The study would investigate how the UK can best adapt to living in an environment where the climate is changing, including what sorts of measures should be taken to protect and to enhance the resilience of the built and natural environments. Examples could include measures to adapt to more extreme weather, using technology to cope with the future conditions of every day living, adjusting the way we use our land, including the management of protected areas, or making recommendations as to how societal behaviours could be modified to cope better with the emerging and changing situation.
Environment and Human Wellbeing
The environment in which we live can directly affect our physical and mental condition, and our overall wellbeing. This study would include investigation of how the aesthetics and state of the UK environment can have health impacts, both positive and negative. It would consider how the environment can be used to improve our health and wellbeing and tackle major threats such as obesity, heart disease, depression and other psychiatric disorders. In general, societal focus is often on adult behaviour, but it might be particularly appropriate to look at how to encourage environments which provide the best health and opportunities for the most vulnerable – children and the elderly. The human health effects and wellbeing that can be derived from the environment are potentially justifications for protecting and enhancing the good environment. We would need to understand the evidence base for this view. This study should not be limited to just the rural environment, it should include our urban surroundings also. But there are also potential tensions. For example, if too many people spend time in the countryside or protected areas, what are the risks of damage to habitats?
Geoengineering for Climate Change
Geoengineering can be considered as the deliberate modification of the Earth's environment on a large scale to suit human needs and increase habitability, and it is being promoted by some as a possible way of mitigating the effects of climate change. Many methods have been proposed including ‘fertilising’ the oceans so that photosynthetic organisms absorb more carbon dioxide, or placing mirrors or sulphate particles in the stratosphere to reflect sunlight. However, the consequences (both intended and unintended) of geoengineering are not at all clear. It may be timely to do a thorough review of the technologies proposed. It may be the case that there are significant benefits that need to be better understood, and it is important to clarify the environmental, technical, ethical and governance issues and uncertainties.
Noise Pollution
The issue of noise pollution is of growing concern to many, and indeed it is covered by an EU directive, but there are perhaps aspects that require further study. There are many diverse sources of noise including domestic (e.g. neighbours), industrial and transport (e.g. roads and aircraft). Another aspect is the concerns of infrasound, and claims that wind farms generate low frequency noise that can make people feel unwell. It is known that noise pollution can have a significant impact on species other than humans, do we understand fully what these are, and should we be doing anything about it? What are the biggest sources of noise pollution, what are the problems it causes, and what are the ways in which it can be addressed?
Phosphate Management
Phosphorus is a vitally important element, and is essential for life. However, the effect of too much phosphorus as a pollutant can be significant, and we need to understand this better. Phosphorus is used extensively in detergents and in fertilisers and is largely sourced from ‘rock phosphate’, but some estimates predict that existing reserves may only last for about 100 years. Its use can be correlated with increasing industrialisation, as populations become more urbanised and have, therefore, to be supported by more intensive agricultural methods. Will phosphorus become a resource that is competed over as vigorously as other elements such as copper? What are we going to do once the reserves are depleted? In order to manage this resource to best effect we need to consider the impacts of pollution and the phosphorous ‘life-cycle’, and potentially alter behaviours accordingly. We need to understand the consequences of not managing phosphorus properly.
Plastics and the Environment
Plastics are a massive part of modern life, and have increasingly become a significant issue for waste management, recycling and the environment. Some studies show that plastic pollution in the oceans is having a detrimental effect on organisms, due to its ability to adsorb toxic organic compounds. Other problems arise from the persistence of plastics in the environment. Plastics recycling gains public support, but why are only some forms of plastics commonly recycled? The study could consider whether we are being ambitious enough with recycling and energy recovery, and whether there are ways of effectively recycling plastics without having to sort and clean them rigorously. Another aspect is biodegradable plastics, and determining if they are beneficial for the environment. Also important are the plastics used in consumer goods such as televisions and computers – can they be recycled, and if not, what is their impact on the environment? This study would provide an overarching view of plastics and what happens to them after their initial primary use – be it reuse, recycling, disposal or pollution.
The Electromagnetic Environment
As the world becomes increasingly bathed in anthropogenic electromagnetic radiation, should we be considering whether this is having an impact on the environment, including humans and other organisms that live in it? Sources include radio/TV broadcasts, mobile phones, GPS satellites and wireless computing amongst others. There have also been recent suggestions that wireless transfer of energy could be used as a means of charging electronic devices. The study could consider whether there is a cumulative effect from this radiation, and whether it could interfere with species other than humans, for example disrupting migration patterns of birds or other species. A key question would be are there environmental effects that have not been properly recognised? There are some suggestions that there could be epigenetic effects. Should low level ionising radiation be included in the scope of such a study? There is, of course, already significant public interest in this issue in relation to the effects of mobile telecommunications transmitters, but the study should take a wider view of the entire electromagnetic environment both now and into the future.
Water Management
This is an issue that has attracted public attention in the UK over the last few years but the problem of spasmodic water shortages (or excesses) has not been solved. The impacts of climate change and changes in water consumption will have an effect on the resources available. The management of water should, therefore, be considered in a more holistic manner, especially in the light of the uncertainties surrounding climate change impacts. Management should include human consumption as well as the needs of the natural environment. Included in this would be the management of rivers, reservoirs, flooding and the coastal protection, and making more efficient use of rainfall. From a more human-specific angle, it could also include water purification for drinking, which is an energy intensive process. There may be potential threats to water quality from the impacts of pharmaceutical residues and personal care products which contain many ‘active’ ingredients that could end up in potable and waste waters.
We would be most grateful for your comments and suggestions by Friday 24 August. These can be posted to Dr Jon Freeman at the address above, or can be emailed to jon.freeman@rcep.org.uk. If you have any queries, please contact Jon Freeman on 020 7799 8980. Please also let us know if there are any organisations or individuals which you feel should be consulted but we have overlooked.
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