Tourism Pollution: An Overview [Essay #2]

Now that travelling is cheaper than ever and tourism is becoming increasingly affordable and popular, some people now consider it important that we talk about "tourism pollution". (Ryall, J. (2018, September 10). Japanese complain of 'tourist pollution' as number of sightseers skyrockets. Retrieved December 20, 2019, from https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/09/10/japanese-complain-tourist-pollution-number-sightseers-skyrockets/) We hear about environmental pollution almost every day nowadays, and tourism pollution is a relatively new term. It currently has no clear definition, so I will try to create one myself. The term tourism pollution is chiefly used to describe the combination of negative consequences of mass tourism.

It is not surprising then, that it is residents of popular tourist destinations who have the most issues with tourists. Things can even get heated, like in Summer of 2017, when thousands of locals in Venice and Barcelona marched against the further increase of the tourist presence in their cities.

(Coldwell, W. (2017, August 10). First Venice and Barcelona: now anti-tourism marches spread across Europe. Retrieved December 21, 2019, from https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2017/aug/10/anti-tourism-marches-spread-across-europe-venice-barcelona)

They argued that tourists disrupt the local way of living, litter, disrespect the rules and behave in a rowdy way. No tourists were harmed, but the protesters did slash tyres of tourist coaches and rental bicycles.

And while it is easy to write off opinions and demands of locals as regressive and mildly xenophobic, they might actually have a point. Areas popular with tourists do become overcrowded and more expensive, even for the locals, and tourists' behaviour can be awful, like in Amsterdam, where tourists get drunk, are loud at night and can even damage private property in the most disgusting of ways. (Zee, R. van der. (2017, November 1). Amsterdammers v tourists: 'It's worst when they throw up in your plant box'. Retrieved December 21, 2019, from https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2017/nov/01/amsterdam-tourists-worst)

As surprising as it may sound, tourism pollution affects Chernobyl as well. The number of visitors to the city nearly doubled after the hit HBO drama "Chernobyl" aired. Tourism pollution manifests itself differently here, in a more shocking and disappointing kind of way. The site of the tragedy has now become a playground of sorts, tourists draw obscene graffiti and attach love locks to various structures. Zero respect is shown to those who died or thousands of people whose lives were ruined because of the disaster. (McDowall, J. (2019, December 20). Radioactive ice-cream and penis graffiti: how toxic TV tourists took over Chernobyl. Retrieved December 22, 2019, from https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2019/dec/20/radioactive-ice-cream-and-penis-graffiti-how-toxic-tv-tourists-took-over-chernobyl)

I believe that tourism pollution should be acknowledged as a genuine problem that demands immediate attention. Finding solutions to this problem is incredibly important, if no appropriate measures are undertaken, it will further escalate the conflict.

Tourists in Venice, Italy

Electric Cars and the Promising Cleaner Future [Essay #1]

In our day and age, the issue of non-renewable resources and their increasing usage is one of the most prominent ones. Fossil fuel depletion in particular causes many concerns. Fossil fuel depletion is the extraction of natural gas, oil and coal reserves at a rate higher than nature replenishes them. (Fossil fuel depletion. (n.d.). Retrieved December 19, 2019, from https://app.sustainableminds.com/learning-center/methodology/fossil-fuel-depletion.) Of all the fossil fuels, petroleum is the most important.

The reason for that is simple, vehicles we use depend on fuels like petrol, jet fuel, diesel and other fuels, all of which are petroleum products derived during its refining process. (Petroleum product. (2019, December 15). Retrieved December 19, 2019, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petroleum_product) In the US alone, nearly 70% of all petroleum consumed is eventually used for transportation needs (U.S. Energy Information Administration - EIA - Independent Statistics and Analysis. (2019, October 3). Oil: crude and petroleum products explained. Use of oil. Retrieved December 19, 2019, from https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/oil-and-petroleum-products/use-of-oil.php) with around 45% of all petroleum being consumed to produce petrol for motor vehicles. (U.S. Energy Information Administration - EIA - Independent Statistics and Analysis. (2019, November 29). Refinery Yield. Retrieved December 19, 2019, from https://www.eia.gov/dnav/pet/pet_pnp_pct_dc_nus_pct_m.htm) In 2016, light personal vehicles consumed 8,308 thousand barrels per day in the US, while the rest of motor vehicles (including heavier trucks, motorcycles and buses) consumed 4,876 thousand barrels per day. (Davis, S. C., & Boundy, R. G. (2019). Transportation Energy Data Book (37.2 ed.). Retrieved December 20, 2019, from https://tedb.ornl.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/TEDB_37-2.pdf)

This makes electricity powered cars an especially promising development that might change the way we utilize our resources and have a positive impact on our environment. Petroleum consumption will not go away entirely should electric cars become the norm, but it will be limited to spheres where it is much lower, reducing it noticeably. For electric cars to truly make an impact on our environment though, it would require a shift towards cleaner sources of production of electricity; however, even if electricity production remains largely fossil fuel-based and electric cars are powered with "dirty" electricity, they will still emit less CO2 over their lifetime than conventional cars and less petroleum will be used. (Bannon, E. (2017, October 26). Electric cars emit less CO2 over their lifetime than diesels even. Retrieved December 20, 2019, from https://www.transportenvironment.org/press/electric-cars-emit-less-co2-over-their-lifetime-diesels-even-when-powered-dirtiest-electricity)

Unfortunately, electric cars did not find much support initially. The high cost of lithium-ion batteries that also have slow recharge times made many people question the expediency and practicality of such cars. Thankfully, everything is about to change. Battery size has been increased, and, most importantly, scientists have now found a cost-efficient way to increase the recharge rates and not damage the battery during the process, (Davis, N. (2019, October 30). Electric cars could be charged in 10 minutes in future, finds research. Retrieved December 18, 2019, from https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/oct/30/electric-cars-could-be-charged-in-10-minutes-in-future-finds-research) potentially allowing to recharge the entire battery in just 10 minutes. This is incredibly important, as it solves the chief problem many drivers had with electric cars, and will finally make them a viable alternative to conventional fuel vehicles. Many notable automobile manufacturers, like Volvo, have been considering to make a complete switch to electric cars, and the active research aimed at increasing the efficiency of electric car batteries is bound to draw more companies in.

Perhaps in the future we will see entire cities free of carbon emissions, roads with just electric cars on them and fossil fuel reserves left preserved. Time will tell.