World

Warming Temperatures and Rising Sea Levels Threaten Coastlines

Published

4 years ago

June 29, 2019

cars in miami drive over sea water that's flooded into streets

A hurricane is one of the deadliest types of storm that occurs on planet Earth. They rage on both land and sea, and form powerful winds that can create massive waves and shatter glass all at once. Whether on a boat or on a coastline, a hurricane is something to steer clear of – its destructive force can travel hundreds of miles, ravaging everything in its path. And as ocean levels continue to rise, they have the potential to destroy more and more property situated on coastlines. While it is unknown if climate change will cause more hurricanes in the future, what is almost certain is that they will grow in both size and intensity. Despite hundreds of scientists making this prediction, cities continue to build on land that may soon be underwater.

When Hurricane Harvey struck the United States in 2012, it caused over $125 billion in damages, making it the costliest hurricane in United States history. In fact, the five costliest hurricanes on record occurred within the past fifteen years. As climate change continues to change the ocean’s temperatures as well as raise water levels, hurricanes will have more of a chance of reaching catastrophic sizes. As temperature’s increase, winds will become faster, and precipitation will increase. Rising sea levels means more coastal flooding, and higher storm surges when hurricanes do hit land. This spells trouble for the US population, 40% of which occupies coastal counties.

Cities are making an effort to counteract hurricanes and reduce the possible amount of damage. Boston has $80 billion worth of infrastructure which stands to be demolished if trends continue the way they are. The city is considering taking action against future hurricanes, by building a massive sea wall, along with a number of coastal parks which will minimize damages. However, with forty-seven miles of coastline, it’s a tall order. There is currently no exact estimate on how much such measures would cost, but with the property values and length needing to be covered, experts are certain that it would at least be in the billions of dollars.

Superstorm Sandy alone cost New York City over $19 billion, and roughly $71 billion in the US overall. Affecting much of the east coast, it struck down power lines, damaged roads, and tore down branches. While cleanup services such as Palmetto Tree Service enjoyed a temporary bump in earnings, most businesses were not so lucky. Besides hurricanes, coastal erosion costs the United States over $500 million a year in property damage, not to mention an additional $150 million in beach nourishment. But in addition to lost money, coastal wetlands are also being lost at a rapid rate. These wetlands are crucial to the conservation of hundreds of species of wildlife. Without them, species already endangered and cramped into these areas by human habitation will be lost to the ocean. If something isn’t soon done to protect these areas, or to relocate wildlife in them, then more and more species will be lost every day. As is, things are only going to get worse.

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World

Bringing clean water – Christopher Kenny’s Preservation Earth Project

Published

2 weeks ago

January 22, 2023

Jenny Jackson

Science plainly shows that a human can survive three weeks without food, yet most individuals cannot survive three to four days without water! Dehydration sets in, and the person will go into shock and become vegetative even if they continue to breathe. In other words, water is an essential requirement. A living thing cannot thrive without it. Nonetheless, it is a horrifying truth that billions of people worldwide lack access to safe drinking water.

In developed countries, when everything from technology to luxury is available, receiving clean water at home is as ‘natural’ as breathing fresh air. Most individuals in advanced nations may not pay much attention to it, but this is not the case for the rest of the globe. Many countries continue to lack access to clean water sources or water appropriate for human use. Safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene at home should not be limited to the wealthy or those who live in cities. These are some of the most fundamental human health requirements, and all countries must ensure everyone has access to them.

The Preservation Earth Project (PEP) made its way to Tsaile, New Mexico. Over time, uranium mining, fracking, and pesticide abuse damaged the water supply, resulting in a high occurrence of numerous illnesses. Approximately 35% of the Navajo people do not have access to flowing water, and some must go to a remote location to fill barrels with water from a polluted local spring.

There is no doubt that climate change is boosting storm strength. Recent natural catastrophes have heightened the need for groups to step up and give support, answers, and relief to individuals affected by such natural disasters. The Preservation Earth Project is a non-profit organization that provides support, education, and solutions to help society transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy.

A look back at Christoper Kenny’s life

Chris Kenny was born in Summit, New Jersey, on May 4, 1961. He was one of twelve children. In 1980, he received a B.A. in economics and finance from Warren Wilson College in Swannanoa, North Carolina. He also attended New York University, earning a commercial real estate management degree from the Schack Institute. Since 2018, he has served as the head of Strategy and E-trading at Hartfield, Titus, and Donnelly. Kenny started his career in the U.S. In 1985. He worked as a Treasury Bond Broker. He formerly worked at Bonds.com as the director of fixed income sales and technological development. His academic background is in business and finance. Chris is passionate about developing and promoting renewable energy, mainly when it is used to assist people in need. The potential to aid those in urgent demand as a result of a human-caused environmental or natural disaster is not just a philanthropic act but also a once-in-a-lifetime educational opportunity.

He used solar power on mobile platforms as a backup power source for emergencies, water purification, and water pumping.

His academic credentials are in business and finance. Chris is passionate about developing and promoting renewable energy, mainly when it is used to assist people in need. The potential to aid those in urgent need as a result of a human-caused environmental or natural disaster is not just a philanthropic act but also a once-in-a-lifetime educational opportunity. He has over 38 years of experience in finance as a salesperson, broker, trader, and investor.

Making clean water available to everyone

In 2012, Kenny founded The Preservation Earth Project, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. It provides assistance, education, and alternative energy solutions to help society shift to renewable energy. It was involved and aided Haiti several times after the 2010 earthquake, providing portable solar electricity for water purification and medical facilities. In 2020, the business devised a solution for the Navajos’ contaminated water source. They collaborated with engineers and local officials to build, produce, and install a solar-powered water filtration system for the Navajo people of Tsaile, New Mexico. Other activities have included providing portable solar power to the “Cajun Navy” for rescue and clean-up in areas devastated by the 2015-2021 hurricane season in Louisiana.

The project designed, delivered, and installed a solar-powered filtration system that will provide clean drinking water to the local Navajo community 365 days a year for many years to come. Several more initiatives are in the works to provide safe drinking water to Native American communities on the Navajo Reservation.

President’s letters of gratitude

President Jimmy Carter sent Chris two heartfelt letters encouraging him to continue his charitable work. He suggested calling Habitat for Humanity and asking if they were interested in collaborating on a few projects. He and Kenny both helped out at the charity.