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Japan is a nation heavily dependent on energy. In past years, Japan has been forced to import over 90% of its energy due to the fact that is has very little oil, coal, or gas to fire its power plants. Some scientists this they have found a solution to Japan's energy crisis. They have researched Japan's abundant resources and found one that could be able to provide energy efficiently. Japan has flammable ice which can be extracted from the sea bed and contains methane gas, allowing it to burn and not melt. The biggest difficulty that scientists have faced in this process is the extraction of flammable gas. It is able to be extracted, but the process is long, requires a lot of energy, and is very expensive. There are several environmental risks that come along with the extraction of flammable ice. Extraction on the ocean floor could cause a tsunami or methane gas could be released into the atmosphere. Although there are a few risks, it is important that scientists continue to research flammable ice and other alternative and sustainable energy sources for Japan. Japan has a serious crisis that is affecting its economy and health; a solution could potentially decrease air pollution in the heavily populated country.

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Scientists have found a massive mineral deposit in southwestern Alaska that could be worth upwards of $300 billion dollars. This deposit is called the Pebble Mine and was first discovered in the 1980s. A Canadian mining company, Northern Dynasty, has purchased the area of land and now must decide what to do with it. They know that this could be the richest mine on the planet. The process to extract all of this gold and copper would be devastating to the pristine wetland and its other industries. This process would require explosives, new roads, and power lines. Fishing communities worry about the water quality becoming toxic. Alaska is the prime market for salmon and polluted waters would destroy the industry. Under Obama, the Clean water Act protected the Bristol Bay from mining. The president of the Alaskan Senate also agreed with Obama. Under the Trump administration, the plan to protect the Bay was withdrawn and Northern Dynasty can proceed to mine. Although the company says the plan would respect the environment and create jobs, there are still many repercussions. Alaska is full of resources but also of beauty. Excavating the Pebble Mine would destroy the aesthetic gifts that nature has to offer and also the ecosystem for the life that it sustains.

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The buried treasure that's tearing Alaska apart | CNN

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A Canadian company's proposal to mine a site near Alaska's prized salmon fisheries is fueling controversy.

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Rising sea levels and extreme weather events, all results of climate change,  are most threatening to small island nations. The International Council for Local Environmental Issues (ICLEI) has made a commitment to sustainable development. Currently, its primary focus is on educating and training small islands on resilience practices.  This has helped places like the Solomon Islands build homes that are able to withstand future disasters. They also plan to relocate the central hospital to a safer location  and to build more bridges, creating alternative escape routes.  The organization also wants to bring attention to the small islands which many people do not even know exist. They are often overlooked and not supported in times of disaster. Climate change is inevitable, and for small islands, reform is essential. Organization like the ICLEI have been vital in preserving islands, yet more can be done needs to be done.

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Many ocean animals have been documented eating plastic because of its bright and edible appearance. Plastic consumption is very dangerous for these animals and often leads to death. Small corals are also guilty of consuming the plastic that flows through their ecosystems. A new study reveals that this plastic actually tastes like food to the corals. Researchers composed an experiment using two different types of plastic. They found that the corals preferred bacteria free plastic. The additive chemicals keep corals from eating the plastic as quickly.  Other substances in the plastic may also be appealing to marine life. Understanding the motive for plastic consumption can help solve many instances of dangerous plastic consumption.

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Wisconsin republicans are urging a bill that will make it easier to obtain a sulfide mining permit. The current law requires that a company have proof of a similar mine that has not caused pollution. Although this law makes it difficult for companies to obtain a mining permit, it greatly helps the pollution situation in Wisconsin. Sulfide mines pollute water resources and cause poisoned rivers, ecological dead zones, and toxic water. Because of the previous law, practically all sulfide mining in the area has been eliminated. A Wisconsin senator believe that he has found a mining facility that abides by the stipulations of the law. This senator believe that the new bill should be passed, making minerals more available to the military and manufactures. He also argues that a  new mining industry would create many new jobs in northern Wisconsin. Until further research is done, the new bill should be held off. The consequences of sulfide mining are too severe to experiment with. Yet, if a safe approach is developed, it has the potential to help Wisconsin's economy.

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ISIS is leaving behind a huge toxic legacy as it loses control of its once occupied areas. The pollution could have severe consequences for Iraq. Many Iraqi civilians are being exposed to the toxic remnants of war and facing the health impacts. Iraq had been planning on monitoring pollution and addressing environmental issues before they faced war with ISIS. When ISIS took over parts of Iraq, oil wells burned, communities were clouded under dark smoke, sulfur fires erupted, and water sources became toxic. This conflict had undone all of their efforts to become erase the previous environmental damage. Protests have even begun in these areas most effected by the pollution caused by war.  The UN is taking charge and plans to ensure that further damage to the environment will not occur after a warlike conflict. For now, the people of Iraq are trying their best to rebuilt their homes and stay healthy.

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As the so-called Islamic State loses control over the areas it once occupied, it is leaving behind a toxic legacy. The initial findings of a scoping mission undertaken by UN Environment Programme's Conflict and Disasters branch found a trail of localized pollution that could have acute and chronic consequences for Iraq-and not just for its environment.

While this is a good start, a much wider assessment is needed to strengthen Iraq's capacity to minimize civilian exposure to toxic remnants of war and their acute and chronic health impacts. And larger questions loom: How can we hold the perpetrators accountable? What are the long-term environmental health risks for affected communities? Could the pollution-and inadequate responses to it-spur political grievances?

Daesh Winter: ISIS' Environmental Destruction

Over the last three years, little work has been done to assess the environmental damage from the conflict against ISIS. Institutions in affected areas have partly or completely collapsed; crucial data and expertise are missing; and there is little capacity to monitor and respond to pollution.

While money flowed in to rebuild Iraq's oil industry, the level of attention to environmental issues remained low

Before the conflict with ISIS, Iraq was setting up a functioning system to monitor pollution and address other environmental issues, such as water scarcity and industrial toxic waste. Iraq was already struggling with toxic remnants from the previous wars that ravaged the country. UNEP identified several environmental hotspots, helped strengthen environmental regulations, and built capacity for clean-up and remediation work. But while money flowed in to rebuild Iraq's oil industry, the level of attention to environmental issues remained fairly low. Mismanagement and corruption often hindered effective implementation of efforts to tackle toxic waste problems, remediate polluted sites, and improve industrial regulation.

After ISIS took over large parts of northern Iraq in 2014, the battle to defeat them quickly rolled back any progress that had been made on environmental recovery. Even worse, ISIS' scorched earth tactics had a devastating impact on Ninewah and Kirkuk governorates. Dozens of oil wells burned for months, some of them even years, clouding communities under dark smoke plumes that blocked the sun in the apocalyptically named "Daesh Winter." A sulphur fire and subsequent toxic smoke cloud at the Mishraq factory also directly affected the health of thousands of civilians in surrounding villages. The conflict polluted water sources and left Iraq littered with millions of tons rubble and debris from destroyed cities and towns, as well as toxic waste from industrial sites and artisanal oil refining.

After the Dust Settles: Next Steps in Iraq

Traditionally, conflict-related environmental damage and subsequent health risks for communities receive little attention during post-conflict reconstruction and rehabilitation, where it competes with more pressing humanitarian concerns. This is slowly changing, as we learn how important environmental conditions are for socio-economic development and how the toxic remnants of war affect health and well-being. Civilians can be directly exposed to toxic materials like munition remnants, or to hazardous materials released into the environment when industrial sites are targeted. Over the long term, pollutants from contaminated drinking water or soil can build up in the body, causing long-term health damage, especially to children.

If environmental risks are not properly addressed, well-meaning efforts to clean up may backfire

If these environmental risks are not properly addressed, the well-meaning efforts to clean up may backfire against the authorities involved in post-conflict reconstruction. Grievances from insufficient remediation of conflict-related pollution in Iraq, South Sudan, and Vietnam have led to protests. Even in the United States, contamination from military bases and firing ranges has raised concerns.

The international community will need to provide funding and technical assistance to support identification and clearing of Iraq's most pressing hotspots. Next, the environmental health of affected communities should be monitored, which will also support taking a more evidence-based approach towards conflict pollution and its consequences for civilians in the future.

Such an approach should be mainstreamed in both humanitarian response and post-conflict reconstruction programs at all relevant levels, from identification of direct need to long-term monitoring and rehabilitation work. Of course, this leaves a big financial elephant in the room. Non-state armed groups or terrorists like ISIS are not going to pay. In past conflicts, some countries responsible for pollution have voluntarily provided funds, like the United States did to clean up Agent Orange pollution in Vietnam, or forced to pay, like Iraq following its invasion of Kuwait. Other debates are stalled, such as Lebanon's complaint asking Israel to pay for clean-up of oil spilled during the 2006 war with Hezbollah. So who will pay for the clean-up of pollution in Iraq?

At the UN Environmental Assembly meeting, to be held in Nairobi this December, Iraq will submit a resolution on " Pollution prevention and control in areas affected by terrorist operations and armed conflict." The draft language outlines various core issues in providing international assistance for countries dealing with environmental damage a result of armed conflict, such as minimizing damage to potentially hazardous facilities and infrastructure in military operations, and ensuring communities affected by pollution caused by conflict get support for remediation and healthcare. The resolution asks that specialist international agencies assist in identifying, monitoring, and cleaning up the toxic remnants of war. While funding these activities will be challenge, efficient and effective policies to address environmental issues in humanitarian response and recovery will provide cost benefits for the international community.

Paying the Bill: Environmental Recovery After Conflict

To ensure that the environment will be mainstreamed in humanitarian response and post-conflict reconstruction, we offer a few recommendations:

Better information on local environmental damage and creation of conflict-related sources of pollution could support a more efficient response to these threats, mitigating long-term impacts on health and the subsequent social-economic costs. This could be done by applying novel tools and technologies to identify and monitor conflicts and the potential environmental hotspots they create.

A specific environment lens for reconstruction and rehabilitation work could

incorporate existing knowledge and expertise from environmental emergencies from relevant organizations including UNEP, NGOs, and the private sector.

Countries with a history of dealing with environmental issues could provide funding to kick start to the above-mentioned work and lead by example to demonstrate the direct and long-term benefits of tackling environmental damage cause by conflict. Larger reconstruction efforts through the World Bank should incorporate this issue in programming.

This approach could help us paint a picture of the true cost of war that includes the long-term effects of its enormous environmental damage and the acute and chronic health risks to civilians. Ideally, it could also restrain polluting military practices or tactics by putting a price on these operations. If no one is willing to pick up the bill for the environmental costs of war, we should take more steps to avoid running up such a huge tab and adding to the health burden of civilians trying to rebuild their lives and livelihoods after war.
Wim Zwijnenburg is the project leader for humanitarian disarmament at PAX, a Netherlands-based NGO focused on promoting peace. Sources: BBC News, Bellingcat, Business Insider, The Guardian, Iraq Oil Report, Leading Edge Programme, Medicine, Conflict and Survival, Oxfam, ProPublica, The New York Times, Toxic Remnants of War Network, Relief Web, United Nations Environment, United Nations Habitat, Vox, World Bank Photo Credit: Boys play with a ball in front of oil fields burned by Islamic State fighters in Qayyarah, south of Mosul, Iraq, November, 2016, courtesy of Flickr user El Gee Cafe.

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A Toxic Legacy: Remediating Pollution in Iraq

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As the so-called Islamic State loses control over the areas it once occupied, it is leaving behind a toxic legacy. The initial findings of a scoping mission undertaken by UN Environment Programme's Conflict and Disasters branch found a trail of localized pollution that could have acute and chronic consequences for Iraq-and not just for its environment.