Hi, my name is Amir, I'm a Junior  at Engineering and Science Magnet School.  I wanted to join Environmental Leaders to educate myself, and learn ways to try to help improve the world around us.

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Renewable Energy in Trucking Business

One would assume that a company that relies on gasoline and thus carbon emissions for it's income would not be the most concerned for our planet and where it gets it's building power. However, the Pitt Ohio trucking facility in in Pennsylvania has a depot that is powered completely off it's own power grid. From solar panels to electric forklifts this depot is fully powered off clean energy. Is it odd for a trucking company to invest in clean energy? Or is it more important since it is a large contributor to carbon emissions? Source: https://www.yaleclimateconnections.org/2018/05/why-a-trucking-company-built-its-own-grid/
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Tropical Trees Resilient to Drought

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When people think of tropical trees, they often remember water. So what happens if a tropical tree suffers from a drought? Well, recent studies show that tropical trees have a unique method to fight back against drought.  Trees, in general, transport water and nutrients from the ground through their roots, then through their xylem–the scientific name for wood. If there is less water, then the tree has to "suck" harder which could lead to the point where they suck air bubbles. The bad thing about this is that, this will cause an embolism similar to a human having a blood clot. The more embolisms a tree has, the more susceptible it is to drought.  The problem with tropical trees suffering through drought is that they store carbon that reduces global warming. If those plants die and decompose because of the drought, they become a source of atmospheric carbon. The Amazon alone stores about 20 percent of all carbon in the Earth biomass. The good thing is th...
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What Caused "Day Zero"?

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Everyone agrees that water is a necessity. In Maslow's hierarchy of needs, it is one of the first things that people need to survive in this world. What happens if all of a sudden, people have to cut down the amount of water they take in for both drinking and cleaning? The obvious answer is outrage, riots, and panic. That is what is currently happening in Cape Town. Because of a 3-year long drought, previously full reservoirs are running out of water to keep the cosmopolitan city running. The people are complaining. They pay taxes to live comfortably, but in return, they have to minimize their water intake to make sure everyone gets enough water for the day. There is a projection in mid-July called "Day Zero", or the day when most of the city's taps will be turned off to conserve water. What caused this tragedy to occur? Two words: climate change. According to National Geographic, about a decade ago, the city was warned that its current population growth and sh...
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