Sustainable Development

Environmental Science/English IV

Amira Tanbakji, Victoria Ramos, Ana Galarraga, Gunnar

Spong, Montana Maxim
Group Introduction
RI Salt Ponds
Cultural and Ecological Significance
❖ Rhode Island is home to 9 salt ponds
❖ Salt ponds formed as a result of glacial erosion
❖ Salt ponds are popular for a multitude of
recreational activities
➢ Fish, clam, swim, beach-comb, bird, hunt, and
boat
❖ Salt ponds’ salinity affects density and temperature
➢ Provides space for stripers, bluefish, etc.
which are prey to birds such as herons
➢ Oxygen levels allow for zooplankton and
phytoplankton to thrive Narrow River Preservation Association, 2017, 8

❖ High nitrogen levels threaten salt ponds oxygen

levels and ecosystem
RI Salt Ponds
Cultural and Ecological Significance

❖ Salt ponds hold cultural significance to the

Narragansett tribe, indigenous to Rhode Island
❖ Salt ponds contributed to many aspects of
Narragansett culture
➢ Legend of culture hero Wetucks
➢ Food preservation techniques
➢ Place to live, celebrate, mourn
❖ The Narragansett tribe relied on salt ponds for
a multitude of reasons
➢ Sustenance
Narragansett Indian Tribe ➢ Shells (wampum)
 Washington Park
Contributing Factors to Air Quality Concerns & Control in Southern Providence, RI

❖ 1790’s
➢ Textile mills introduced
❖ 18th Century
➢ First manufacturing state centers
in the U.S. (See Figure 1 at left)
❖ Evolving Energy
Figure 2. Powell, C. M., ➢ Water-Power to Thermal Energy
Figure 1. "The Ucci, N. S., & S. ❖ Figure 2 at right shows Provinces Air
Providence Plantations (2020). Air Quality Index Quality Index (AQI)
[Digital image].
for 250 Years" (1886), p. ❖ Above Average AQI Levels Yearly
274. ➢ Providence Specifically: 77.3
Washington Park
Contributing Factors to Air Quality concerns & Control in Southern Providence, RI

❖ Asthma affects millions of people worldwide

➢ Adolescents are more prone to have
asthma in RI compared to other states
❖ Annual higher average for children in RI vs.
national average
➢ 11 compared to 8.5; difference of 2.5
❖ Most common emergency room visits have
been noted to have resided in South
Providence
➢ Majority in the West End and
Washington Park area(s)
(ARGEMÍ, C., 2020, February 19)
Producer Responsibility
Effect and Psychology of Production on Marine Ecosystems

❖ Socio-Economic disparity
➢ “world’s richest 1 percent emit about
50 tons(metric) of CO2 per capita,
which is 30 times more than the
poorest 50 percent and 175 times that
of the poorest 10 percent” (Benoit,
2020)
❖ The Industrial Revolution Pollution
➢ Heavy Metals
➢ Carbon

Narragansett Bay Report, 2000

Producer Responsibility
Effect and Psychology of Production on Marine Ecosystems

❖ Extended Producer Responsibility

➢ Only 100 companies are responsible
for 71% of the world’s carbon
emissions
❖ Carbon Tax
➢ 4 Categories
➢ Luxury
❖ Societal Shift
➢ Economic Structure
➢ Industrialization/Urbanization
Block Island Wind Farm
Environmental and Economical Impacts
❖ History of Offshore Wind Farms
➢ The first offshore wind farm was built in denmark,
in 1991.
❖ Where they are today
➢ Approximately 19,000 MW of offshore wind
energy around the world today.

❖ Where they are heading

➢ “Offshore wind energy is predicted to become a
$70 billion market” ( CNBC ).
➢ “Planes for offshore wind farms along the east
coast are already in place” ( CNBC ).
Block Island Wind Farm
Environmental and Economical Impacts Talking points

❖ Environmental impacts
➢ Negative environmental effects of offshore wind turbines are
increased noise levels and bird strikes.
➢ Wind turbines can benefit the environment by acting as an
artificial reef.
❖ Economical impacts
➢ Wind farms being developed in federal waters off the east
coast, raises concern in the fishing industry.
➢ Offshore wind farms will create thousands of jobs over the
coming decade.

This image shows how each turbine from the block

island wind farm show up on a radar.
 Blue Economy
❖ Blue Economy is defined as
➢ “the economic sectors with a direct
or indirect link to Rhode Island’s
coasts and ocean”( BE- report )
❖ The Blue Economy exist is Rhode
Island
➢ Plan is to improve and expand the
economy.
❖ Parts of the Blue Economy
➢ defense, marine trades, tourism
and recreation, fisheries,
aquaculture, ports and shipping,
and offshore renewable
energy”( BE- report )

(BE-report)
 Blue Economy
❖ RI Salt Ponds
➢ Less nitrogen in the water/ Narragansett
Tribe are helped
❖ Washington Park
➢ More restrictions on companies and their
air admissions/ they will be watched
more closely.
❖ Producer responsibility
➢ Could possibly make companies take
responsibility/ more laws on how things
will be disposed of.
Google Satellite Imaging of Rhode Island.
❖ Block Island Wind Farm
➢ improving/ expanding only wind farm in
USA
Thank You!