Non-renewable Resources Coal Crude oil Natural gas

1) Coal mining and the environment o Strip mining or opencast mine surface mining o Caused acid mine drainage o Pollute or damage water, land and biologic resources. Underground mining o o o There are always hazards of collapse, explosion and fire. Cause respiratory illnesses e.g. black lung disease. Caused acid mine drainage, land subsidence and coal fires

Coal mining can cause massive environmental destruction via unrestricted strip mining, and it can destroy nearby rivers via acid mine drainage. It can harm the health of workers and people living nearby, as well. Coal often contains a few percent of mineral matter: quartz, calcite, or perhaps clay minerals. These do not readily combust and so become part of the ash. The ash then either escapes into the atmosphere or is left in the combustion vessel and must be discarded. Sometimes coal ash also contains significant amounts of lead, barium, arsenic, or other compounds. Whether air borne or in bulk, coal ash can therefore be a serious environmental hazard. Surface mining of coal causes direct and indirect damage to wildlife. The impact on wildlife stems primarily from disturbing, removing and redistributing the land surface. Some impacts are shortterm, and confined to the mine site; others have far-reaching, long-term effects. The most direct effect on wildlife is destruction or displacement of species in areas of excavation and spoil piling. Pit and spoil areas are not capable of providing food and cover for most species of wildlife. Mobile wildlife species like game animals, birds, and predators leave these areas. More sedentary animals like invertebrates, reptiles, burrowing rodents and small mammals may be destroyed. The community of microorganisms and nutrient-cycling processes are upset by movement, storage, and redistribution of soil.

2) Crude oil The production and use of petroleum has given rise to several environmental problems. Toxic crude oil can be spilled on land or in water, poisoning plants and animals. The burning of fuels derived from petroleum releases toxic gases that pollute the air. Some scientists even believe that the burning of petroleum fuels contributes to global climate change. Although only a small fraction of petroleum produced is spilled, petroleum spills are a major environmental problem. Most of the chemicals in petroleum are toxic to living things. Petroleum spills can poison plants, animals, and even people. They can also be difficult and expensive to clean up. Large

petroleum spills, such as those caused by accidents involving giant oil tankers, often provoke public anger at oil companies. 3) Natural gas Air pollution and climate change - Natural gas-fired power plants do emit lower levels of sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides than coal-fired plants, but these emissions still contribute to acid rain and ground-level ozone, both of which can damage forests and agricultural crops. Air Emissions At the power plant, the burning of natural gas produces nitrogen oxides and carbon dioxide, but in lower quantities than burning coal or oil. Methane, a primary component of natural gas and a greenhouse gas, can also be emitted into the air when natural gas is not burned completely. Similarly, methane can be emitted as the result of leaks and losses during transportation. Emissions of sulfur dioxide and mercury compounds from burning natural gas are negligible. Water Resource Use The burning of natural gas in combustion turbines requires very little water. However, natural gasfired boiler and combined cycle systems do require water for cooling purposes. When power plants remove water from a lake or river, fish and other aquatic life can be killed, affecting animals and people who depend on these aquatic resources Land Resource Use The extraction of natural gas and the construction of natural gas power plants can destroy natural habitat for animals and plants. Possible land resource impacts include erosion, loss of soil productivity, and landslides.

Renewable Resources. 1. Large dam alter landscapes and landuse, blocks migration of aquatic organisms and traps sediments that should otherwise reach the sea. 2. Windmills kill birds, use large area of land and degrade an areas scenic resources 3. Biofuel/ biomass burning pollutes the air and degrades the land 4. Geothermal development may produce thermal pollution from hot wastewater which may be saline or highly corrosive