Preface

Environmental sustainability is vital to improve global equity, liberty and even security of entire nations. When the environment is compromised, lives are endangered and opportunities of people to access a better life are severely truncated.

Several efforts have been done worldwide, for example, in the 2017 report; the UN Environment described many activities realized against the alarming increase of pollution of air and water around the world. Additional subjects also treated as emblematic, are the climate change, wildlife crime, micro-plastic pollution and land degradation. The aim of this book is then to introduce some emergent technologies able to achieve some of the goals proposed by the United Nations.

IntechOpen itself achieved a second objective of this book, because they have supported women scientists worldwide with the edition of their books. This funding is very important; commonly in developing countries, the advance in science is very limited because economic resource destined to science and education is not enough. These restrictions are more marked if scientists are women. In order to develop science in poorest countries and to decrease the gender gap existing in scientific field, free access networks to scientific documents becomes essential. Free access to science could contribute to ameliorate life conditions, and from the personal point of view of this editor, it could make people more empathic of breaking barriers and get closer to peace.

#### **Structure of the Book**

**II**

**Section 4**

*by Xareni P. Pacheco*

Technologies in Wildlife Preservation **95**

**Chapter 7 97**

How Technology Can Transform Wildlife Conservation

This book contains enough information for beginners to start with, and also more detailed information for advanced readers. The book is divided into three main themes concerning some green technologies applied to diminish the atmospheric pollution, the global warming caused by greenhouse gases (GHG) and, as a final point, to enhance the preservation of endangered species.

In particular in Chapter 1, an introductory review briefly gives a background of environmental problems and some of emergent technologies used to reduce them.

Chapter 2 and Chapter 3 are about clean technologies to diminish gaseous pollutants emitted by coal and mining industries. Specifically, T. Pitso gives, in the chapter entitled "*Clean coal technologies adaptability and R&D support for efficiency and sustainability",* an overview of clean coal technologies and the principal challenges they face. A. Soofastaei, depicts the mitigation of mining industry by better managing the operations in *"The application of artificial intelligence to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the mining industry"*.

Several efforts have to been done by researchers in order to diminish GHG, by using, for example, alternative sources like geothermal energy as depicted in

Chapter 4 *entitled "Geothermal energy as alternative to reduce atmospheric emissions and supply green energy"* by Z. González and M. García*.* They show some results in a case study in Mexico.

Plasma technology is an affordable technique able to treat GHG and, at the same time, it is possible to obtain clean and energetic gases like hydrogen, at a relatively low power input. This specific technology is described by J. Pacheco, R. Valdivia and M. Pacheco in the chapter *"Greenhouse gases reforming and hydrogen upgrading by using warm plasma technology"*.

The automotive industry is also concerned with toxic gases attenuation, emphasizing its efforts on the CO2 diminution. Electric vehicles (EV) are seen as a central alternative to diminish the negative impact on the environment; nevertheless, as it is noticed by A. Santana, their use in Latin American countries has to take additional considerations in order to cause a decrease in GHG. The discussion of these findings is addressed in *"EV in Latin American countries".*

An appropriate use of technology and a closer collaboration of different research fields can benefit the preservation of wildlife as depicted by X. Pacheco in Chapter 7 *"How technology can transform wildlife conservation"*.

> **Marquidia Josseline Pacheco Pacheco** Laboratorio de Aplicaciones de Plasmas, Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Nucleares, Ocoyoacac, Mexico

> > **1**

Section 1

Introduction

Section 1 Introduction

**3**

**Chapter 1**

**1. Introduction**

communities.

to everyone in the world.

are brought to light" [2, 3].

Introductory Chapter: Green

Technologies to Improve the

Our planet Earth is suffering devastating effects mostly caused by human footprint. Development of sustainable technologies comes to be, then, vital and could have a positive impact on the environment if green technologies are accessible

Lessons learned from the past point out that the development in energy and technology has to consider aspects such as environmental protection, economic development, and equity [1]. Furthermore, the transition to green technologies needs immediate action due to the current urgency. This transition has to be equitable enough to diminish disproportionate negative effects on vulnerable

Following the same logic, free access to scientific publications allows the poorest nations to know and apply green technologies; therefore, the possibilities to

Furthermore, the success of green technologies lies on *humility*; Sheila Jasanoff describes those as *technologies of humility*. In her own words, this call for humility "is a prescription to supplement science with the analysis of those aspects of the human condition that science cannot easily illuminate" and also "Humility instructs us to think harder about how to reframe problems so that their ethical dimensions

Ergo, the aim of this book is to humbly compile some of the numerous technologies and techniques applied to improve the environment. Contributions, here presented, describe not only the benefits of technologies and techniques but also the

In recent years, the capitalism system has been viewed as a source of social and environmental problems. Companies are perceived to be flourishing at the expense of the broader community. A solution could be the creation of economic value in a way that also generates value for society by addressing its needs and challenges; this is called "shared value." This concept not necessarily means philanthropy not even sustainability; this is now seen as a new way to achieve economic success [4].

From this principle, the concept of *honest broker* makes sense. The honest broker mediates the interrelation between technologists and communities contributing to policymaking and a healthy democracy by using best science [5]. In other words, the honest broker could improve both, human well-being and environmental

Environment on Earth

efficiently improving the environment on Earth increase.

**2. Green technologies: the key of success**

drawbacks and the areas for improvement.

*Marquidia Josseline Pacheco Pacheco*

#### **Chapter 1**

## Introductory Chapter: Green Technologies to Improve the Environment on Earth

*Marquidia Josseline Pacheco Pacheco*

#### **1. Introduction**

Our planet Earth is suffering devastating effects mostly caused by human footprint. Development of sustainable technologies comes to be, then, vital and could have a positive impact on the environment if green technologies are accessible to everyone in the world.

Lessons learned from the past point out that the development in energy and technology has to consider aspects such as environmental protection, economic development, and equity [1]. Furthermore, the transition to green technologies needs immediate action due to the current urgency. This transition has to be equitable enough to diminish disproportionate negative effects on vulnerable communities.

Following the same logic, free access to scientific publications allows the poorest nations to know and apply green technologies; therefore, the possibilities to efficiently improving the environment on Earth increase.

#### **2. Green technologies: the key of success**

Furthermore, the success of green technologies lies on *humility*; Sheila Jasanoff describes those as *technologies of humility*. In her own words, this call for humility "is a prescription to supplement science with the analysis of those aspects of the human condition that science cannot easily illuminate" and also "Humility instructs us to think harder about how to reframe problems so that their ethical dimensions are brought to light" [2, 3].

Ergo, the aim of this book is to humbly compile some of the numerous technologies and techniques applied to improve the environment. Contributions, here presented, describe not only the benefits of technologies and techniques but also the drawbacks and the areas for improvement.

In recent years, the capitalism system has been viewed as a source of social and environmental problems. Companies are perceived to be flourishing at the expense of the broader community. A solution could be the creation of economic value in a way that also generates value for society by addressing its needs and challenges; this is called "shared value." This concept not necessarily means philanthropy not even sustainability; this is now seen as a new way to achieve economic success [4].

From this principle, the concept of *honest broker* makes sense. The honest broker mediates the interrelation between technologists and communities contributing to policymaking and a healthy democracy by using best science [5]. In other words, the honest broker could improve both, human well-being and environmental

conditions, as is clearly depicted by P. Kumar, in the chapter "Role of Social Enterprises in Addressing Energy Poverty: Making the case for refined understanding through theory of Co-Production of Knowledge and theory of Social Capital." Furthermore, this chapter highlights the theory of social capital and its relation with social enterprises as a factor of change to motivate poor communities to adopt and use cleaner energy systems.

Regarding the impact of harmful human activities on soil contamination, there is still a lack of information; this phenomenon is more pronounced in poorest countries and is one of the world's biggest problems invisible to the international community [6]. From the soil pollutants, heavy metals are the most complex and persistent pollutants to remediate in nature; in particular cadmium and lead are the most toxic pollutants; they can affect the kidneys, liver, and lungs. Another harmful element that could be stored in those organs and has been defined as carcinogenic is the arsenic, while mercury can induce changes in human neural and gastric systems and can lead to death [7]. The chapter "Remediation for heavy metal pollution," by S. Gandimathi, explores the prediction of heaving metals using a Kriging model that is here presented.

It is undeniable that a transition to green technologies has to be done; however, mining industry and massive coal plants still exist, and their impact to environmental pollution is colossal. The development of coal industry has entered a high-carbon to low-carbon transitional period, and its direct use and the discharged pollutants will be significantly reduced. Unfortunately, coal used to produce electricity is still a dominant source around the world, and its use is still predicted beyond 2100 [8]. T. Soo Pitso gives, in the chapter entitled "Clean coal technologies adaptability and R&D support for efficiency and sustainability," an overview of clean coal technologies and the principal challenges they face.

Relating to the harmful impact of emissions produced by inherent activities of mining industry and its mitigation by better managing the operations, an interesting example, written by A. Soofastaei, can be read in *"*The application of artificial intelligence to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the mining industry."

Likewise population growth, intensified agricultural practices and deforestation also have contributed to increase the concentration of greenhouse gases (GHG) in the atmosphere. An alarming data is reported by the WMO [9] about a recordbreaking speed in 2016 of carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration in the atmosphere; this concentration has attained its highest level in 800,000 years; it is nearly 100 times larger than that one at the end of the last ice age.

Several efforts have been done by researchers in order to diminish GHG, by using, for example, alternative sources like geothermal energy, as depicted by Z. González and A. García in the chapter "Geothermal energy as alternative to reduce atmospheric emissions and supply green energy." They show some results in a case study in Mexico.

Plasma technology is an affordable technique able to treat GHG, and, at the same time, it is possible to obtain clean and energetic gases like hydrogen, at a relatively low power input. This specific technology is described by J. Pacheco, R. Valdivia and M. Pacheco in the chapter "Greenhouse gases reforming and hydrogen upgrading by using warm plasma technology."

Automotive industry is also concerned on the toxic gases attenuation, emphasizing its efforts on the CO2 diminution [10]. Electric vehicles (EV) are seen as a central alternative to diminish the negative impact on the environment; nevertheless, as it is noticed by A. Santana, their use in Latin American countries has to take additional considerations in order to really have a diminution of GHG. The discussion of these findings is addressed in "EV in Latin American countries."

Pollution deforestation and the climate change have also an immense impact on plant and animal life; in the next few decades, we will lose 20–50% of the earth's

**5**

**Author details**

provided the original work is properly cited.

Marquidia Josseline Pacheco Pacheco

Nucleares, Ocoyoacac, Estado de México, Mexico

© 2019 The Author(s). Licensee IntechOpen. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/ by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium,

Laboratorio de Aplicaciones de Plasmas, Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones

\*Address all correspondence to: marquidia.pacheco@inin.gob.mx

*Introductory Chapter: Green Technologies to Improve the Environment on Earth*

biota [11]; at present, enormous scale extinction of many animal species has been observed [12]. The appropriate use of technology and a closer collaboration of different research fields can benefit the preservation of wildlife as it is described by X. Pacheco in the chapter "How technology can transform wildlife conservation." As a final point, we also aspire to transmit the idea that every action we take has an impact on the environment, so we must do all we can to prevent it, and most importantly, everything we do should be based on ethical principles. A Mayan

*In Lak'ech Ala K'in:*

*I am you and you are me*

*D&M.Pacheco, E.Santana*

*Kids' vision for: Science must signify Life*

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.84168*

greeting summarizes this idea in a few words:

*Introductory Chapter: Green Technologies to Improve the Environment on Earth DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.84168*

biota [11]; at present, enormous scale extinction of many animal species has been observed [12]. The appropriate use of technology and a closer collaboration of different research fields can benefit the preservation of wildlife as it is described by X. Pacheco in the chapter "How technology can transform wildlife conservation."

As a final point, we also aspire to transmit the idea that every action we take has an impact on the environment, so we must do all we can to prevent it, and most importantly, everything we do should be based on ethical principles. A Mayan greeting summarizes this idea in a few words:

*In Lak'ech Ala K'in:*

#### *I am you and you are me*

*D&M.Pacheco, E.Santana*

*Kids' vision for: Science must signify Life*

#### **Author details**

*Green Technologies to Improve the Environment on Earth*

and use cleaner energy systems.

conditions, as is clearly depicted by P. Kumar, in the chapter "Role of Social

the prediction of heaving metals using a Kriging model that is here presented.

mining industry and massive coal plants still exist, and their impact to environmental pollution is colossal. The development of coal industry has entered a high-carbon to low-carbon transitional period, and its direct use and the discharged

pollutants will be significantly reduced. Unfortunately, coal used to produce electricity is still a dominant source around the world, and its use is still predicted beyond 2100 [8]. T. Soo Pitso gives, in the chapter entitled "Clean coal technologies adaptability and R&D support for efficiency and sustainability," an overview of

intelligence to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the mining industry."

clean coal technologies and the principal challenges they face.

times larger than that one at the end of the last ice age.

a case study in Mexico.

using warm plasma technology."

Enterprises in Addressing Energy Poverty: Making the case for refined understanding through theory of Co-Production of Knowledge and theory of Social Capital." Furthermore, this chapter highlights the theory of social capital and its relation with social enterprises as a factor of change to motivate poor communities to adopt

Regarding the impact of harmful human activities on soil contamination, there is still a lack of information; this phenomenon is more pronounced in poorest countries and is one of the world's biggest problems invisible to the international community [6]. From the soil pollutants, heavy metals are the most complex and persistent pollutants to remediate in nature; in particular cadmium and lead are the most toxic pollutants; they can affect the kidneys, liver, and lungs. Another harmful element that could be stored in those organs and has been defined as carcinogenic is the arsenic, while mercury can induce changes in human neural and gastric systems and can lead to death [7]. The chapter "Remediation for heavy metal pollution," by S. Gandimathi, explores

It is undeniable that a transition to green technologies has to be done; however,

Relating to the harmful impact of emissions produced by inherent activities of mining industry and its mitigation by better managing the operations, an interesting example, written by A. Soofastaei, can be read in *"*The application of artificial

Likewise population growth, intensified agricultural practices and deforestation

also have contributed to increase the concentration of greenhouse gases (GHG) in the atmosphere. An alarming data is reported by the WMO [9] about a recordbreaking speed in 2016 of carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration in the atmosphere; this concentration has attained its highest level in 800,000 years; it is nearly 100

Several efforts have been done by researchers in order to diminish GHG, by using, for example, alternative sources like geothermal energy, as depicted by Z. González and A. García in the chapter "Geothermal energy as alternative to reduce atmospheric emissions and supply green energy." They show some results in

Plasma technology is an affordable technique able to treat GHG, and, at the same time, it is possible to obtain clean and energetic gases like hydrogen, at a relatively low power input. This specific technology is described by J. Pacheco, R. Valdivia and M. Pacheco in the chapter "Greenhouse gases reforming and hydrogen upgrading by

Automotive industry is also concerned on the toxic gases attenuation, emphasizing its efforts on the CO2 diminution [10]. Electric vehicles (EV) are seen as a central alternative to diminish the negative impact on the environment; nevertheless, as it is noticed by A. Santana, their use in Latin American countries has to take additional considerations in order to really have a diminution of GHG. The discus-

Pollution deforestation and the climate change have also an immense impact on plant and animal life; in the next few decades, we will lose 20–50% of the earth's

sion of these findings is addressed in "EV in Latin American countries."

**4**

Marquidia Josseline Pacheco Pacheco Laboratorio de Aplicaciones de Plasmas, Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Nucleares, Ocoyoacac, Estado de México, Mexico

\*Address all correspondence to: marquidia.pacheco@inin.gob.mx

© 2019 The Author(s). Licensee IntechOpen. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/ by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

### **References**

[1] Cash D. Choices on the road to the clean energy future. Energy Research & Social Science. 2018;**25**:224-226

[2] Jasanoff S. Technologies of humility. Nature. 2007;**450**:33

[3] Jasanoff S. Just transitions: A humble approach to global energy futures. Energy Research & Social Science. 2018;**35**:11-14

[4] Porter M, Kramer M. The big idea: Creating shared value. Harvard Business Review. January-February 2011:1-17

[5] Roger AP Jr. The Honest Broker: Making Sense of Science in Policy and Politics. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press; 2007

[6] Rodríguez N, McLaughlin M, Pennock D. Soil Pollution: A Hidden Reality. Rome: FAO; 2018

[7] Järup L. Hazards of heavy metal contamination. British Medical Bulletin. 2003;**68**(1):167-182

[8] Zou C, Qun Z, Zhang G, Bo X. Energy revolution: From a fossil energy era to a new energy era. Natural Gas Industry B. 2016;**3**:1-11

[9] WMO. The State of Greenhouse Gases in the Atmosphere Based on Global Observations through 2016, Greenhouse Gas Bulletin. 2017;**13**:1-8

[10] Bergek A, Berggren C, KITE Research Group. The impact of environmental policy instruments on innovation: A review of energy and automotive industry studies. Ecological Economics. 2014;**106**:112-123

[11] Williams CD, Deacon JE. Chapter 7, Ethics, federal legislation, and litigation in the battle against extinction. In: Battle against Extinction: Native Fish

Management in the American West. Tucson: The University of Arizona Press; 2017. pp. 109-121

[12] Brugière D, Chardonnet B, Scholte P. Large-scale extinction of large carnivores (lion *Panthera leo*, cheetah *Acinonyx jubatus* and wild dog *Lycaon pictus*) in protected areas of West and Central Africa. Tropical Conservation Science. 2015;**8**(2):513-527

**7**

Section 2

Technologies Applied to

Diminish Pollutants of

Mining Industries and

Coal Plants

### Section 2
