As climate change continues to become an exceeding worry, the world is constantly developing hopeful methods for reducing our environmental impact.
According to Milwaukee Public Radio, even middle schoolers from around the country are joining in the effort by designing “waste free cities.”
This year’s Future City Competition revolves around the theme of “waste not, want not.” The annual challenge is also meant to encourage children’s interest in math and science.
One team in particular from Longfellow Middle School of Wauwatosa, WI, has shown a promising design that utilizes a process of plasma gasification, called ionization.
“Plasma gasification happens when a low-pressure gas is induced with enough heat and energy to become a plasma,” explains Levi, one of the student designers. “The plasma is so hot that it would instantly vaporize and dematerialize any material or solid substance that it comes into contact with.”
Their design puts their city anchored in the ocean right off the coast of Venezuela, in a particularly lighting-rich area. This is conducive to their design, considering that any trash present will be disintegrated by the heat of the lightning when it strikes two tall metal rods.
Another team of six graders also developed an interesting design that takes a more forward approach. Their solution involves a system of zip-lines to transport trash to municipal waste shoots to separate the material into recycling, composting, and regular trash shoots.
An estimated 94% of Americans have access to recycling plastic bottles, with another 40% also able to recycle a number of different plastic containers. This design is working to offer everyone the ability to dispose of all recyclable materials.
It just so happens that Levi and his team are not the only ones who believe Venezuela is a good place to continue the fight against climate change.
As Venezuelaanalysis.com reports, the country itself has pledged to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by at least 20% by the year 2030.
However, they will only do so if Northern areas of the globe take responsibility for much of the current environmental damage.
“Climate change is one of the facets of the global environmental crisis generated by the owners of production and excessive and unsustainable consumption in developed countries,” as stated in their agreement.
Venezuela’s previous accomplishments and future plans include a wide-spread reforestation plan, 200 socialist recycling factories, more modern public transit systems, as well as a 12% reduction in electrical usage in the public sector and an 8% reduction in the private.
If more cities were to take note of Venezuela’s extensive attempts at reducing climate change, and focus on the innovations provided by America’s youngest generation, we could soon be seeing a huge improvement.