Case study set 3

Question 1

Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster (Ukraine, 1986)

Answer 1

Causes:

Reactor design flaw + operator errors during safety test.

Soviet secrecy delayed emergency response.

Impacts:

Immediate: 30 deaths (acute radiation), 350K+ evacuated.

Long-term: Thyroid cancer spike, 2,600 km² exclusion zone.

Economic: $700B cleanup cost (1986–2017).

Solutions:

New Safe Confinement (2016): Steel sarcophagus to contain radiation.

Renewable Shift: Ukraine now invests in solar/wind.

Question 2

Three Gorges Dam (China, 2003)

Answer 2

Causes:

Hydropower demand (world’s largest dam: 22.5 GW capacity).

Flood control for Yangtze River.

Impacts:

Ecological: Extinction of Yangtze river dolphin, sediment loss downstream.

Social: 1.4M displaced, cultural sites flooded.

Seismic risk: Linked to earthquakes (e.g., 2008 Sichuan).

Solutions:

Resettlement Programs: Poorly compensated.

Fish Ladders: Failed to restore biodiversity.

Question 3

Bhopal Gas Tragedy (India, 1984)

Answer 3

Causes:

Union Carbide pesticide plant leak (methyl isocyanate).

Poor maintenance + safety negligence.

Impacts:

Immediate: 15K+ deaths, 500K+ injured.

Long-term: Birth defects, groundwater contamination.

Solutions:

Compensation:
470M settlement (1989;1K/victim).

Regulation: Strengthened India’s industrial safety laws.

Question 4

Easter Island Collapse (Rapa Nui, 1600s)

Answer 4

Causes:

Deforestation for moai statues → soil erosion.

Overpopulation + resource depletion.

Impacts:

Societal collapse: Cannibalism, population dropped 90%.

Ecological: Extinction of 21 tree species.

Solutions:

Lesson: Symbol of unsustainable resource use.

Question 5

Beijing Air Pollution (China, 2000s–Present)

Answer 5

Causes:

Coal power plants (70% energy mix in 2010).

Vehicle emissions (5M+ cars in Beijing).

Impacts:

Health: 1M+ premature deaths/year (WHO).

Economic: 10% GDP loss (healthcare + productivity).

Solutions:

Air Quality Laws: PM2.5 ↓ 35% (2013–2017).

EV Incentives: World’s largest EV market.

Question 6

Niger Desertification (Sahel Region)

Answer 6

Causes:

Overgrazing + deforestation for firewood.

Climate change (rainfall ↓ 30% since 1970s).

Impacts:

Famine: 2005 drought → 3.5M at risk.

Migration: 60% population reliant on degraded land.

Solutions:

Farmer-Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR): Regreened 5M hectares.

Question 7

Gulf of Mexico Dead Zone (USA)

Answer 7

Causes:

Mississippi River runoff (fertilizers → algal blooms → hypoxia).

Size: Up to 22,000 km² (largest in U.S.).

Impacts:

Fisheries collapse: $2.8B/year loss.

Solutions:

Wetland Restoration: Filters nutrients pre-Gulf.